Learning to Play Music is like Learning to Talk

Children begin learning to use their voices from infancy. This leads to experimenting with the imitation of sounds in their environment and in general, learning to produce these sounds with accuracy. As the child matures, you may recognize a budding musician by observing their inclination for imitating musical sounds, as well.

Almost any music student can hum a note struck on a piano keyboard by matching it because the ear and the voice are synchronized. However, when these students are asked to reproduce that same note on an instrument, it takes about three, four or more tries to match the note. The reason is that the ear and the instrument are not as synchronized as the ear and the voice. The student must identify which one of the 12 notes of music has been played before he can reproduce it on this instrument.

Likewise, a student may be able to identify the quality or type of chord, scale or melodic fragment that he or she hears. Incidentally, when students are asked to play it on their instrument, they will have a problem identifying which of the 12 notes they heard. The ability to hum or remember, whistle, or sing, a vast number of tunes is not uncommon, but ask students to duplicate them on their instruments and the same problem will occur. Not to worry.

To become a professional musician, a student must acquire as much facility for reproducing melodic lines on his musical instrument as he is able to reproduce with his voice. Further, an improvising musician must be able to reproduce melodies originating in his or her imagination. In order to achieve instrumental facility and a smooth flow of melodic lines either as reproductions from memory or original tunes from the imagination, and in order to hear sounds and then play them on their instruments, all major and minor scales or musical dialects, with their respective chord progressions should be memorized.

This takes practice. Practice doesn't have to be a dirty word. In fact, practicing can actually be fun, when done in moderation. Here are a few tips shared by fellow musicians and teachers.

Here is an idea for combatting boredom:

Play pieces backwards (read every note from bottom of the page up, right to left) play right hand part with left hand and left hand part with left hand play with hands in reversed octaves -- right hand plays right hand part, but in the bass, etc. play right and left hands at different tempos (only works for some pieces) transpose to a different key play a major piece in minor, or minor piece in major.

Reinforcement:

Every day that your child has a good practice give them a small colored piece of paper. When they have gotten a certain number, they get to pick a secret message from a box. The message can say "an ice cream cone," "go to the movies," or "go to your favorite restaurant." This gives them an incentive for practice.

Award buttons: make buttons from paper or poker chips in different colors. Each color could stand for a different number of points. Suggested values are:
a. practicing without being told--20 points
b. memorizing a song--20 points
c. reviewing a song--10 points

When the child saves up a certain number of points, there is a payoff, such as a new videotape or a trip to the movies.

Buy a sticker book and stickers. Each time practice is good, a song is memorized, or some other objective is reached, the child puts a sticker in the book. When the required number of stickers is earned, a reward is given. "Girls like to be rewarded with letting them make cookies, boys love to put models together."

The parent draws a picture of a tree, fisherman, basket, or flower vase. Each time a goal is reached, the child adds a leaf, fish, apple or flower to the picture. The goal is to have the required number drawn by the end of the week.

Use play money to stand for real money. When the child earns the required amount, the child gets to buy a new item to wear to school when it opens. "Girls love scrunchies, boys love crazy underwear or caps."

Composition

One mom says that when her daughter becomes tired of practicing piano, she takes a little break by composing her own melodies and playing with rhythm and harmonies. Then, after she's experimented a while, she goes back to her "assigned" pieces.

In closing, remember that encouragement and incentives are a great way to keep summer time practicing fresh. Use your imagination and ask the child for ways to help. They can come up with wonderful ideas and they feel great when they can be a part of the encouragement program.

Copyright, Emile DeCosmos