Positive Strokes and Fun Make Learning to Play the Piano Easier for Young Students
In my last two visits with you I talked about hand position and helping children learn to keep their eyes mainly on the music not on their hands. Before the creation of the Animal Notes, the main thing my teaching had to be centered on, in the beginning, was learning the notes. My students often tried everything they could to distract me from the task at hand. They became frustrated enough with note reading, that it took months to reach the point I could consider working on timing. I found that working with hand position and watching the notes on the music book only added to their frustration.
When the notes became friendly, happy faces of familiar animals, note reading suddenly became less frustrating. Each animal’s common name starts with the same letter as the standard A through G commonly used. I know in many parts of the world the musical notes are called by the do, re, mi, etc., we use in singing. Using Animal Notes takes some adjusting, but it can be done. .
Each Animal Note has a little story connected to it that helps the children remember where that animal is located on the Grand Staff. When I start a new piece with my young beginning students, I ask the child to name the notes. I then ask them to tell me the story connected with the location of that animal. As we progress, I begin associating the first letter of the animal’s name with the standard alphabet name of the note. The children and I often find fun and laughter as we talk about the animals and where their “picture” hangs on the musical staff.
Next week I’ll share with you some of my ideas of associating the Animal Notes with the correct keys on the key board. Until then, have a great day and enjoy the wonderful world of teaching music!
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