Music Appreciation

Name: Music Appreciation
Brand: Beautiful Feet Bookshttps://bfbooks.com

by Beautiful Feet Bookshttps://bfbooks.com

ArtGrades 2–12

Music Appreciation: Classical Music History Survey with Living Book Approach

Beautiful Feet Books' Music Appreciation is a two-year classical music curriculum for grades 2-12 that surveys music history from ancient to modern times using their proprietary Book of Composers, downloadable resources, and online playlists. The curriculum takes a literature-based approach with biographical stories about composers and emphasizes listening appreciation over performance skills.

Best for

Homeschooling families seeking a comprehensive music appreciation curriculum that emphasizes classical music history and composer study rather than performance skills, suitable for multi-level teaching across grades 2-12

Evaluation Criteria

3 strengths · 2 neutral · 1 insufficient evidence

Teacher TrainingStrength

The curriculum provides comprehensive teacher support through detailed guides, online resources, and clear lesson structure that enables non-specialist teachers to deliver instruction.

Includes detailed Teacher Guide with structured lessons, downloadable Resource Packet, online playlists with QR codes, and links to videos and activities, making it accessible for homeschooling families without music expertise

Direct InstructionStrength

The curriculum facilitates teacher-led instruction through detailed lesson plans but focuses on discussion and appreciation rather than skill demonstration.

Teacher Guide provides structured lessons with Read and Listen, Discuss, Record, Explore, Do, and Rabbit Trails sections, with clear guidance for leading discussions about composers and musical pieces

Art History KnowledgeStrength

The curriculum provides extensive art history knowledge, covering music from ancient times through contemporary periods with biographical information about composers.

The Book of Composers covers ancient musical instruments, Medieval and Renaissance music development, classical periods (Baroque, Classical, Romantic), and twentieth-century musical movements including ragtime, blues, jazz, and rock and roll

Structured Vs OpenNeutral

The curriculum is primarily structured around sequential historical study with some flexibility for different age levels and optional enrichment activities.

54 lessons designed to be completed over two years in chronological order, with structured Read and Listen, Discuss, Record, Explore, Do, and Rabbit Trails sections, though families can 'use whichever components suit them'

Vocabulary BuildingNeutral

The curriculum includes some music vocabulary through the study of musical notation development and instrument identification activities.

Students learn about musical notation development by figures like Guido d'Arezzo, label parts of instruments, and encounter terminology through the historical music study

Technique InstructionInsufficient Evidence

This curriculum does not provide instruction in artistic techniques, focusing instead on music appreciation and historical knowledge.

The curriculum emphasizes listening to music, reading about composers, and discussion rather than hands-on art creation or technique instruction

Sources: cathyduffyreviews.com