Mike Smith:
Dr. Hodge, so far this week we've talked about some practical aspects of teaching music… what about making it fun? What are a few ways to make music learning an enjoyable part of the homeschool program?

Dr. Ian Hodge:
Again, the only way I know to make music fun is to see successful playing of the instrument. Once they can do this, then group playing is how music is really made and enjoyed. In this regard, I think, pianists—and I’m one of them—struggle, because we’re stuck with the instrument by ourselves. Take almost any other instrument, and they need to play with their friends in order to make great music. Young string players can be put into ensemble groups. I owned a music school in Australia, and even the 5-year-old violin students were put into a small ensemble as soon as they could play a few notes, and they learned to listen to one another, watch a conductor and keep in time, and learn team playing. In that environment, kids start to enjoy it.

And then the other thing we do in school is to have the kids performing once every 10-week term, or in my own case, my own students do it once every month, and the results of the prizes that they win in the town speak for themselves. Kids enjoy being successful. That is what fun is.

Mike:
Well, Dr. Hodge, thank you for this invaluable information you’ve given us this week and the practical tips on teaching music. Until next time, I’m Mike Smith.