pentatonic music and songs (based on the pentatonic scale which has five notes, instead of the usual seven) are used in waldorf schools up until 3rd grade - when, according to waldorf pedagogy, children have developed an inner emotional life that makes the major and minor scales more appropriate for them. one beautiful and important aspect of the pentatonic scale is that all notes harmonize with one another. and therefore only harmonic sounds are made when children are playing instruments and improvising together or alone. additionally, pentatonic music has the characteristic of going on and on without having an ending note, which encourages the young child to stay in that dreamy, wondrous, imaginative state. here are a few of our well loved pentatonic instruments that we so enjoy...
little lyre
kinderlyre (that i've had for 20 years)
lyre tuning tool
xylophone from germany
yours in beautiful pentatonic harmony,
shelley
11 comments:
the xylophone is so pretty!
grace - thanks! i've had it for years, too. as you can see, one of the little key pins is missing. any idea where i could take it to get that replaced?
they are all so beautiful. the rounded shapes make so much sense for little ones too.
They are all really beautiful!
I love the sound of pentatonic instruments. Very beautiful.
so beautiful. i'm learning so much from you and your blog. thank you so much for sharing so much about the waldorf way. : )
I'm wondering where in your home you display/store these beautiful instruments? Are they readily available to your children or do you bring them out for music time? How does that work in your household? I'm in the middle of deciding where in our home would be the best place for our musical collection . . .
Last year I carved a pentatonic lyre with my own hands in the workshop of an anthroposophic instrument maker. I really enjoyed working with the wood and the tools and my hands. It was a sensual time also because of the inspiring chats with the instrument maker who became a friend for me. I don't play the lyre very often. Maybe the time will come soon ...
You are so amazing...i love this blog...it is just gorgeous.
xx
Shelley,
where from Germany is the xylophone? I want to buy one for Christmas. So far I have not seen such a beautiful one like yours. Can you tell me the name of the shop?
Thank you, Maria
thanks, everyone!
leslie - we keep them in a special cabinet until the time we bring them out to use them. i am in the process of making some special bags for the lyres and will show those on another post, once i've completed them. :)
maria - i saw your lyre on your blog...it is so very beautiful! i hope to one day do this. :) as for the xylophone, i bought it so many years ago...i do not remember the shop i bought it from! only that it came from germany...
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