Musicianship For A 6 Year Old

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Musicianship For A 6 Year Old, Does anyone teach Musicianship?

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aspiringmusicteacher	Jan 21 2009, 03:11 PM Post #1
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 461 Joined: 21-March 07 From: London, UK Member No.: 10197	Hello all, I have been asked to teach two children practical musicianship - not the exams, just in general. Parents are musical and want the children to have a firm underlying foundation in music before they take on an instrument. Theey are very young (5/6), and they want to learn the Piano, but the parents want them to take a year of fun musicianship lessons first. I think it's brilliant to have such conscientious parents! My question is really one of advice - I have not said yes to this as yet, although it would be a fun challenge for the three of us, because I wanted to make sure I knew what I was doing! Does anyone here teach musicianship to children this age and have any advice as to how to begin? I have my own ideas but would very much like some more experienced teachers in this field to point me in the right direction! Thanks! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

violincjj	Jan 21 2009, 03:15 PM Post #2
Prodigy Group: Members Posts: 1417 Joined: 8-November 03 From: Manchester UK Member No.: 88	Kodaly and Dalcroze are the finest double act I know...

Cyrilla	Jan 21 2009, 06:23 PM Post #3
Maestro Group: Members Posts: 11899 Joined: 9-November 03 From: Croydon, South London/Surrey Member No.: 99	QUOTE(dcmbarton @ Jan 21 2009, 04:00 PM) I know the person who will know the answer... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dust.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wave.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dust.gif)

Cyrilla	Jan 22 2009, 10:24 AM Post #4
Maestro Group: Members Posts: 11899 Joined: 9-November 03 From: Croydon, South London/Surrey Member No.: 99	Sorry, I didn't have time to reply properly yesterday. My own feeling is that you do need to have at least a little training in the two 'finest double act' approaches to musicianship training, KodÃ¡ly and Dalcroze, before you start something like this (you wouldn't teach an instrument that you hardly played). You know that you are always welcome to come and watch K and D classes at Guildhall again, if that would be of any help (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) . Or maybe advise the parent to find an existing class (two is a very small group to work with and precludes playing a lot of the games) - either the Guildhall, or Colourstrings or similar. Obviously the main focus will be on pitch (including pitch-matching), pulse, rhythm (and the differentiation between the two), dynamics and tempo. At the risk of this being a plug, you could always look at a certain 'Music Handbook' for some initial help - just right for this age group (and the second book will be out in about March/April). Let me know if I can be of any more help. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

pianodub	Jan 22 2009, 10:32 AM Post #5
Prodigy Group: Members Posts: 1517 Joined: 29-August 06 From: Ireland Member No.: 7528	QUOTE(Cyrilla @ Jan 22 2009, 10:24 AM) At the risk of this being a plug, you could always look at a certain 'Music Handbook' for some initial help - just right for this age group (and the second book will be out in about March/April). Yes! The Music Handbook is absolutely fantastic. The kids love it, I love it and it gave me an excuse to get puppets. Everyone's a winner! Please announce the arrival of the new one when it comes Cyrilla as I want to buy it! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Also, as Cyrilla said teaching this kind of thing with a really small group is kind of tricky as the games won't be as good when there are less than say 6. I have a group of six and they get on very well with it, as do my larger groups of 11 or so. Cyrilla, you're a genius! Keep it up!!!

Cyrilla	Jan 22 2009, 03:21 PM Post #6
Maestro Group: Members Posts: 11899 Joined: 9-November 03 From: Croydon, South London/Surrey Member No.: 99	Oooh blimey (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) . Glad you're finding the book so helpful, pianodub, and thank you for your kind words! We had a review recently proffering the opinion that we haven't brought K up to date so that it's 'relevant' to today's children - but, as you're finding, the proof of the pudding etc....(which reminds me, the reviewer said that we shouldn't include songs like 'Pease Pudding Hot' because pease pudding isn't on the menu in school canteens these days..!!). The second book should be winging its way to Singapore next week to be printed - so I'll keep you posted on the likely publication date. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

