The Fine Arts

Music

I love music. I play the piano and played many instruments while I was young. I still want to learn the flute and when I get a chance I will take lessons. My children take piano lessons and will until they can play the hymns from the hymn book. When they serve missions I want them to be able to pitch hit if needed. Most of them have a desire to learn a second instrument and we try everything in our power not to put their fire out.

We also learn to dance, sing, and appreciate all different kinds of music. My husband and I have different taste so our children know of all sorts of music. We do listen often to classical music. We listen to a ton of children's music. I try to have a music time with my pre-schooler. I have collected many visuals and props over the years as primary chorister and I break them out for my family.

We also try to learn about composers and one of these years we will do a major unit on music. Stay tuned!

Art

Where I grew up we didn't have many "galleries" around town and we could never afford to buy anything in them anyway, but that didn't stopped us from learning about art, the artist, the type of art and enjoying art. I don't pretend to know much about art, but we are learning together.

The biggest help has been finding an art teacher. A friend from our church is a great artist and a super teacher. I have hired her to teach my children the finer things about art. She does a great job in getting them to know an artist, his/her style and then practice in a hands on messy way. She does a fantastic job!

We also try to do field trips. Just after the events of September 11, 2001, a local shopping mall presented an art show of local school children. We took our children and toured this very moving art exhibit. We came home discussed the art work and had the children do their own project.

Just opening the door to art and making art available to children can spark artistic tendencies in our children that we didn't know were there. I find this a hard task as I'm not artistically inclined and I hate messes. But, I have learned to relax and let experimenting and self expression happen in our home and have been pleasantly surprised.

Please visit our art show....one of the projects we did while learning about Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.

Theater & Dance

Don't forget about the other arts. We love taking in communities plays and concerts that are geared for children. During the winter of 2002-2003 our two oldest were involved in the local grade school production of The Hobbit. Our oldest was cast as the leader of the dwarfs, Thorin; and our second was one of the meanest and scariest goblins Redmond has ever seen. What a great learning experience for them.

The oldest, who is a boy scout, decided to take this as a jump start and get his theater merit badge. For the fall of 2003 he directed a one act play, The Turkeys are on Strike.

Stores that carry art and music products.

Helamans' Academy unit on art and music.

Last updated: November, 2006

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