Harmony Woods is my children's book series teaching early musical concepts. Children will fall in love with characters Penny Piano and Freddy Forte as they meet new friends and learn musical concepts like high and low, loud and soft, and fast and slow!
Even before children are old enough to pick up an instrument they are experimenting with sounds: they sing high and low, loud and soft, fast and slow. Encouraging this experimentation can create a solid musical foundation from which they can grow!
Studies show that musical education can have a positive effect on brain development. Studying music improves memory, teaches patience and can boost confidence, and social skills. Reading Harmony Woods to your child or students is a great way to introduce basic musical concepts in a fun and easy to understand manner!
Throughout the books the characters hear or sing music, which is shown in the illustrations on the staff. Click on the buttons below to hear the music from the story!
The Glossary of Terms and Teacher’s Notes at the back of the book help teachers introduce the musical terms and concepts in the story to their students.
I love visiting elementary schools to read Harmony Woods to classes! Harmony Woods is a fun and unique complement to your exiting music program, or as an introduction to music education!
For Penny and Freddy Search High and Low, I bring my keyboard and play the music the characters hear through the woods. Hearing the HIGH pitch in contrast with the LOW pitch helps enhance the learning experience. Students are encouraged to listen for music words throughout the story, which we discuss and define afterwards. We wrap up by listening to Canon in D Major, where they can hear the character’s melodies within the song, while they colour pictures of the characters from the book!
When I read Camp Tempo I play audio excerpts of the music the characters sing in the story. After the story we listen to the music again and discuss why we think a composer would choose a fast or slow tempo. We discuss how the tempo affects the mood of the song (how the song makes us feel.) I always make sure I bring my Harmony Woods colouring pages, which have contrastic musical concepts like high and low, loud and quiet, and fast and show!
School Visits!
What Educators are saying about Harmony Woods:
Harmony Woods was enjoyed by this group of Campers during Storytime at great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls Canada! It is now a regular part of the Kids Club Storytime Events!