Piano for Kids

They have been a year in the making, but now they are finally finished and ready to help young children learn the basics of music theory and move them on to standard music notation.

At the request of several teachers and parents, I undertook putting my thoughts on teaching basic music theory to children into writing.  Since early in my teaching career, I found that theory was boring, and it often totally turned my students off. They just did not seem to want to understand the basic principles.  Gradually I found ways to explain these principles in such a way that the children understood, and enjoyed what they were learning.  I go back to the basics of math, like how to help them understand fractions, a foundation stone of music rhythm.  This book starts with the simple basics of note values and how they relate to each other.  Most of the material covered is needed in the early stages of music training.  It finishes with a simplified discussion of how scales are built and relate to each other.  It has been received with enthusiasm from the teachers and parents that have requested it.  “This is what I have been looking for, it’s great!” has been the comment of most of them.  I am truly excited about having this available to anyone who wants to have a little different way of presenting basic theory elements to their young students.

The second new book to our website is “Moving On in Music.”  The Animal Notes work hard to help children as young as three play music and do it right.  However, the goal in teaching music is much larger than this.  The Animal Notes make the first step fun and easy. They also help a child develop a love not only of music, but being able to play well.  The Animal Note/standard note flash cards help the child to learn not only the Animal Notes and their word clues, but also transfer that knowledge to the corresponding standard notes.  The “Moving On in Music” book goes one step further in this transition process.  Each three line song is written first in the Animal Notes, then in standard music notation.  Each song has at least one element of theory to be reviewed and practiced.  Again it has been warmly received by the teachers I am working with and the students, who are really enjoying it.  We hope your students will as well.

I have not visited with you for a couple of weeks now, and I really miss sharing the excitement I feel when working with the Animal Notes method of introducing music to young children.  It is so much fun to see the youngsters enjoy being able to play and to watch their progress.

In December, I told you about Griffin, my little two and a half year old that played his first piece in front of an audience.  He now marches into the piano when it is time for his lesson, and crawls up on the piano bench — ready to play.  I point to the notes to help him keep track of where he is in the song.  I find it best to do this with my younger students as it prevents them from getting frustrated by losing their place.  With each beginning book purchased, we include a free keyboard chart, showing the Animals on each appropriate key. The chart fits behind the black keys to help the children locate the correct note.  Griffin carefully locates the note he needs, and then strikes the correct key.   He is so proud of his accomplishment.  When he plays “Hot Cross Buns” and his Mommy sings along with him, his smile lights up the whole room.

I teach a family with four daughters.  The oldest three girls have been taking lessons with me since last summer.  The youngest turned three in February.  At the first lesson after her big day, this little child with an impish smile rushed to me and announced, “I am now three, and I want my first lesson today.”  Since her interest span is still short, she shares her lesson time with her 5 year old sister.  But she is always first at the piano on the day of their lessons.

Two weeks ago, I started another young man.  He had just turned 5.  He is one of nine siblings, and the seventh to start taking lessons.  He is a quiet youngster, and I was not certain he was ready.  To my delight, he was so pleased with himself and proud of what he was doing.  He could hardly wait to get home and show his Dad what he was learning.  This week I started using the Animal Note/standard note flash cards with him.  At first he was confused.  What was that blank note on the back, and what did it have to do with the animal on the front.  We went over the word clues again with the animal and then flipped the card.  His eyes lit up; “That’s the animal without its face.  Children and their comments are priceless. 

The Animal Notes give security to young children.  They open the door to music for children at an early age, yet provide a way for them to move easily on to standard music and greater things in their musical futures.