Piano for Kids

Each parent’s notion may differ a little, but success and pleasure in the child’s accomplishment are most likely driving forces that cause a parent to invest in musical training.
 
Learning to read notes and understanding timing are at the basis of all musical training.  I have had many adults tell me they just weren’t gifted in music and could not succeed when they took music.  If the truth was known, these individuals probably never became comfortable with reading music.  Each note must be read for two essential musical elements.  Its tone (where is the note located on the Grand Staff of music) and how long the tone is to be held (the element that creates the rhythm or beat of the music).  For some individuals, accomplishment of these elements is just too frustrating for the beginner in standard music notation, to want to continue the activity, and for young children it is just not fun!!!

The younger the child is when they start music the better chance they have to succeed and really enjoy music all of their lives.  First they have time for it, and second music has a chance to become a part of them before a lot of other activities crowd their lives.

There are many methods on the market for teaching music to young children.  The Noteimals’ method, the Animal Notes that help young children learn music, provides the essential elements that lead to success and pleasure in the learning process and to future fun and joy with music.  The Animal Notes are easy for a child to understand; each has a story that helps the child learn the note’s location on the Grand Staff.  These stories, when used with the Flash Cards, will help the child recognize the standard note that each animal represents.  The basic structure of each animal is the oval of the standard note which makes the transition easier.  After children can read Animal Notes, they can concentrate on the timing taught in the Timing Book. Fun song and Christmas song books in the Animal Notes’ library allow children to play songs they know while they learn timing.  I am working on a book to further help understand other more esoteric aspects of standard music notation and make a smooth transition to standard music notation.
The Animal Note Method is truly a win – win method for early music training and works well for children as young as 4.  Yes, any teaching takes patience, but when success accompanies your efforts it is all worthwhile.

Storms can be very scary for a young child. Having to leave one’s home because of a storm is not exactly a fun vacation, but for one young seven year old, the misfortune helped her find a hidden talent and brought joy to her and her mother. 

I teach three young girls who are home schooled.  Yesterday, I went to their home, and their mother told me about the incident.  A family of five had evacuated their home and came to their relative’s house next door to my student’s family.  The neighbor brought the little seven year old daughter over to play with my seven year old student, Calle.  As the afternoon of activities progressed the two girls found themselves at the piano.  Calle asked her new friend if she knew how to play the piano. With no answer, Calle got out her Animal Note books and started to teach her.  They worked together for about thirty minutes, thoroughly enjoying the adventure in music.  Later that afternoon when the mother came to get her daughter, Calle’s mother complimented the child on her music ability.  To her surprise, she learned the young child had never played the piano before.  The excited child pulled her mother to the piano and played “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas” for her– so proud of what she had learned!

Thanks to the Animal Notes, the two young children had a great experience that day.  Calle was able to share with her new friend a skill she was learning, and talk about each note in a way the other young child could easily understand.  And the new friend received the joy of actually being able to play a piece of music on the piano.  What a truly special gift for both children.