Building the Foundation of Music Education
A strong, well-built foundation is essential under any building that will last through time. The same is true of an individual’s education. Music should be a part of a child’s education. Music is all around us. The modern inventions of our time have made music more available than ever. If we have been fortunate enough to have received some music education in our youth, we are able to enjoy and more fully appreciate music as adults.
Music is very complex and deep. Some individuals have spent years, if not their entire adult life, studying, researching and evaluating music. How thankful I am to these individuals who have made available the fruits of their labor. Because of their efforts of through time, teachers have a vast resource of information available to them to share with their students.
However, the basis of music education starts with a solid understanding of note reading which requires two talents. First being able to read the note on the Grand Staff and determine its tone and second to read its value or timing. These two essential parts of music create the melody and rhythm of any song.
As teachers of beginning music students, it is so important that we build a strong foundation. To do this we must see the challenge before our students through their eyes. They learn by associating new knowledge to what they already know. Working with 4 through 8 year old age group requires special attention, because many are not ready to accept the abstract concept of standard note reading. That is why the Animal Notes used in the books and flash cards featured on this blog are so helpful. Each note head is a caricature of an animal whose name starts with the alphabet letter normally associated with that note. Young children can learn simple word associations for each animal that will help them locate the standard note later on. For the youngest in this age group, it takes more time, more songs and constant reminders of the word clues, but for the older children this simple process will move more quickly. Through this method, a strong foundation of note reading and timing can be built. I have personally worked with it for 15 years now. I know some of my students, that are now fine young musicians, would likely have quit early because they could not read standard notes as a young student.
|
|
