SQUILT Music Appreciation Curriculum Giveaway
Disclosure: I received a copy of SQUILT free to review. All my opinions are my own.
Even though I played piano and clarinet as a kid, and sang in the choir all through high school, training my kids to appreciate and understand great musical pieces is a bit daunting. Because of the complexity of the pieces and the depth of knowledge required to truly enjoy the works, music appreciation falls off of my "must do" list. When we joined Classical Conversations, I was thrilled that a quarter of our fine arts study was devoted to orchestra and composers.
As I've grown and studied through the Challenge programs, I've come to see the beauty of the early studies in Foundations - tin whistle prepares students for music theory studied in Challenge I, and the composers and fine artists prepares students for history of music and philosophy studied in Challenge II. Knowing the direction we are going, my desire is to lay a sure foundation of the grammar of music in the early years.
SQUILT is the perfect solution. By spending Super Quiet UnInterrupted Listening Time with my kids each week, I can ensure that we are building our music listening muscles for deeper studies in the future. Since my personal knowledge with the classics is limited, I really appreciate the simplicity of the lesson plans that equip me to successfully introduce my children to the greats.
So are you ready for the giveaway? Seriously, this 4 volume bundle is an awesome resource for any family seeking to increase their understanding of classical pieces. I would love to own them all!
What's included in SQUILT?
The music guides are PDF downloads with links to the music online. There are also links to aid in further studies if you so desire.
The PDF includes teacher instructions as well as notebooking pages for each composer. You can print the whole guide if you like, or just the pages that you want to use as you listen.
Since I'm not much of a notebooking girl, I'm planning on simply using my iPad or laptop to view the study materials together and discuss. My youngest and I listened to Pachelbel's Cannon in D the other day and loved discussing the concepts outlined in the guide. When we arrived at the section explaining the famous 8 note progression that has appeared in many modern songs, we found ourselves heading to the piano to try it out.
How am I going to use this material?
As I was researching this product, I discovered that Mary Prather, the creator of this material, is a fellow Classical Conversations mom! This always thrills my heart as I have found so many kindred spirits among fellow CCers. It is also exciting because the composers studied overlap with the composers we study in Foundations and then expand to add a few more to your family's repertoire.
Here's how SQUILT matches up with Classical Conversations:
In Cycle 1 we focus on Baroque and Classical composers. The first two volumes pair nicely with Cycle 1. Here's what you study:
Volume 1: the Baroque Era
- Cannon in D by Pachebel
- Chaconne for Organ in g minor by Couperin
- The Prince of Denmark's March by Clarke
- Spring” by Antonio Vivaldi
- Gloria in excelsis Deo by Antonio Vivaldi
- Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 by JS Bach
- Toccata & Fugue in D Minor by JS Bach
- Air on the G String by JS Bach
- Hornpipe by Handel
- Hallelujah Chorus by Handel
In CC our Baroque Era studies include:
- Water Music by Handel
- The Well-Tempered Clavier Prelude and Fugue in C Major by JS Bach
Volume 2: The Classical Era
- Surprise Symphony/Haydn
- Minuet/Boccherini
- Piano Sonatina/Clementi
- The Magic Flute/Mozart
- Variations on Twinkle, Twinkle/Mozart
- Flute & Harp Concerto/Mozart
In CC our Classical Era study includes:
- Piano Concerto no. 22 in E-Flat, Third Movement by Mozart
So you see that the material covers the same composers, but adds a few additional pieces to become familiar with in their study.
In Cycle 2, we continue our study of the Classical Era and begin to look at the Romantic Era. Here's how Volumes 2 and 3 overlap with our CC studies:
Volume 2: The Classical Era cont.
- Symphony No. 5/Beethoven - also studied in CC
- Fur Elise/Beethoven
- Emperor Piano Concerto/Beethoven
- Symphony No. 4/Schubert
Volume 3: The Romantic Era
- Impromptu in G Flat by Schubert
- Dies Irae by Berlioz
- Minute Waltz by Chopin
- Libestraum No. 3 by Liszt
- Ride of the Valkyries by Wagner
- "La Donna e Mobile" from Rigoletto by Verdi
- Symphony No. 4, Third Movement by Brahms - also studied in CC
For Cycle 2, the pieces studied perfectly overlap within the two volumes, and then you get so much more!
Our music studies wrap up in Cycle 3 by transitioning from the Romantic Era to the Modern Era.
Volume 3: The Romantic Era cont.
- "November" from Seasons by Tchaikovsky
- "Love Theme" from Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture by Tchaikovsky
- Also Sprach Zarathustra by Strauss
In CC our Romantic Era studies conclude with:
- Symphony no. 6, Fourth Movement (Symphony Pathetique) by Tchaikovsky
- La Mer (The Sea) by Debussy - the only composer that does not overlap in the SQUILT curriculum
Volume 4: The Modern Era
- The Entertainer by Scott Joplin
- Bolero by Maurice Ravel
- Evening in the Village by Bela Bartok
- Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky - also studied in CC
- I Got Rhythm by George and Ira Gershwin
- Sabre Dance by Aram Khachaturian
- Fanfare for the Common Man by Aaron Copland
- Mambo from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein
- Superman March by John Williams
- Overture from Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber
I am so excited to have a simple way to build a foundation of music appreciation in my family!
