Piano for Kids

Many of you have written to ask that question.  The beautiful and most important fact about the Animal Note method for early music training, unlike some other early music training methods, is that it leads to understanding and being able to play standard music notation.  The Animal Note Flash cards and the word clues associated with each note enable the child to become comfortable with standard music with the first note learned.  How a parent or teacher progresses depends on the student’s age, dedication, and temperament.

Children ages three and four need to progress more slowly.  They love the Note Reading book, and they usually progress through it in six months to a year, loving every minute of it.  The Timing book needs to be taken more slowly.  Word clues here help the child learn how long to hold the note.  Don’t be too strict on conventional methods of counting as it can be difficult at their tender years.  If they must count a measure containing two quarter notes and a half not; one, one, one-two, let them.  They will change to standard counting as they mature, and the important lesson of ear and sight training will develop properly.  Let them play in the fun books, even if the tempo is not exact. They are encouraged because  everyone likes to play something they know, and others enjoy hearing. Remember to review the notes and word clues learned with the Flash Cards every lesson.

The 5 and 6 year old group learn more quickly than the younger children, but they need the security that the Animal Note Method gives them.  They will move relatively quickly through the Note Reading Book and their studies in the Timing Book will possibly be smoother.  They will really enjoy the Fun Song and Christmas books, taking good advantage of their knowledge of the songs to improve their timing skills.  The time you spend with them reviewing the Animal Note Flash Cards and word clues will pay big dividends.

For beginning students 7, 8 and 9, the Animal Note Method makes beginning music fun and creates a solid, firm foundation for their future music education.  Again the Animal Note Flash Cards and word clues allow them to identify the standard notes with little difficulty.  I strongly suggest you use both the Note Reading Book and the Timing Book for this group before moving on. Being able to study timing without the struggles of learning standard music notation gives the children a chance to become proficient in rhythm and beat. The Fun Song and Christmas books make learning more enjoyable and add variety to their music studies.  Early music education is a lifetime gift.

YES, it most certainly is possible, and it can be a lot of fun.  However, many teachers will not accept children under the age of 7 for lessons because they consider them too young to understand and accept the difficult task of note reading.  A child of 7 is already getting involved in a lot of schoolwork and extracurricular activities.  They will often tell their piano teacher they just do not have time to practice.   They are just being “kids”, but many times the real truth is that those dots on that page of music are just too difficult to recognize and understand.   It is simply just soooooo frustrating.

It does not have to be this way any longer.  By using associated learning, the Animal Note Method of early music education makes learning to read notes and understanding timing fun and easy.  A keyboard chart placed behind the black keys of a piano allows the student to locate the keyboard home of each animal.  Because the Animal Notes are easily recognized, the child can think about timing and hand positions.  The Flash Cards and word clues make the transition to standard music notation easy and with unnecessary frustration.  The added bonus, four year olds and many three year olds can begin music and be successful.  Yes, because of their tender years learning must be at a slower and more patient pace, but by the time they reach 7 they will be playing quite well, and they can get involved in other things as well.

So why do this?  My 40 years of teaching leads me to agree with tests showing that children who have early music education do better in school.  The stimuli brought about by the interaction of reading notes for tone and timing, individual movements of the fingers, and the use of both hands working together helps to develop several areas of the brain.  As a result, when you give the gift of music you give your child much more, a better chance in life.  For further information on these tests visit http://www.musiceducationmadness.com/important.shtml

When any individual gets a good start in learning something new, they have a much better chance of succeeding in the long run.  I have had the honor and privilege of seeing this theory work over and over again.  It was about 20 years ago that I started using the Animal Notes to teach Note Reading and Timing to young children.   Now I have the pleasure of knowing these young children as adults and enjoying the music they now create.  Yesterday I listened to one of my former students play jazz to a standing ovation.  Wow, that was really special.  Afterwards his Mom talked to me about his beginning in music and the Animal Notes. 

I have a junior in high school that has a minor level of several learning disabilities.  Piano has been an important part of his total educational plan.  It has not been easy for him, but the Animal Notes played an important role as they allowed him to learn note reading and timing without undo frustration.  He now plays weekly for the residents of a nursing home. 

The three children I started last spring with the “Note Reading for Guitar” book will each play their songs at recital next month using standard music notation.  The older two will be adding some chords to their melodies.  My seven year old is not quite ready for this yet, but he is really enjoying playing songs he knows and others recognize.

My music families all celebrate the success of their children and rejoice with me that the music is now available on the net.  I am also getting some warm and rewarding comments from those of you who have ordered books and used them as the foundation for your children’s music education. 
Thank you!