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Post by tessiatura on Apr 2, 2007 16:04:53 GMT
I've been asked to teach piano to a young girl age 4 (5 later this year). My usual starting age is at least 7 or 8 years, so this is something outside my experience. However, she seems bright and keen, she has a piano at home and her parents are both musical. Does anyone have any experience of teaching this young age group? Can anyone help with suggestions for books to use, activities, what to expect concentration-wise, etc. ? I'm based in the Bristol area. Is there anyone (or does anyone know of anyone?) fairly local (I'd be willing to travel a little for this experience) who would be willing to let me observe them teaching a 4 or 5 year-old? In short, can anyone help?
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Post by Steve Hopwood on Apr 2, 2007 21:23:33 GMT
Ehup tessiatura. I received this a couple of weeks ago: Dear Stephen Hopwood,
During these past months, I have been introducing my 4.5 year old daughter to the basics of piano playing. To maintain her enthusiasm and interest, I have written my own material based on the theme of 'Piano Fairies'. This has included creating different characters for each note, writing stories and quizzes, providing 'sticky' notes in the form of a 'Music Maker' and using stickers and fairy dust as rewards for good playing. I have taken perhaps a slightly unorthodox approach at times (eg. I haven't confused her with finger numberings as well as the names of the piano keys, for example - I've concentrated more on showing her how to spot steps and jumps, and to choose the best fingers to use for these). This approach appears to have been successful (so far!) and I am interested in sounding out the possibilities of publishing my material as a piano tutor for young children. I would be very grateful for any advice you could offer, potentially with a view to providing a reference/endorsement for the project.
I have a background in education (PGCE in Secondary Music) with degrees in Music and Psychology. Before becoming a Mum, I worked as a class music teacher in a Southampton secondary school (KS3-GCSE) and then as a teacher of children with autism (KS1-3) at Portfield School in Dorset. In this latter role, I was also curriculum coordinator for Music. We moved to Devon in 2005.
I would welcome an opportunity to discuss my ideas further with you,
Yours sincerely, Kate Coldrick
I cannot help directly as I will not teach the under 7's except under exceptional circumstances - too frightened of breaking them. ;D Edit: I have taken Kates contact details down, so anybody else interested can send me a pm to get them.
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Post by tessiatura on Apr 3, 2007 8:15:34 GMT
Thanks for passing that on, Steve. I'll get in touch. (By the way, it might be best if you edit out the personal contact details in your last post (I've made a note of them, thanks ... unless you've had permission to post them of course, in which case, I'm sorry for being overly protective ).
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Post by Steve Hopwood on Apr 3, 2007 8:22:49 GMT
Thanks for passing that on, Steve. I'll get in touch. (By the way, it might be best if you edit out the personal contact details in your last post (I've made a note of them, thanks ... unless you've had permission to post them of course, in which case, I'm sorry for being overly protective ). Good thinking. I get so used to wanting my contact details posted anywhere possible for publicity, that I forget others are not the same. Thanks for that.
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Post by digby on Apr 5, 2007 7:52:27 GMT
Hi tessiatura I have taught as young as 5 before, I would be warey about taking a 4 year old though. The most important thing is to make sure the parents are aware that you will probably spend most of the first year at least, playing musical games and improvising with them, so not to expect grade 1 by the age of 6! I'll spend ages getting them improvising stories, copying rhythms, working out how to make the piano sound like a giant, or as Steves contact says, fairies, we make loads of animal noises, Christmas is great for this because you can spend the lesson doing rhythmic pantomimes. I do use tutor books with this age group but they must go very slowly, Hal leonard is great because you spend ages playing on black notes watching shape, rather than reading actual music. Unfortunately, I don't have anyone younger than 7 at the moment, or you would be welcome to pop up (I'm Gloucester based) There is an Alfred Publishing event organised by ISM in Bristol on 22/4/07 www.ism.org/newsevents/diary.php?opt=1&rg=10 The alfred series are usually good for little ones as well and I have always found these events really useful. Let me know if you are going to pop along.
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Post by tessiatura on Apr 5, 2007 12:35:56 GMT
Thanks, digby. Are these the Hal Leonard books you mean? - www.halleonard.com/hlsplMethod.jsp . I hadn't come across them before, but they sound interesting. Steve, thanks again for your contact. It sounds like she's put a lot of work into putting her ideas together in a printable form, and it was very helpful talking to her. Hopefully, she'll be able to find a publisher and then we can all benefit .
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Post by jod on Apr 5, 2007 13:03:42 GMT
I normally start pianists at 6, but its meant to be fun. I was going to have an 8 year old do grade 1, but she wasn't ready so we withdrew, she's taking it next term and will be 9. I also teeach her younger sister and she's great. At this stage I want the piano to be an instrument they associate with enjoyment, and if they make up little tunes then I'm keen to hear them.
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Post by digby on Apr 5, 2007 14:02:18 GMT
Thanks, digby. Are these the Hal Leonard books you mean? - www.halleonard.com/hlsplMethod.jsp . I hadn't come across them before, but they sound interesting. Steve, thanks again for your contact. It sounds like she's put a lot of work into putting her ideas together in a printable form, and it was very helpful talking to her. Hopefully, she'll be able to find a publisher and then we can all benefit . Yes those are the ones.
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