my thoughts on art and music appreciation

I was thinking about music and art appreciation and I realized that it is:
1. a way for a person to express feelings and creativity; to find music and art that speaks to your mood and helps you express what you are feeling-- either making it or appreciating it from others
2. help others
3. praise God
4. to enjoy -- to expose them to a wide variety of music and art so they can find what they like

I don't want to limit my kids' art and music appreciation to Mozart and Monet, because that is only part of the spectrum. I want to teach them about all sorts of genres of art and music so they can find what they like that is uplifting. I want to include contemporary music in music appreciation because there is a lot of uplifting music (and obviously not uplifting) that there is to choose from. I want to expose them to jazz, the Beatles and Elvis, classical, soundtracks, contemporary, and all sorts. I also want to use music to teach. I used to play "I am Not My Hair" by India Arie for the kids at Sage Creek. Here are some of the lyrics:

I am not my hair, I am not this skin, I am not your expectations, I am the soul that lives within. Does the way I wear my hair make me a better person? Does the way I wear my hair make me a better friend? Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity? No- I'm expressing my creativity. It's not what's on your head it's what underneath.

I think I'll play the Superman song by Five for Fighting and have them listen to the words and see if they can figure out who they are talking about so they can learn to pay attention to lyrics. I'll play Apologize by One Republic and have them listen to the different instruments and melodies that play at the same time, and how he is expressive in his singing, and have them clap to the beat to learn to keep time. I'll play Permanent by David Cook and tell them that his brother died of cancer that week that he sang that and how he is expressing his feelings through the song. Those are some of the ways to use contemporary music to teach and find uplifting music among the smuck of contemporary music. I want to teach them how to select good music. I'd be stupid to think they'd only listen to classical music as teenagers.

While I was listening to Kris Allen's song, Falling slowly, and the lyrics "Take this sinking boat and point it home; Raise your hopeful voice; you have a choice; Sing your melody and I'll sing along" made me think of my kids and what I'm trying to teach them: I want to teach them that when they world is the sinking boat, to raise their hopeful voice and speak out for good and truth-- sing their melody (and I'll sing along).

Art doesn't have to just be Monet and Manet. Here is one my favorite artist: http://www.beckykellystudio.com/ . (I also love James Christiansen) We can start by studying good illustrations in books. We'll study the classics, too, but we won't limit ourselves to just that.