AmblesideOnline's Patio Chats:
30. The Beauty of Culture
This week, we're going to think about art and classical music. Perhaps AO is your first introduction to this type of culture. If it is, we hope it's just the beginning of a life-long love affair for you and your child with beautiful classical works.
Are you wondering why we didn't match up our artists and composers with each year's history? That was deliberate. Our purpose in including art isn't to give a quick course in art history. The underlying theme in a CM education is always noble thoughts, heroism, and truth. Our art line-up introduces your child to selected master artists and composers scheduled on the basis of their work, not when they happened to be living.
This is an area some moms take to passionately. For others, it can take some time. If you have time to do extra research and follow rabbit trails to learn more about a particular artist or even one specific work, go for it! If you don't, just keep it simple. Make the painting your computer wallpaper for a couple of weeks. Use the YouTube links we provide on our website to play through the music. A term (or two, or three) where simple exposure is all you can manage is still exposure. The day may come when you're able to do more. It's all good, and most of us have done a "hit or miss" approach at some point over the years, with some terms involving more intense focus, and some terms where basic exposure was the best we could do. And some of our children developed a passion for art or music in spite of it. :-)