Back to the giveaway!
The raffle opens August 17th at 8am and closes August 22nd at 11pm (Central time). There are several ways to enter. If you're the lucky winner, you will receive the 4 Volume bundle of SQUILT and be set for lovely music learning for a long time! I will email the winner and they must respond within 24 hours, or I will choose a new winner. So what's stopping you? Enter already!
Betsy Strauss is an unexpected homeschooler, mother of three, who is in a relationship with a sweet man for life. She loves reading books, drinking coffee, and learning anything with her kids.
This curriculum looks interesting! Me, me! I’m feeling lucky. 🙂
Karla, your girls would love it!
It sounds great! Thanks for the chance of winning 🙂
Looks great for adding music appreciation for a non-musical mom…thanks!!!
I have followed Homegrown Learners for years now. I am so thankful for the opportunity to enter this drawing!
And I am most interested in Volume 2!
Betsy, I am sorry for all the comments. I read on your website that you are married to a musician. I am, too. My husband plays trumpet!
this looks so great! We would love to try it out! Thank you for this opportunity ????
I would love, love, love to win this bundle. I am trying to incorporate more fine arts into our curriculum, but have been floundering around, trying to make a decision. This seems like it would be the answer!
This looks fantastic! Thank you for the opportunity.
I’m most interested in the Baroque era!!
I am most excited about volume 1. It includes Canon in D and that was my wedding song. I am excited to teach my children about classical music.
This would be awesome to have for our homeschool!
All of the volumes look great! I can’t decide which I am most excited about — thanks for a chance to win!
I’d really love to try any of the volumes, they all look fantastic, but I think the Classical Era may just have a slight edge over the others. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
Looks like a great curriculum! (Music teacher and home school mom here 🙂 )
This looks like a great curriculum. And easy to use for a Mom not knowing much about music.
I’m most excited about Volume 4.
I’ve been eying this curriculum and would love to win!
These would be so great!
I love how this can tie into so many curriculums! I’d love to win 1 or 2 to use alongside Classical Conversations!
This curriculum looks like it would fit nicely with so many types of curriculum! I’d love to win a copy of especially volume 1 or 2 to use alongside Classical Conversations!
This is wonderful! Thanks for the chance to win!
Would love to incorporate this with our CC curriculum!
WOW! This would be a blessing!
As a CC mom this sounds wonderful! My son falls asleep to classical music so this would teach him/us more about it.
Thank you for sharing this resource!
Any volume would be a blessing but since we are in cycle 1 I would statue with volume 1.
Hi,
This is a great help and tool for everyone!:)
We have used SQUILT in the past and LOVE IT!! Would love to add to our collection. Thanks for the giveaway.
I have volume 2, I need the rest! This is a fantastic giveaway! !!
We love squilt!
I am most interested in the Baroque volume.
I’d love all of them, however, I’m most interested in the Baroque era.
Volume four looks great!
I am most excited to get into the modern era music study but I am over the moon about diving into any of it to be honest!
We are planning on doing Volume 1 this year. I’m most excited to get to volume 3, but I think my kids would say volume 4. 🙂
We are doing Baroque Era with our homeschool co-op this year and I can’t wait! I would love to win any of the volumes! They look so fun! Thanks for giveaway opportunity!
This sounds great!
I’m excited about all of them, but especially the Classical Era.
I’ve been wanting to try SQUILT. I like the variety of selections in Vol 4!
Thanks for the chance! This looks awesome!
I would love to use the Baroque and Classical era volumes this year.
I love them all! What a great way to introduce classics. Surprisingly, I’m most excited about the Modern Era.
Wow, this is great! My younger daughter is a former choral music teacher and current homeschooler—she’s going to love it!
I am new to CC and agree that this would be a great supplement to our music appreciation at home. I would love to try it.
Sound like such a great addition to CC for those of us that need a little guidance and music appreciation instruction ourselves!! Looking forward to giving this a try.
I know! I always love something that lays out the basics for me. We have been enjoying sitting quietly and listening while we fall in love with great music!
I have to choose a favorite between Bach, Mozart, and Bethoveen? Ok, Romantic, I’ll choose romantic, because it’s rainy and they both start with “R.” I love music. I hope I win!!!
I love your decision making process!
Excited for the chance to win. It looks like and awesome program.
Looks a fun great way to incorporate more music into my homeschool!
I love fine arts in our CC program. I am confident that my kids are getting a great variety of knowledge from each cycle. I love the concept of SQUILT and will begin incorporating that in our daily routine. Thanks!
I’m excited for volume 1!
I love Homegrown Learners and have been reading about SQUILT and have kids that are starting to wake up to Classical music and I want to start with Volume 1, can’t wait!
They all look wonderful!
Volume 4, definitely Volume 4
What a great set!
Not sure my 7 can still super quiet but any amount of improved music listening is a bonus! Especially if bundle 2 gets my oldest over her Beethoven fears.
I would start with volume 1
I love watching my little guy listen to music. He shuts his eyes and moves his hands to the music. Will likely get this if I don’t win. But winning is awesome too!
What a fantastic program! We have lots of classical music playing in our house, but I have never sat down with the kids and explored the music more deeply! This is great! 🙂