A Homeschooling Thespian

I just saw this new movie last night. What a great movie! I will definitely take my teens to see this. When is the last time that you could say that? This movie is about faith, both for those who have it and those who lack it. Faith sometimes finds us even when we become desperate enough to hide from it! Very well done! Here is another excellent example of faithful people making an impact on our society. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: change the media and you can change our culture.

During my vacation from blogging (!!) this past week, I have had great news from two fabulously talented young people! Kelly McGrath , a former acting student of mine years ago, has informed me that she's just got the job of Assistant Stage Manager for her first Broadway Tour! The show , Frost/Nixon , is a dramatic retelling of the post-Watergate television interviews between British talk-show host David Frost and former president Richard Nixon and stars Stacey Keach. Not only is Kelly on top of her game right now, but she's also a committed Catholic who drags cast members to Holy Mass with her every Sunday! Congratulations, Kelly! You deserve this! Also, Hope Giambalvo, daughter of Heather Giambalvo (Doodle Acres), is now working under a Theatrical Wardrobe Union designer at the Engeman Theatre in Northport, Long Island , where I work part time. Hope is so incredibly talented at sewing and designing our homeschool production costumes, and I hear from the wardrobe mistres...

Around this time of year I begin to have parents ask me about what the best age is for starting children in private music lessons. The easy answer is "As soon as possible!" Starting early is optimal, as is starting early in any endeavor. A strong foundation built while a child is young gives him a much better chance of mastery of the instrument as the years progress, and that leads to more enjoyment of music as well. Students in kindergarten and first grade will need to show basic reading/pre-reading readiness skills before starting lessons. Can they read? Do they know their alphabet, numbers, shapes? Is their tracking ability sufficiently developed? Can they count? It isn't necessary for a child to read fluently, only to attain a basic reading/pre-reading level. Is you child able to complete basic exercises along the lines of "which picture is different?" Playing the piano and reading music is all about identifying patterns, starting with the groups of t...