Piano for Kids

Most people in the world enjoy at least some kind of music. A child started in music at a young age is given so many wonderful advantages. While music lessons can be expensive, the benefits over the long run can truly be a gift that keeps on giving.  Children under the age of five can learn how to play simple tunes on the piano and then progress to more complicated pieces before they even develop a yearning to go to pop star concerts. And when they learn music basics early, they may be more discriminating about the kind of concerts they want to attend in their pre-teen and teen years.  A few will become performers or teachers themselves thus sharing their talents with others, passing on the gift of music
 
The challenge of becoming proficient in note reading can be so frustrating to many young children that they want to quit before they have a chance to learn enough to develop their individual talents and share it with others.  The Animal Note method opens this door to young children by making the notes of music friendly and familiar.  A young child can easily play these notes and quickly learn the word clues when they are repeated often.  With the special flash cards featuring the Animal Notes on one side and its standard whole note one the other, a child can have fun learning standard notation by using the word clues associated with the Animal Notes.  Learning the principles of timing is also simplified by the use of the Animal Notes.  The child can easily recognize the note thus allowing them to concentrate on its timing value.

Why not give the young child in your life the special gift that keeps on giving - a strong basis of music that will go with them all of their lives?  It is a gift they can enjoy in their personal quiet moments or shared with others.  It is truly a gift of tremendous value  

When teaching a young child, it is very important that you plant the seed of new knowledge, pack the soil around it with encouragement and positive thoughts, and sprinkle with praise when deserved.  Negativity, strong words, and frustration on the teacher’s part not only slow down the learning process, but sometimes kill the seed of knowledge completely.

Learning music is such an awesome gift for any individual.  There is, however, strong evidence that the earlier a child is exposed to music, the better.  Learning music does improve a child’s chances to understand math, science, and logic.  Music uses many of the basic principles of both math and logic, and the early introduction to music helps develop the right side of the brain,  This is important because many of the other early skills an individual learns does more to develop the left side of the brain.  Music can be that important equalizer in mental development.
 
The Animal Note method for early music education uses familiar animal caricatures to helps children learn their notes.  Each animal has special word clues to help the child remember the note’s placement on the Grand Staff.  These clues can be used later to help the child recognize standard music notation.  Because the animals are easily recognized the child can study timing without having to hold on to one note for a long time while figuring out what note should be played next.  The flash cards help the child learn the notes and make a smooth transition to standard notes.  A “fun book,” like the Christmas song book, reinforces the child’s knowledge while they enjoy entertaining family with familiar tunes.  Thus the seed of music is planted, the soil of learning is packed well, and the total learning experience is watered with fun.

There was an article in our Sunday newspaper identifying factors affecting left versus right handedness in individuals.  I remember the first time I started teaching a child who was definitely left handed.  I was excited because I thought he would have an easier time learning the bass notes and creating music with his left hand.  Actually I have never found that to be true.  What I have found is playing the piano strengthens the use, coordination, and dexterity of both hands which in turn develops both sides of the individuals brain.  

If you think about it, playing the piano is a very complex task.  As a student advances, they find their hands must move over the entire keyboard; they can not leave them in any one set position.  Each hand is doing its own special task. In fact, each individual finger must perform smoothly and efficiently at all times.  The student must develop the ability to remain focused on the task during the entire piece.  What an amazing accomplishment.  It is no wonder we all admire anyone who can play this complex instrument well.

The beginning student needs a strong, comfortable, and workable foundation.  The Animal Note method with its fun, friendly notes and word clues enable children to learn to play the piano at an earlier age. They are able to study and learn timing because the notes are easily identified. The word clues they learn help them identify standard notes on the Grand Staff.  Children as young as four can successfully be taught, allowing them to be well on their way to playing the piano and developing good dexterity early in their lives.