The Animal Note Method of Note Reading in Music - The New Kid on the Block
Note reading is the foundation knowledge required to play any instrument. For many people the notes are no more than dots on a sheet of paper; they make no sense, and trying to remember which dot tells you what key to press, what finger position to use, or what string and bow position must be used is enough to blow one’s mind. Time and practice can conquer this challenge, but far too many get discouraged and quit before they have gained enough proficiency to even begin to receive joy from the creation of music.
Many methods on the market attempt to solve this problem. As all individuals are created so differently, some of these methods do help the individual succeed. “Note Reading for Young Children” is the “new kid on the block” in the field of music education. It uses a little different approach based on the widely accepted fact that many people learn by association with knowledge that they already have acquired. This is especially true for young children, but it can make the road easier for anyone wanting to learn music; yes, even adults. The great fact about this method is it works!
In the American system of music education, the seven notes are identified by the first seven letters of the American alphabet. The Animal Note Method uses the oval shape of each of these seven notes and turns them into caricatures of a familiar animal’s face or body. These notes are presented in the “Note Reading for Young Children” book with a short story/word clue that helps the child (or individual) associate the animal with its position on the Grand Staff of music. Thus the spots on the paper become friends that smile back at them from the page. Since children as young as three can recognize the animals, they can begin to learn the foundation blocks of music before their lives become cluttered with all the other important activities of life.
|
|
