Teaching the Piano to “Fascinating Four” Year Olds
Children that have celebrated their fourth birthday are a lot of fun to work with. They are so curious about their world and ready to learn. The Animal Note method of music education is fun and delightful to their little minds. Most love animals, thus making the music notes easy to recognize and fun to play with, but to recognize standard music notation is simply mind boggling to them. The Animal Notes allow them to begin music at a point in their lives that is uncluttered by many of the extra activates that fill the lives of older children.
Each child is an individual, so it is very important to work with your young child’s personality. Some four year olds are calm and able to concentrate on your teaching; others are so full of energy, while others want to flit like a busy butterfly from one song, idea and even instrument to another.
The corner stone of music is note reading and timing. Getting a good foundation in these two important facets of music is the main goal in the beginning. The Animal Note method allows for the variation necessary to meet the needs of young children. The Note Reading Book and the Animal Note/standard note flash cards can to used in many ways to help your young student learn the word clues for each note and begin to associate the standard note with its Animal Note and that notes location on the Grand Staff. Once the basic notes are learned there is the Timing Book and two great “Fun Books” that have songs the children have heard and enjoy playing. More books are in the works to add variety and additional teaching materials
Lessons should be about 15 to 20 minutes at first, but it does not take long for this age child to stay with the lesson up to 30 minutes. Vary your approach, let them play games, like making up their own song with the Flash Cards, encourage them to play old songs that you have already worked on and always let them choose at least one of the review pieces. Corrections must be mixed with words of encouragement and positive, appropriate praise.
Four year olds are usually capable to working on their hand position and not using just one or two fingers play the notes of the piece, but be patient and constant in your efforts to help them develop the correct position. Using each finger separate from the others is a strange new idea to them and developing a good habit of doing this does not come instantly.
You will truly be giving your child a gift of a life time by introducing them to music and the piano or keyboard at this young age. It is a rewarding experience for both your child and you
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