Register for Summer Courses – Bundle and Save!

April 14th, 2013 by mrjohnson

Summer learning is a great way to keep your kids busy over the break!  We are now offering “mini courses” in science, music, and history that can be done at your own pace from June through August.  Save by buying before May 1, and save even more if you buy more than one course!  Find out more at www.learningatourhouse.com!

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

A History of the Christmas Spirit Through Music!

December 6th, 2012 by mrjohnson

Join MusicAtOurHouse for a one-time lecture:

A History of the Christmas Spirit Through Music

- A Single-Lecture Class for Adults -

The Christmas spirit is unlike the feeling of any other time. It is a season of warmth and joyous celebration; its distinctive emotion is noble, sacred and uplifting, yet lighthearted and bright. It is a special time of year in our emotional lives–a time of renewal.

Trace the origin and evolution of this unique feeling. Compare the Christmas emotions of the Medievals to those of the men of the Renaissance (who invented Christmas carols); hear from the “Ghosts of Christmas Baroque, Classical and Romantic” and touch on the most recent emotional developments. Compare the Western secularized Christian holiday to the treatment of holidays in the music of Judaism, Islam & Hinduism.

Taught by Mr. Johnson, MusicAtOurHouse teacher and faculty at Mannes College the New School for Music in New York.

It’s sure to be illuminating, uplifting and fun!

A History of the Christmas Spirit Through Music

• Tuesday, December 18, 2012, at 9pm EST
• 90 minute lecture, 30 minute Q&A
• For a general audience (roughly, ages 16 and up)
• An appreciation/listening-based history course which requires no prior specialized technical knowledge
• Attend live, by teleconference or online; or access the recording afterward.

Count me in!

Name(s) of Attendees:

Support MusicAtOurHouse program for homeschool students with a donation!

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Music at Our House 2012-13

March 20th, 2012 by mrjohnson

Course in Music History and Appreciation for Homeschool Students, 2012-13

“My children are enjoying learning music history with Mr. Johnson — he is very knowledgeable, and teaches with much enthusiasm, gentleness, and encouragement.” –Mrs. Chen, Parent

• Live class via teleconference
• Recordings available online if you are unable to attend in person
• Course runs mid-September 2012 to end of May 2013
• Select music purchases will be recommended
• Written work will be part of the course to help students conceptualize music
• Meets once a week for 45 minutes
• Taught by composer and Mannes College faculty member M. Zachary Johnson

Elementary School Level meets Thursdays 1-1:45pm EST
Junior/Senior High Level meets Thursdays 2:15-3pm EST

—————————————-

Description

Many parents and children have enjoyed the “History through Art” segment Mr. Powell has included in many of his HistoryAtOurHouse courses, using great paintings to vividly illuminate the people and events of history. We’re pleased to announce that this enhancement will be expanded this year to include integration with MusicAtOurHouse.

MusicAtOurHouse this fall (2012-13) will present “Music & the History of Asia”–a program integrated with HistoryAtOurHouse, covering the cultures of the Middle East, India, China, and Japan. MusicAtOurHouse will study the indigenous musics of these cultures, as well as the Asian influences which have inspired Western composers. Although this MusicAtOurHouse course can also stand on its own for those not joining Mr. Powell’s class, the connection of content is a unique opportunity.

We’ll study an ancient Hurrian Cult Song which had been notated on cuneiform tablets in Mesopotamia around 1400 BC. We’ll study the sounds of ancient Judaism, including the flavor of traditional Klezmer music. We’ll study the style and emotions of the 3000-year-old tradition of Indian Classical Music. We’ll hear Chinese and Japanese folk sounds and discuss the ways in which this music expresses the character of these peoples.

We will explore the influences of Asia on Western music, delving into the the great operas using asian subjects and influences–such as Verdi’s Aida, which was commissioned to celebrate the new Opera House in Cairo, a symbol of modernization and Westernization–such as Handel’s Xerxes, set in Persia and based on the Achaemenid King–such as Mozart’s Abduction from the Seraglio, set in a Turkish Harem–such as Bizet’s Pearl Fishers, set in Sri Lanka where two men’s vow of eternal friendship is threatened by their love for the same woman, a woman whose own dilemma is the conflict between secular love and her sacred oath as a priestess.