SueHM	Jan 22 2009, 03:23 PM Post #7
Unregistered	QUOTE(Cyrilla @ Jan 22 2009, 03:21 PM) We had a review recently proffering the opinion that we haven't brought K up to date so that it's 'relevant' to today's children - but, as you're finding, the proof of the pudding etc....(which reminds me, the reviewer said that we shouldn't include songs like 'Pease Pudding Hot' because pease pudding isn't on the menu in school canteens these days..!!). Oh for goodness' sake, who ARE these people?! I suppose they would have liked it better if it was Dr Who themed or some such nonsense. By the way, where can one buy this marvellous tome? It is not available on Amazon yet

Cyrilla	Jan 22 2009, 03:36 PM Post #8
Maestro Group: Members Posts: 11899 Joined: 9-November 03 From: Croydon, South London/Surrey Member No.: 99	Ewww...I think 'marvellous tome' is taking it a bit far, SueHM (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) !!. It IS on Amazon (and WH Smith and Waterstone's - discounted on these first two). If it doesn't come up under 'The Music Handbook' try putting the authors' names in to the Search. One very firm principle of KodÃ¡ly teachers is to use high-quality, traditional material that has stood the test of time - so if anyone seriously thinks that I'm going to change the words of 'Pease Pudding Hot' so that they are about iPods and Playstations then they have another think coming (GOW (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) )! Why does everything have to be 'relevant' to a child's immediate experience of life? I thought 'education' should be about giving children experiences and knowledge of things outside their own lives, developing their sense of history and heritage, stimulating their imaginations...(silly me, 'education' means passing tests and exams, doesn't it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) ?). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

jacobvaneyck	Jan 22 2009, 03:54 PM Post #9
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 3595 Joined: 20-January 05 Member No.: 2998	If you can get your hands on the Going For Bronze book it may be a good source for you. These are done by NYCOS and go right up to Silver, Gold with two parts to each level (6 in total). They are quite standard in Scottish primary schools.

Cyrilla	Jan 22 2009, 04:00 PM Post #10
Maestro Group: Members Posts: 11899 Joined: 9-November 03 From: Croydon, South London/Surrey Member No.: 99	Yes, 'Going for Bronze' is very good, but I would think moves rather too fast for an average 5-6 year-old?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Maizie	Jan 22 2009, 05:42 PM Post #11
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 4862 Joined: 5-February 07 From: Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire Member No.: 9360	QUOTE(Cyrilla @ Jan 22 2009, 03:21 PM) (which reminds me, the reviewer said that we shouldn't include songs like 'Pease Pudding Hot' because pease pudding isn't on the menu in school canteens these days..!!). But, but, but....but, that's how you learn things! You say "Please, Mrs-Kodaly-lady, what's peas pudding? Who'd make pudding out of peas, it's like making cake out of carrot!" and you get informed. If you're only allowed to be taught about things you already know then, well...I dunno, perhaps it's not possible to learn two things at once!

Cyrilla	Jan 22 2009, 08:43 PM Post #12
Maestro Group: Members Posts: 11899 Joined: 9-November 03 From: Croydon, South London/Surrey Member No.: 99	Quite, Maizie! Durrr.... Mrs-KodÃ¡ly-Lady (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

pianodub	Jan 24 2009, 09:03 AM Post #13
Prodigy Group: Members Posts: 1517 Joined: 29-August 06 From: Ireland Member No.: 7528	QUOTE(Cyrilla @ Jan 22 2009, 03:21 PM) We had a review recently proffering the opinion that we haven't brought K up to date so that it's 'relevant' to today's children - but, as you're finding, the proof of the pudding etc....(which reminds me, the reviewer said that we shouldn't include songs like 'Pease Pudding Hot' because pease pudding isn't on the menu in school canteens these days..!!). One word: piffle. My lot are learning Pease Pudding at the moment and they love it, especially saying "Brrr" when it's cold...some of them are going for an Oscar I think! Good luck with the publication of book II...I'm sure it will be a huge success!

pianosb	Jan 24 2009, 10:50 AM Post #14
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 292 Joined: 9-November 07 Member No.: 19369	Mine love Pease pudding, too! Well, playing it anyway! Right, I'm going to check your book out straight away, Cyrilla!

maggiemay	Jan 30 2009, 09:48 PM Post #15
Maestro Group: Members Posts: 18056 Joined: 12-January 04 From: S E England Member No.: 413	Another one has been re-written ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7860869.stm (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

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