Solid Habits: Book & Talk for Parents – Classic Strategies

Classical music may seem distant and difficult, but in fact, it is a familiar neighbor who has comforted our hearts in advertisements and movies without us even realizing it. Sometimes, long-winded songs can be burdensome, but if you keep a little distance from them and keep them close to you every day, classical music will soon become a reliable nutrient that satisfies life’s hunger. Today, we introduce two books that will help you erase vague fears and take a light step into the world of classics. I hope you experience the true rest and freedom that music gives you through the journey of filling your inner self with the habit of one song a day.

◆ The joy of classics as if you were taking a walk every morning

There are many ways to access and enjoy classical music. You can find classical performance content on video platforms, and you can also use music-specialized apps. Many people go to see their favorite performers perform in person. Another thing is, there is a truly ‘classical’ way to naturally encounter classical music in your daily life. It is ‘radio’. ‘Time to Read Classics’ (written by Ji-Hyun Kim) brings together valuable knowledge introduced over two years in ‘3 Minute Encyclopedia’, a popular corner of KBS Classic FM. As you read this book, you will go beyond simply listening to music and open your eyes to practical appreciation methods, from etiquette on ‘when to applaud’ in a concert hall to how to distinguish between the sounds of an oboe and a clarinet.

This book consists of four movements in total. The first movement begins with the name of the keynote that is the basis of music, the tonality, the work number that is useful when looking for a piece, the directives and tempo words encountered in the score, and a story about the experience at the concert hall. The second movement explores the world of orchestral instruments such as wind, string, and percussion instruments, as well as the versatile keyboard instruments. The third movement is about the world of music made with the voice, such as chorus, lieder, opera, and religious music, and the final fourth movement organizes various genres and forms of music, from symphonies to dance pieces, and various piano pieces. In particular, the experience of reading the commentary while checking it with your own ears through the QR code on each page transforms unfamiliar terms into familiar everyday language.

There is an area that is often referred to as an ‘advanced’ hobby. When you first encounter it, it’s very difficult and you don’t seem to know much about it. However, once you become interested, if you continue to use it, you will soon develop your own taste, and a name you have heard of somewhere will catch your eye. In any field, it is said that ‘the more you know, the better you see’, but isn’t it actually ‘the more you listen, the more you know’? For parents who want to escape from boring formalities and enjoy classical music as a ‘hip’ hobby, we will provide a walk-like time to gain a piece of knowledge every morning.

◆ The miracle of one song a day that improves your life

The power of classical music has already been widely proven in the scientific and medical communities. Classic relieves anxiety and stress by increasing the happiness hormones, such as endorphins, serotonin, oxytocin, and dopamine, and decreasing the stress hormone, cortisol. It is truly a ‘health medicine’ that can be heard with the ears. Now, why not add listening to classical music to the habits you do for yourself, such as reading for 10 minutes in the morning, stretching, napping, walking, and writing in a diary? ‘When I feel hungry in life, I listen to classical music.’ For the author, who has been a pianist for over 20 years, classical music was a habit that solidified his day. ‘365 Days of Classical Habit’ (written by Cho Hyun-young) is based on a list of classics loved by Koreans and is designed to allow you to listen to one song a day, 365 days a year.

As you turn the pages, you come across intimate confessions related to the lives of composers. We come to think about the sincerity hidden behind the sweet melody of ‘Greetings with Love’ written by the unknown Elgar for his wife Alice, and the human will of Beethoven who wrote the ‘Pathetique’ Sonata in a miserable mood while swallowing 75 different medicines. Additionally, Haydn’s witty anecdote of getting the orchestra members to take a vacation through his ‘Farewell’ symphony shows that classical music is not outdated knowledge but a skill for living life. Rather than a grand goal, try adding a habit of listening to classical music for yourself for 10 minutes a day. When we encounter classics as a life-changing tool, our lives will become much deeper and broader than before.

Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education Parent Reading Culture Support Teachers’ Meeting