The Story of Classical Music

Name: The Story of Classical Music
Brand: Sadie Hoythttps://www.sadiehoyt.com/

by Sadie Hoythttps://www.sadiehoyt.com/

ArtGrades Pre-K–12

The Story of Classical Music: Multisensory Music History with Art Integration

The Story of Classical Music is a multisensory classical music course that spans preschool through high school, integrating music history, art, architecture, and historical context. The curriculum features a teacher's handbook with 24 chapters covering composers from Medieval to Baroque periods, online listening playlists, video tutorials, and age-appropriate listening journals.

Best for

Middle and high school students in classical education settings seeking integrated music and art history instruction, particularly those wanting exposure to lesser-known classical composers

Evaluation Criteria

2 strengths · 2 concerns · 2 neutral

Teacher TrainingStrength

The curriculum provides comprehensive teacher support materials including a detailed handbook, answer keys, and clear instructional guidance.

The course includes 'a beautiful, hardcover teacher's handbook,' 'icons throughout the teacher's handbook alert students to key terms,' and 'an answer key for the older level My Listening Journal is available free'

Art History KnowledgeStrength

The curriculum includes substantial art history knowledge integrated with music history, architecture, and cultural contexts.

Each chapter 'begins with at least two or three pages that relate pertinent historical events relevant to the featured composer and his work, often including developments in architecture, art, costumes, religion, and philosophy'

Structured Vs OpenConcern

The curriculum follows a highly structured chronological approach with limited opportunities for creative exploration in visual arts.

The course traces developments through six structured parts with 'four chapters per part' and 'one or two composers highlighted in each chapter,' but creative art activities appear minimal beyond occasional tutorial projects

Technique InstructionConcern

The curriculum provides limited explicit art technique instruction, focusing primarily on music education with occasional art tutorial projects.

The review mentions 'one art tutorial project is included for each of the six parts' and references 'video art tutorials for some lessons by Elisabeth Waldstein,' but art technique instruction appears secondary to music education

Direct InstructionNeutral

The curriculum provides direct instruction through teacher-led reading and video tutorials, though primarily for music rather than art techniques.

The format includes 'assignments to be completed in the journals are in boxes in the teacher handbook headed Students' Activities During Reading,' suggesting direct instruction through teacher reading, plus 'occasional video tutorials'

Vocabulary BuildingNeutral

The curriculum teaches specialized vocabulary, but focuses on musical terms rather than visual art vocabulary.

Students 'encounter musical terms and learn about instruments and styles of music' and 'some lessons have terms for which students write out definitions,' with examples like learning about 'chants' and 'melisma'

Sources: cathyduffyreviews.com