What is literature-based learning? And why use it for music?
If you have been homeschooling for a while, you probably have a sense of what kind of curriculum works for you and your kids. If not, you might find the multitude of options a little bit overwhelming. Whether you prefer a traditional approach or unit studies, Charlotte Mason or classical education, unschooling or roadschooling, or some other approach, there is no one right way to homeschool. With that in mind, one of the reasons we love literature-based learning is it works very well with most other homeschooling styles. Read on to learn more about literature-based learning and why it is a great tool for teaching music appreciation!
(For a helpful exploration of various homeschooling methods, see “10 Homeschool Methods Explained” over at Rebecca Devitt’s How Do I Homeschool blog.)
What is literature-based learning?
Literature-based learning has existed for centuries, long before such a term was invented. In the medieval period, monks copied and studied classic texts from ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. The Renaissance brought more widespread interest in studying classical texts, and until the mid-19th century, most wealthy and free citizens in the West and elsewhere were educated through great books. Such an approach emphasizes exposure to ideas, critical thinking, and an awareness that various subjects are interconnected. (Given this historical track record, literature is a foundational element of classical education.)
As modern education drifted toward developing practical skills, memorizing facts, and learning separate subjects in specialized classes, textbooks became the norm. Reading literature became a skill to be learned instead of a method of learning. An influential figure who resisted the atomization of education was Charlotte Mason (1842-1923). She believed in spreading a feast of subjects before children, using “living books”—books that make the subject come alive—as the core approach to many of these subjects. Her approach has long appealed to homeschoolers who are looking for an alternative approach to traditional (modern) education.
Literature-based homeschooling
In the modern homeschooling world, Sonlight was the first major curriculum program to highlight literature-based learning. Other literature-based curricula followed, and today there are many options, including those which are Charlotte-Mason-inspired (Ambleside Online, Simply Charlotte Mason, Beautiful Feet Books, etc.) and those which are more Classical in emphasis (Classical Conversations, Veritas Press, Memoria Press, Tapestry of Grace, etc.).
All literature-based curricula begin with living books—well-written, engaging stories that encourage thinking and feeling—so that learning becomes an adventure rather than a chore. Even when a literature-based curriculum includes books which are more informational, they are usually chosen because they are designed to awaken the imagination.
Literature-based learning has been shown to have many benefits, bringing context and emotional connection to the topics your children are learning. When your children regularly listen to stories as you read aloud, they develop focus and listening skills. As they get older, listening to or reading well-crafted and engaging stories helps expand their imagination, leading to greater creativity, empathy, and even virtue. Academic benefits abound as well. Exposure to a variety of writing styles helps your child to develop an intuitive grasp of language and grammar and builds his or her vocabulary. In addition, children who learn through stories often show greater retention of the information they have learned. Best of all, literature-based learning helps you foster meaningful connections with your children as you learn together.
Why use literature to learn music?
Many parents find music appreciation a difficult subject to teach, unless they already know something about it. For this reason, music for many homeschooling families may be limited to instrument lessons (an essential part of music education, but incomplete on its own) or merely listening to music and calling it a day.
So how does literature-based learning help? Teaching music with great literature takes most of the pressure off you, the parent, because books do the heavy lifting, introducing music in an engaging way. Great books bring to life stories about musicians and their music, and as you listen to the music by those musicians, the history and experience of music comes alive! (Whence comes the name for our curriculum!)
Imagine reading a story about how Mozart heard a bird singing and was inspired to write a concerto, accompanied by beautiful pictures of Vienna. Or reading about how Billie Holiday’s dogs helped her conquer her fear of performing, pictured within the lively jazz scene. As you then listen to their music, it fits into a larger story, which makes the music more interesting to listen to and easier to remember. Even if you read about a musician and do not like his or her music, you can still appreciate where it came from and why it was written.
Here at Music Comes Alive, we make it easy for you to teach music appreciation using literature. Our open-and-go scheduling and written-out lesson plans take the guesswork out of teaching, so you can learn right alongside your child. Our curricula also include guided listening assignments, informative lessons about music theory and various instruments, and fun, hands-on activities for a comprehensive music education (see Get Started for more information).
But if you are not sure about committing to a curriculum right now, that’s okay! To begin teaching music appreciation at home, all you need is a good book about a musician (check your local library!) and access to the music. Just watch how the music comes alive!
Soli Deo Gloria,
Emma R. James, Ph.D
Founder, Music Comes Alive
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