We’ll hear bold and colorful orchestral music inspired by Eastern subjects, such as Richard Strauss’s “Thus Spake Zarathustra” and Carl Nielsen’s “Aladdin” Suite. We’ll come to understand the Asian influences on French Impressionism, as in the music of Ravel and Debussy.

Underlying the course will be the distinctive MusicAtOurHouse approach: the Characterological Approach to Music–the idea that music expresses the character of its maker–that it encapsulates the mindset, moral qualities and psychological nature of a people. This approach offers a unique opportunity to learn by contrast about an enormous range of the world’s cultures!

Join us in using music to add a new dimension to your child’s understanding of world history!
Sincerely,
Mr. Johnson & Mr. Powell

—————————————-

Content Samples & Further Information

Our free lecture, The History of Western Music in One Hour, was a big hit. One attendee wrote “Thank you all for an excellent lecture…my appetite for more is well and truly whetted.” Listen here.

Here’s a streaming audio sample from the Elementary School class, introducting the subject of “Ethos” in ancient Greek music: MAOH Podcast #1 – Ethos in Greek Music

Another sample can be read on the blog here.

Samples of student writing for MusicAtOurHouse can be read here.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact us directly at Registrar@MusicAtOurHouse.com

(Note regarding student ages: The MusicAtOurHouse Elementary School class is especially ideal for children ages 8 to 12. We’ve had a smaller number of 7-year-olds in class; they found it more challenging but still fun.)

*Note: for multiple children in the same household attending the same class, only one registration fee is necessary.*

—————————————-

Registration

Regular $360 ($40/month), now 25% off– $270 ($30/month)

Monthly Subscription ($30/mo for 9 months) – Or – Buy Now Single Payment ($270)

Choose Level

Elementary School Level Jr & Sr High School Level

We mostly expect to:

Attend in person Use class recordings Not sure yet

Child’s name:

Choose Level

Elementary School Level Jr & Sr High School Level

We mostly expect to:

Attend in person Use class recordings Not sure yet

Child’s name:

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

MusicAtOurHouse Registration Now Open!

September 5th, 2011 by admin

Registration for the 2011-12 MusicAtOurHouse program is now open!

• 2011-12 MusicAtOurHouse Registration

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

We’re Back! MusicAtOurHouse Registration Opens Labor Day.

September 3rd, 2011 by admin

Hi all:

We’ve weathered Hurricane Irene and the worst that an unforeseen database update could throw at us with minimal downtime. The much awaited registration period for MusicAtOurHouse 2011-12 is nearly here. Registration will open Monday, September 5 (Labor Day).

   
Key Information for Clients

• Fall Program Details
• Academic Calendar (for Music, History, and Science)
• Classes start September 13!
• Combined Weekly Class Schedule
• Contact Us


Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Possible MusicAtOurHouse (and HistoryAtOurHouse and ScienceAtOurHouse) Site Downtime

August 31st, 2011 by admin

Hi all:

I wanted to notify you all that one or all of the AtOurHouse sites may experience some “downtime” over the next couple days.

We are moving to a new hosting system in order to accommodate a far more sophisticated site being designed by CanDo.com. Unfortunately, GoDaddy can’t seem to effectuate the move without some disruption to the current site(s).

The maximum period of disruption will be 72 hours, starting later today.

This unforeseen disruption also means that we will not be able to start registration for science and music until the process is over, even though Mr. Johnson has comfortably survived Hurricane Irene. (Hopefully, those of you in its path we also spared.) We will notify you as soon as we can to get the registration process started.

Our new system should be in place by September 3. Then, as the school year progresses if not by the start of Ancient history classes on September 12 and science and music classes on September 13, we’ll be granting access to a much-improved site for all registered users!

We apologize for the inconvenience of any service disruption, but we look forward to offering you a much-improved AtOurHouse customer experience!

