When playing the keyboard, it is so important to practice one hand at at time. When you are ready to add the left hand, perhaps just sustained chords at the beginning. Sometimes, you can just practice one hand at a time. But slowly, and one phrase at a time. Then put it together. Always build and add slowly, rather than being too ambitious and have to take away.
When young people don’t know the words to a song, they often make up nonsense words instead. This is a bad habit and should be discouraged. I often take extra time when teaching a new song just to go over the lyrics. The words and the music go hand in hand together, and it is critical that they are learned together. Sometimes, the notes of the song and the words are directly related, especially in a “story” song. Learn your words!
Hey! Sorry I have been away for a little while. I recently was recruited to join an orchestra of serious amateurs and music teachers, etc. Oh, it was so much fun! I haven’t played in a group for over a year, so this was nice, and it will get me practicing again. I enjoyed hearing the blends of the winds and all the orchestral colors again. There is nothing, nothing, like live orchestral music!
Some people are able to play the piano at sight, just by looking. Others can’t. I was recently asked if notation should be taught before or after one learns to play the notes. It is probably best to learn them one at a time, perhaps even separately. Later, one can associate the two together. After all, reading music shouldn’t hinder the actual act of performance. The sound is what’s important.
When singing, it is often so challenging for young people to remember their harmonies. I often wonder what might be the very best ways to do this. Repeated practice is the key, but some people just have a “knack” for remembering their notes. I’m not sure if this is just a “gift” or what exactly. And if someone can’t “hear” their tones, what do you do? Hmm. Just a thought. But I always take my hat off to a cappella singers. Amazing!
Singing together is sometimes difficult for young children. They often need to hear the harmony notes more than once. Also, they might try to sing the melody instead of the harmony. It is important to practice both parts often, so that the child can understand where their individual part fits into the harmony or chord. Then, they will feel comfortable singing either part.
It is difficult to teach piano in a group setting, only because individual help is hard to give while teaching a group. Also, different students might be at different levels. It certainly works in a school setting. But piano is so important. It needs to be taught, because it is the “mother” of all instruments.
Music and Art are very much related. Many of the songs written today have lyrics which originated as poetry. For example, ”Memory” from Cats has lyrics that were from an original T.S. Eliot poem. In addition, many works of visual art have musical inspiration, and vice versa, such as the Botticelli Pictures by Respighi. There are so many examples, volumes have been written about it!
Harmony and melody are of course partners. When learning the piano, it is important to train young children to use their correct hands. Start with one, and then slowly add the other. In fact, it might even be easier in the long term to avoid temptation and start with the left hand chords first. Slow at first!
Teaching piano is a challenge for young people. It is probably best to have some understanding of notation, but if the child is very young, that is not always helpful. In addition, the hands and finger spread of a young child are not always that large. This itself presents obvious challenges. So, although children are often anxious to bang away at the keyboard, it is probably best to focus on position, and small, repeated movements at first. Keep it simple!