Choosing music is much like choosing literature. The idea is the put the good and beautiful before our children so that they can become discerning. If I want my children to eat their vegetables, I can’t feed them candy all day.
Music has a strong influence on feelings and behavior, so it is important to establish a taste for a variety of good, high quality music during these most impressionable years. Children learn to like the kind of music they hear. Both the melody and the words of vocal music should uphold the values and attitudes you want your children to have.
Raymond and Dorothy Moore
Here are a few tips for nurturing an appreciation for beautiful music:
Table of Contents
Choose music wisely.
The true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, the excellent and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).
Provide a standard.
Expose your children to quality music that will become their plumb-line for judging what they listen to.
Watch what YOU listen to.
We always teach more by our actions than by our words.
Allow variety.
Within the guidelines of lovely music, there is a vast repertoire! Choose widely.
Enjoy.
Make time and space to fill your home with the joy of music!
The more people acquaint themselves with what is truly great and beautiful, the more they will dislike and turn away from that which is shallow and ugly.
Betty Carlson, The Gift of Music
Additional Resources
Music Index
Tastes differ, but most families will find something here to get them started when choosing music.
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