As my five-year-old and I were watching television together recently, she said excitedly, “That music is major! I can tell because it sounds happy!”
I can thank a homework assignment from Ms. Sandie for this newfound knowledge and excitement. Several weeks ago Sandie assigned homework to our family. On the day of my three girls’ lessons, we always have a family movie night. Sandie asked my girls, ages 11, 8 and 5, to listen carefully to the music in whatever we were watching that evening. She asked them to try to determine whether the music was in a major or minor key and to observe the correlation between the key of the music and the action in the movie.
They caught on quickly. We watched the very first episode of “Little House on the Prairie,” which is movie-length. As the Ingalls’ wagon almost tips over while crossing a raging river—they all shouted, “Minor!” When the Ingalls family finally arrive at their new home—the girls shouted, “Major!” It became a game to them, seeing who could shout “major” or “minor” first. We discussed what was happening, and how the music enhanced the mood of the scene. By the end of the episode, I’m convinced they all had a firm understanding of the sounds of major and minor, as well as the different feelings they evoke.
This was a fun, effective homework assignment that the whole family could participate in together. Now, even when the girls are watching a television show together, I catch them playing the “Major/Minor Game.”
Written by Kelley Katz Music Mom
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