Just One Week!

I am thoroughly enjoying my new Music Wonderland classes (for 3 year-olds).  I have to tell you, thought, that the first week is really rough.  I have to work so very hard to try to keep these adorable little kids interested for 45 minutes.  The first class always seems so long and they get really tired, mainly because of how hard their little brains and ears are listening.   You see, at this first class, absolutely everything they hear in class is brand new and they are trying to absorb every tiny sound they hear.

So after this first class, not only am I exhausted, but I'm also a bit worried -
         will they be able to do it?
            will they remember?

The parents and children go home and they listen to their CD and the next week in class - it's like a whole different class.  You would think I wouldn't be surprised since I have seen this happen in many classes before, but every time, I'm completely amazed.  They remember so much and are so focused in class.  Usually a parent comments about what parts the child talked about during the week - remembering details from a particular song.

When my daughter was three, the US did not have the Music Wonderland course yet.  My son was lucky - he was in the very first Music Wonderland class in the US.  Both of my children are excellent musicians, but sometimes I see something in my son - almost a sparkle of knowledge - like he knows what he hears is special.   He has started to notice that some of his friends don't hear music the same way he does.  He was telling me about singing with other kids and he said :

"I can sing on pitch and know when the notes are right.  You know, how the music gets in my head and then it's stuck there and I know all the notes?"

That's Music Wonderland at work! (7 years later!!!)

3s Physical Development

Yamaha had the daunting task of figuring out how to teach keyboard and music to three-year-olds.  Here's where 3s are physically:

• The children are growing.  You might have noticed their upper body is stretching, along with their legs and arms.  Sometimes, they grow at such a fast rate that they don't realize how much bigger they really are and bump into things.
• Physical development and coordination develops from the top down and from the midline out.  Guess what's the last thing to develop?  The tiny fingers!
• They learn "hand to head"- if I can't touch it, I can't learn it.  
• They can walk and run, but still have difficulty jumping, hopping, and balancing
• Fine motor skills are not there.
• The wrist joint is not hardened yet.  This limits their ability to rotate their wrist joint (making keyboard playing very tricky!).
• Visually, they are far-sighted.  It is difficult for them to shift focus from far to near.
• The keyboard appears 1.5 times bigger than it does to adults.
• Their hearing is well developed.  They can listen and concentrate.  This is the point of encounter with the child of Music Wonderland.

Music Wonderland is designed to create an ideal environment where the child can express their own ideas through singing and rhythmic response (movement).  During class, the children can really concentrate and focus on listening to music, and we help them develop this skill fully.  It is through imaginative play in music that we can motivate the children to use the keyboard concretely. 

The first keyboard activities use gross motor skills (whole fist playing 3 black-keys) where the keyboard represents a car's horn.  Gradually, more fine motor skills are introduced as the child develops more muscle control.  By the end of Music Wonderland, they will be able to move their fingers individually and will be ready for the next stage - Junior Music Course!

Throughout the course, the child will have many experiences playing the keyboard together.  Even though they are not moving their fingers individually at this stage, they still are acquiring important skills of ensemble playing (playing together) and keyboard geography.  This gives these children a distinct advantage over the average 4 year old.

All about 3 year-olds :)

Oh, the three-year-old - what a delightful age.  It's no accident that Yamaha's course for 3s is called "Music Wonderland" -  for being with these little children is like visiting another magical land :-)

Recently, I had the pleasure of teaching a very enthusiastic child, who, upon entering the room, announced that "I am three!  I get to go to music class!" (jumping the whole time!).

I am still surprised at how deeply and passionately a three-year-old experiences music.  The three-year-olds senses are so acute that they really can't do anything else but listen when music is playing.  I think many parents look see that blank stare as disinterest, but in fact, it's extreme concentration.

Something I struggle with is how to convince parents of a 3 year-old how vital it is that they start music now.  Yamaha Music Foundation has always known that the 3 year-old's aural abilities surpass that of a 4-5 year old, but they had to find a developmentally appropriate way to teach them to their full potential.  We have only had this course in the US since 2005, yet Junior Music Course (for 4-5 year olds) has been around since 1965!

Music Wonderland is a joy to teach - but it's not easy!  You wouldn't believe the amount of time I have spent listening and thinking about these pieces.  Every piece has a specific purpose  --- all presented in a fanciful and imaginative way that is irresistible to any three-year old!

I'm just getting started with these amazing little musicians - watch for more posts about their developmental characteristics.

Please stop singing

After hearing yet another awful rendition of "Happy Birthday" in a local restaurant, I realized a few things :

1. The majority of the population does not sing well.
2. #1 doesn't stop all those people from singing in public.

Think about it.  Most people don't consider themselves singers, yet will always join in on "Happy Birthday" at the restaurant or "Don't Stop Believing" at the karaoke bar.  People love to sing!

First, let me just say that the two songs that are sung in public often - "Happy Birthday" and "The National Anthem"  - are both difficult songs to sing well.  They both have wide ranges, that is, there is a large distance between the lowest and the highest notes in the song.  

Actually, most people do ok on the first part of "Happy Birthday":

      (please listen along in your head :)  )

       "Happy Birthday to you, (green GO)

       Happy Birthday to you, (caution)

       Happy BIRTH (argh! STOP!) day dear whosie whatsit, 

       Happy Birthday to you!" (Congrats!  The song is in a new key - not a good thing :(  )

Did you hear it?  Next time you're in a restaurant, pay special attention to the third "Happy Birthday".  That's where the melody jumps up an octave.  Ok...no more music theory in this post...just know that's where it all goes downhill!

So, I know you're concerned about this.  You're probably wondering

• Am I one of those people who sings badly in public?
• How can I protect my child against these embarrassing experiences?

Fear not! If your child receives music training before the age of 7, they can develop their musical ear - that is the ability to tell if something is in tune, on key, or in other words - it sounds good.

But beware.....they might tell you to stop singing!