Making Musicians

Using your muscle for Cockles and Mussels

Aaaaahhhh, Cockles and Mussles.....  A fun song, lots of interest to the ear.  What?  Your little one doesn't want to play it?  If your little Mozart has decided this is not for her, and you've been 'muscling' (forcing, bribing) to get her to practice, try a different approach.....

Hopefully, she is tinkering a lot in preparation for her composition.  Let her tinker and don’t sit with her while she does. Tell her later that you heard it and liked it.  Don't 'make' her do anything else.  Tell her maybe you've been working too hard and she can have a little time off and then we'll work slowly back in. 

Wait a few days without saying anything at all, then casually let her hear you trying to play cockles and mussels.  Play it wrong or right, doesn’t matter, maybe a few wrong notes.  Make sure she hears you.  If she doesn't come in or ask about it at all, then bring it up at night or the next day.  "I was trying to play cockles yesterday and I think I got pretty good.  Do you want to hear me?"  If she doesn't, say, "OK".  And repeat the process with a different song in a few days. 

If she does, let her sit by you and watch you play.  Make a few mistakes.  If she doesn't correct you, say, "Of course, I still have to work on it, but I'll get better."  If she does, let her show you the right way.  Keep trying this approach until she WANTS to sit down and play SOMETHING. 

Then, when she does, make sure it's short....as long as she likes it or 5 minutes, whichever is shorter.  Do a lot of the playing yourself, make some mistakes.  Say, "Do you want to try these chords going uphill with me?  Do you think we can do it in 10 seconds?"  Then try it faster, faster, faster.  Try singing the melody while you play them - if you do it fast, she will laugh and think it's funny and if you guys make some mistakes, she will think it's even funnier.  Then smile and say, "I'm glad you played this with me today! That was fun.  Let's do it again tomorrow!" 

She'll stand up feeling better about piano than when she sat down and that's the point.  You can work from this point - more and more - just remember, enjoy the process!

Gook luck!

3rd Year Magic!

My son Tyson is in his last year of Let's Play Music.  He was practicing one of his songs the other day that is in "F Major" and was trying to sing along with it, but it was a little high for him.  The next thing I heard was him saying to himself,  "Oh, I'll just play it in 'C Major'."  So he transposed it and sang his heart out!  Who would've thought that a 6 year old could do that???  It really is Magic!  :)

Jenny Smith 

Transposer!

This from Debbie Huish - a teacher and mother of 2 Let's Play Music graduates:

My first child went thru the lets play music program and afterwards did not feel he needed to continue in music.  After a few years of battles and not wanting our relationship to suffer I stopped teaching him piano.  I figured he would get music in school.  I figured correctly.  He loves music and to sing.  His pitch is right on still and he transposes in his head…which is an incredible skill that was taught to him in lets play music.  His brother just under him in age is currently taking piano lessons and is clipping right along.  The other day my piano student- son practiced from his Christmas book and my oldest son went to the piano shortly after; on his own,  and began picking out the notes and sight reading silent night, jingle bells, etc.  Then he went to his favorite piece from a few years back and began playing it in 6 or 7 different keys.  I looked at my husband and said….”that still amazes me…listen to that key…oh my heck, did you hear that key?”  I was so impressed with his ability to transpose in his head.  One day soon he will realize just how much knowledge he really has in music. 

 

I strongly feel that the foundation of lets play music instilled in him will stay with him and his love for music will motivate his learning.  Thanks again for a great musical beginning.

Ring Those Bells!!

We know your children and students are doing amazing things on those bells!  Let's hear it!  Contest is open until January 31st, winner receives a new set of tone bells or a bell step ladder!