Declaring an artist or composer of the month is a fun way to learn about visual art and music.
- Art prints
- CDs or audiotapes
- Simple biographies of visual artists and composers
- Decide ahead of time which artists or composers you will feature. Look at your local library, on the Internet, or in an encyclopedia for some information on each.
- Find a few prints of each visual artist's work or an audiotape or CD of each composer's work.
- You may want to base your choices on the seasons; for example, December is the perfect time to feature Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and The Nutcracker.
- In a prominent place, post the name and, if possible, a picture of the artist or composer for the current month.
- Display the artist's prints or spend some quiet time listening to the composer's music. If possible, attend an exhibit or concert that features the artist's or composer's work.
- Ask your child what he likes and/or dislikes about each work.
- Read a short biography of the artist or composer or simply share the interesting things you've learned about his or her life.
- Have a few books available for your child to read or leaf through.
- At the end of the month, change your display.