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Experience History Through Music Now Available!

Hey Neighbors!

I was given the opportunity to participate in the Experience History Through Music by Diana Waring Presents launch.  This means I was able to review these great books and CDs, and get to share my thoughts and opinions with you.

We have several other books about history from Diana Waring in our personal homeschool library.  We really enjoy her books.  Here is a little bit about Diana Waring, the woman who pulled all of this together:



Author of Beyond SurvivalReaping the Harvest and Diana Waring's History Revealed world history curriculum, Diana discovered years ago that "the key to education is relationship." Beginning in the early '80s, Diana homeschooled her children through high-school—the real life opportunities to learn how kids learn.  Mentored by educators whose focus was honoring Him who created all learners, and with an international background (born in Germany, university degree in French, lifelong student of world history), Diana cares about how people learn as well as what they learn.  Audiences on four continents have enthusiastically received her energetic speaking style.

There are presently three books in the series, Experience History Through Music and each one comes with a music CD.  I am going to tell you a little about each book, and then tell you what we thought of them.  Each book contains a short historical account for each song, photographs and images, along with the sheet music and chord charts for the songs.


Musical Memories of Laura Ingalls Wilder - This book covers songs that were special to Laura and other pioneers of her day.  Many of you will remember the songs from the Little House on the Prairie series of books.  There are historical photographs and images in the book.  The CD has approx. 40 minutes of songs.  Songs Include:
1. Wait for the Wagon    1:48
2. Green Grows theLaurel    4:04
3. The Old Chariot    1:45                        
4. Buy a Broom    2:14                        
5. Sweet By and By    3:55                        
6. Rock Me to Sleep    4:03                        
7. Buffalo Gals    1:58                        
8. A Railroad Man for Me    1:45                        
9. Beware    2:55                        
10. Pop! Goes the Weasel    1:03                        
11. Oft in the Stilly Night    2:45                        
12. The Girl I left Behind Me    2:29
13. My Sabbath Home  4:12


Westward Ho! The Heart of the Old West - As the name states, these are songs that were sung around campfires during America's westward expansion,  This CD is contains approx. 50 minutes of songs.  Songs include:
1. Apple Picker's Reel    2:25
2. Boll Weevil    2:18
3. Missionary's Farewell    5:01
4. Oh, California    2:17
5. Ho! For California    4:20
6. San Juan Pig War    2:47
7. Chisholm Trail    2:52
8. Westward Ho!    5:12
9. Home On The Range    5:02
10. Little Old Sod Shanty    3:18
11. Strawberry Roan    3:16
12. Old Settler    4:52
13. Gooey Duck    1:55
14. Little Cabin in the Cascade Mountains    2:34


America The Heart of a New Nation - Stories and songs from a time when America was just starting.  The stories are in chronological order.  This CD is also approx. 40 minutes in length. Songs include:
1. Yankee Doodle    1:39   
2. Star Spangled Banner    2:39
3. Erie Canal    2:12   
4. Oh, Susanna    1:55  
5. Sweet Betsy From Pike    3:17 
6. All Night, All Day    3:50  
7. Old Dan Tucker    1:52   
8. Wade In The Water    3:41   
9. Johnny Has Gone For A Soldier    1:41   
10. When Johnny Comes Marching Home    2:23   
11. Shenandoah    2:20   
12. Git Along L'il Dogies    3:44   
13. Drill Ye Tarriers    1:56 
14. Polly Wolly Doodle    2:15        
15. She'll Be Coming Round The Mountain    1:38
16. Old Joe Clark    2:09   

Now, the first book my daughter grabbed was the Memories of Laura Ingalls Wilder.  She is 13 and has a huge Little House collection.  Between her and her sister they have all the Little House Books, including a set in Dutch.  She found the set and even though she can not read it, she wanted to add it to her collection.  They have been to a one of the historical sites, and would like to visit another.  They just recently received The Ingalls Family Album by William Anderson.  The CD was in the player immediately after opening the package.

I think Westward Ho The Heart of the Old West was their next favorite.  They enjoyed reading about the Boll Weevil, as we have friends who live in Enterprise Al where there is a huge statue of a Boll Weevil in the center of old downtown.  The next story is about Marcus and Narcissa Whitman.  They have several books about the Whitmans, so this was special!

Last of all the AmericaThe Heart of a New Nation.  Yankee Doodle and Erie Canal were favorites on this CD.  During our travels we have passed along the Erie Canal.  What hit them though was when Old Dan Tucker was played and they wondered why that was not with the Laura Ingalls Wilder.  They remember that song as one Mr. Edwards sang.

I have really enjoyed being a part of the launch crew for this series.  I really enjoyed the back stories and getting to work with a great group of ladies.  Below I am sharing one of the back stories.

Here is a back story telling what started Diana Waring on this journey creating this series.
Back in 1989, after I had been struggling for about three years with homeschooling (my kids and I were ALL bored!!!), a friend suggested that I attend the state homeschool convention (in Tacoma, WA). . . In those days, the main way to learn more about homeschooling was to attend a convention—oh, how times have changed!!
The problem was I couldn't afford it. My dh was a public school band teacher, we were single income, and there simply wasn't anything extra in the budget. When I voiced that concern, my friend said, "Oh, you should teach a workshop! That way, they pay you $50, give you some mileage to get up to the convention, and you get in FREE!!" Looking at her in amazement, I asked, "What on earth would I teach????"
She pulled out the previous year's convention schedule, with its varied workshops, and handed it to me. Quickly glancing down the list, I noted that the ONLY music workshop was using classical music in the home and that there were NO history workshops. At that moment, an idea was born.
Why not teach American history through its folk music?
That was the start of twenty-five years as a homeschool speaker (yes, the convention wanted my workshop) and as a homeschool writer/ curriculum producer.
Never saw this coming, but, oh, what a life we have shared!!

So neighbors, would I recommend this set?  Yes, many times over.  Children remember so much from song.  It is a great way for children to learn while having fun.  Add the stories and they can learn so much!  Each set is available for $18.99, but if you purchase all three before the end of July, you will receive a special price of $50.  This includes all three books and the 3 CDs in The Experience History Through Music set.  My daughter randomly plays these CDs now.  One is playing as I am writing this review.



Thank you for stopping in today!  Please visit again soon!



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