For Parents

For Parents

I wrote these articles for parents of my young students. They address questions I am commonly asked.

For important information about piano learning materials and my approach to teaching music reading, please see articles in my "Resources" category.

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Composing Helps Young Students Understand Music

COMPOSING HELPS BUILD UNDERSTANDING

Most students seem to learn the building blocks of music better when they make their own pieces out of them. Students benefit from being encouraged to explore the world of music, especially to compose or improvise their own pieces, often using the concepts they’re currently learning from their music reading materials.

At the very beginning, they may make a piece of their own that goes up or down, or a piece that uses both loud and soft sounds. As time progresses, they may make a blues of their own, or a piece that uses ABA form. After much more study, the student may be making pieces or improvisations that involve more intricate musical forms, chords with #11's or another more advanced music theory idea.

Young Students Understand Music Building Blocks

Q: Can young beginning keyboard students really understand music theory? Furthermore, how does understanding these building blocks of music help students read music more fluently?

A: At the very beginning of keyboard study, students can easily learn to tell the difference between higher and lower sounds. A piece about an airplane may go higher, one about snow falling may go lower. A piece about an elevator may go both up and down. At the same time, this is how the music then appears on the page.

Beginners start with un-staffed pieces, and gradually move on to partially, then fully staffed music. As much as possible, students equate what they have already experienced musically to what is then notated on a page.

PP Tips: Length of Practice Session

Parents: does your young piano student practice enough? Are there positive or negative feelings associated with the length of the practice session? Let’s say the student’s teacher has recommended 30 minutes of practice. However, at home, you notice at the end of the practice session, it’s only been 20 minutes. Which of the following is the better response?

A) You didn’t practice enough! I’m disappointed in you. What will your teacher think? Go back and practice for ten more minutes. You are supposed to practice for 30 minutes, and you only played for 20 minutes. You’re not doing a very good job.

OR

B) Wow, that was great! You sat and practiced for a full 20 minutes - excellent work! I’ll bet you could do the full 30 minutes if you really put your mind to it. It’ll be fun to see what happens tomorrow when you practice. Good job!