Piano for Kids

One of the greatest feelings on earth comes over me when I have helped a child feel successful.  It lifts their self-esteem and helps them realize that they are capable of “something” if it is presented to them in a manner they can comprehend, and they put effort into achieving the goal.  The Animal Note teaching method for beginning music students, based on associative learning, has given me the opportunity to enjoy this wonderful feeling over and over again.  The oval shape of standard music notes becomes the head, or body, of an animal.  They are easily recognizable for any one beginning to learn music.  Fun stories about their activities and other clues can help an individual learn the location of each animal on the Grand Staff.  Overcoming the barriers of note reading is more than half the “battle” of learning how to play musical instruments.  Yes, the individual must learn where each tone is located on the instrument and must conquer timing, but both of these challenges, in most cases, pale when placed beside the challenge of understanding the sequential actions required when looking at an overall piece of music in standard notation.  A good understanding of note reading makes this task much less daunting.

Since creating and using animal notes, teaching music has become really fun and a great joy.  I can now concentrate on how to help the individual overcome other challenges they are facing while learning to play their new instrument.  For very young children it might be learning to identify their right hand from their left, or how to play on their finger tips.  For a little older child it might be moving their hands easily over their chosen instrument.

Switching to standard music notation when the individual is ready is not a problem.  Just use the Animal Note Flash Cards at every lesson, review old notes, and add new ones.  Emphasize the story word clues that help identify the note and its location on the Grand Staff.   With this practice, the standard note becomes as familiar as the Animal Note.

I am now working on a new book to be called “Moving On.”  It will have a piece written in the Animal Notes and then in Standard Music notes.  Each song will have different aspects of music theory to be discussed and practiced.  I have listened to other music teachers whose ideas and suggestions have been very helpful.

We have been focusing on four year old students.  In the last few weeks I have faced a new problem with teaching the very young children.  This little girl is not yet four.  Her two older sisters are taking lessons and she wanted to as well.  With the animal notes it is now only possible to start a child this you and actually make steady progress.  Finding and learning the notes is easy for her.  We make her lessons short at this point because she is so young.  She is presenting me a unique problem.  All young children have trouble telling their right hand from their left.  She is left hander, strongly left handed.   Her left hand wanted to do what the right hand normally does.  We play games to try to teach the right hand responsibilities.  She laughs and tries, but the left hand wants so badly to rule.  If I get to stern with her she will melt into tears, but if I just stay patient and work at the problem a little each week, she will learn to tell her hands apart and we’ll be able to encourage her right hand to do its part.  Both these accomplishments will mean a lot to her in the future and are well worth the time I am spending on the task at this point in her life.  She will not only accomplish these tasks but she is learning the important basics of music, note reading and timing.  By the time she is in the first grade she will be able to play standard five finger music with little difficulty and will be putting both hands together in easy pieces.  What a gift her parents are giving this young lady. 

I will not try to convince you that teaching children this young does not take patience and some ingenuity, but it is so worth your time and energy.  The Animal Notes make it possible for a young child to learn a valued lesson that is sometimes very difficult for adults.  What an advantage to have already been given such a head start in music.  When other children are just beginning to play an instrument or music is introduced at school, this fortunate youngster will already know and understand the material being presented.  When it is time to go to gymnastic lessons or dance classes or play ball, music will be a wonderful part of life that will be a joy to spend time with even when life is filled with other activities.

The Animal Notes are easy to work with so give them a chance and give the youngsters in your life a gift that truly keeps on giving.