Sincerely,
Mr. Powell

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Hurricane Irene Causes Delay in MusicAtOurHouse Registration

August 27th, 2011 by admin

Our thoughts are with Mr. Johnson in New Jersey and everyone on the East coast as Irene bears down on them.

I remember escaping from Houston as Ike approached in 2008, and then returning to weeks of rebuilding, including power outages, which almost prevented the launch of HistoryAtOurHouse that year.

Mr. Johnson may be facing the same situation. He has already notified me that due to storm preparations, he has had to put off MusicAtOurHouse registration preparations. Consequently, the August 28 registration opening we had previously announcement is no longer feasible. Registration will open as soon as possible, at a date yet to be determined.

We apologize for this inconvenience, and we appreciate your patience as we adapt to this evolving situation.

Since we cannot know in advance how much of an impact Irene will have not just on Mr. Johnson, but on the East coast as a whole — and thereby on the country — rather than promise to open registration at some specific later date, we have to adopt a “wait and see” position when it comes to both MusicAtOurHouse and ScienceAtOurHouse registration.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Program Details for Fall 2011-12

August 23rd, 2011 by admin

In addition to offering recordings of our inaugural 6-month History of Music course, MusicAtOurHouse will feature a sequence of three new courses this fall:

Here are some of the details:

Classical Music’s Greatest Hits (Part 1 & 2)
Course Description

From the Viennese classics to modern movie favorites, from “The Three B’s” (Bach, Beethoven and Brahms) to the Russian Romantics, this course explores the most famous and iconic compositions from the Western heritage from 1600 to the present. We’ll feel the thrill of hearing and knowing a carefully assembled list of the most popular works centering around the Enlightenment. We’ll talk about why the most famous pieces stand out from others, what makes them so irresistible and distinctive, and why they have had such lasting popular appeal. The greatest hits are greatest hits for a reason! The 4-week first part of the course focuses on great instrumental and symphonic music–especially on the complexity, variety, richness, and majesty possible to the orchestra. The 5-week second part focuses on piano and vocal music, including the greatest hits from that uniquely powerful genre, opera.

Classical Music’s Greatest Hits 1 (Symphonic emphasis)

Classical Music’s Greatest Hits 2 (Piano and vocal emphasis)

Music for the Holidays, Course Description

A lighthearted course sampling the variety of music for the holidays. We’ll discuss the historical origin, musical characteristics and emotional meaning of the music, including such questions as why “Joy to the World” is thought to have derived from music by Handel, and what the musical qualities are of the soulful African-American spirituals. The underlying theme of the course is the positive emotion that the winter holidays bring out in people: warmth, joy, tenderness, and festive celebration.

Music for the Holidays

Stay tuned for more detailed registration information. Combined pricing for all three classes will be offered at a discount!

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Homeschoolers: It’s Time to Get Classical!

August 20th, 2011 by admin

Many HistoryAtOurHouse clients and prospective clients have been eagerly awaiting specific program news on the new music curriculum offerings from MusicAtOurHouse for the 2011-12 academic year. We appreciate your patience, and we are happy to provide you with program details over the coming days.

One of the most exciting things about the evolving MusicAtOurHouse program is that its creator, M. Zachary Johnson is not just a historian of music, but an active composer. In fact, at this time, Mr. Johnson is composing an opera on a historical theme! (The subject is still a secret.)

Importantly, given the demands of such a mammoth undertaking, Mr. Johnson can only commit to teaching MusicAtOurHouse classes during the fall at this time — winter and spring program announcements will have to wait until the holiday season.

What a fall program it will be! Mr. Johnson has provided the introductory “teaser” video (below) about the amazing tour he will give during the fall term of MusicAtOurHouse focusing on the greatest music ever composed!

Stay tuned over the coming days for the full line-up of fall classes, including class descriptions and detailed scheduling information, and for registration information!

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Announcing MusicAtOurHouse for January 2011!

November 8th, 2010 by admin

• Elementary Grades Syllabus
• Junior High / High School Syllabus
• Adult Program Syllabus

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »