Our Music Journey - First Lessons

We are well and truly underway with our keyboard lessons from Children's Music Journey. Both of the kids are really enjoying it and they are the ones that are reminding me, not the other way around! As I knew it would be, especially with B.

B is at the upper end of the age scale for Children's Music Journey, in fact he could of easily started with the Premeier Pian Suite if we chose. I decided to set him up and try him on the first lesson in Children's Music Journey. It is definitely easy and he will fly through the first few lessons. I'll monitor it over the next week and make a decision then if we should have a go at the Piano Suite.

This is a video (a couple of minutes) of the very first lesson, which simply covers high and low notes. If you are anything like me you really need/want to see real life videos and of the software, so I do plan on sharing videos of the kids lessons regularly.



Once the children complete a lesson, they have ample opportunities to practise using the software via games and practice lessons. Once they have completed ample practice the next lesson becomes available to them. That doesn't mean that they have to move on though, if they aren't comfortable. K was a little dubious at all of this at first and really needed to find her comfort zone. She watched B complete some of his lessons before she would even attempt any. Whilst the first lesson was fairly easy for her, she could stay on and work in that lesson for along as she felt she needed.

This is definitely a plus for us as one of my concerns was that the program may move too quickly for the younger children.

Disclosure: I was given a copy of Children's Music Journey from Adventus to review on my blog.

Our First Blog Sponsor

You know I realised that when I shared our story with you regarding Music and the experiences B and I have had over the years I completely left out one very important part.

Adventus Music and Piano Learning Solutions are our very first Blog Sponsors!! I am so excited about this. I don't think I could have wished for a better, more appropriate sponsor for our blog and our family.

Adventus have given our family a subscription to the MusIQ Homeschool range of products. Our children will be starting out with the first levels within the Children's Music Journey (in fact they have already started). I have chosen to purchase the workbooks that go along with the program for some added 'offline' working.

We also, of course needed to purchase a MIDI Keyboard and we chose the Yamaha PSR E423. It's middle of the road when it comes to this style keyboard. B was drooling over a $15 000 piano in the store. We suggested that maybe when he is up on stage playing we might consider it hehehehe

So you will be soon hearing about (and seeing photos and videos) all of the fun stuff we are getting up to with this software and how the kids are travelling in their music journeys. For now it will just B and K, C is not quite 2 1/2 so a little young to get started right now. I'd dearly love to find the time to jump on myself but I'm not making any promises on that one just yet.

I'd like to say a huge thank you to Adventus, especially to Jim for all of his assistance and patience.

Be watching for the kids first videos as they find their way around Children's Music Journey.

Our Music Journey

Music, as in a curriculum/learning to play an instrument, has been an area for us that has been lacking.

Not because we wanted it that way or because we simply overlooked the subject of music. No, simply because we have had an unpleasant taste of music linger with us for over four years now.

B enjoyed kindermusik from quite a young age (around 12 months but I can't remember exactly). I always knew that I wanted music to play an important part in the children's lives. Together we loved Kindermusik, it really was lots of fun for toddlers. Our only problem was our 'local' Kindermusik was 30 minutes drive away and after some time the drive there every week became too much.

Hence I began my search for something comparable, but closer to home. Eventually I settled on a program that, on face value, appeared to be very similar to Kindermusik and was only 15 minutes from home. The transition was simple and painless, great, it was a fun program and B loved it immensely. 

When he turned 4 he was ready (according to the music school) to move up to their beginner keyboard lessons. Yay, finally we were moving on to 'real' music and learning to play an instrument, so very exciting.

For some strange reason though I felt the need to discuss this further with the staff of the music school. They informed me that he would be going from a 30 minute class sitting on the floor in a circle, partaking in lots of active music fun; to a 45 minute class sitting behind a keyboard. He would have a workbook and would be required to do homework at least 3 times a week, but preferably 5 times. 

I raised my concerns instantly. I just did not feel that he was ready for that structure at all. However, I was assured that he would be fine.

This was a pivotal point in my role as a parent for me and one experience I will never forget. It was the first time my gut instinct, mothers intuition, call it what you will, told me that something was up and I chose to ignore it.

I chose to listen to the 'experts' after all they know what they are doing don't they?

Never again will I ignore my instincts.

We spent a pretty sum on the required materials and headed off for our first class. Admittedly in the beginning, it was fun. If my memory serves me correctly he learnt to play Hot Cross Buns pretty well straight away and was totally chuffed at that.

But then things started to turn hairy! First it began with him not wanting to do his homework, which eventually affected his lessons as he was behind. Very quickly it all spiralled out of control and lessons ended up in tears every single time and they weren't only coming from him.

What a failure! Me, him, the teacher and the music school, we were all failures. Well at least at the time, in my mind anyway.

Needless to say music lessons for B ended pretty quickly after that. I always wonder how many children that happens to and how many totally miss out on the music experience because of it.

He was so turned off music (and so was I) that it has only been in the last 12 months that he has shown some kind of interest in instruments.

Here I was back to square one, music was again a dilemma in our house. I don't think he really remembered the situation when he was 4 but I am certain it has influenced him over the years that have followed and I wasn't about to make the same mistake again.

I have agonised over this for 12 months, possibly even longer. In the end I came to the conclusion that it just wasn't feasible to take music instruction outside the home. At roughly $15 a lesson x 3 children, including having to purchase the instruments, the dollars quickly add up. Then there is also the time factor to consider, we already have a considerable portion of our time spent outside the home and where possible I now try to combine our activities. It is so much more productive to spend a full day out than to be out running around 3 or 4 days a week.

So that was it then. The decision was really made for me. I needed to find a way to provide instruction for the children at home.

I'd remembered seeing a Children's Music Program sometime back during my online travels (but never bookmarked it and couldn't remember what it was called) it took me some time to find it again.






I was ever so thankful to once again stumble onto the Children's Music Journey Program from Adventus.

The keyboard is purchased, and I might add, has not been left alone since we have had it here. B is so excited and is itching to dive right in and learn how to play the thing. We are only few days in with the program and I am holding my breath for a wonderful learning experience.

We will be sharing lots more with you as we progress on this journey. I hope you will join us.