The Science Behind All The Fun It’s easy to get caught up in the fun singing along as your child plays Twinkle Twinkle Little Star or Pop! Goes the Weasel. But each time I hear about a child’s success, I’m also reminded of the science behind all the fun. After all, I developed Piano for Preschoolers because my own children showed an interest in learning to play the piano at the age when all the research showed they would benefit the most.

Numerous studies indicate that learning to play the piano as a preschooler sets a child up for later academic success. The research clearly shows that preschoolers who are exposed to early piano/keyboard lessons have an advantage in school. The trick is to find a method that is engaging and fun enough to motivate young children to learn, but teaches them to read and play real music.

There are certain periods of time, known as windows of opportunity, in a child’s brain development when it is especially open to certain kinds of learning. As children discover the joys of piano, brain cells (neurons) are connecting to form the types of complex thought pattern necessary to excel in math and science. But, from about age 5, neurons not connected into the brain’s overall wiring begin fading away – and so does the opportunity for intelligence in that area of the brain.

Because neural connections are responsible for all types of intelligence, a child’s brain develops to its full potential only with exposure to the necessary enriching experiences in early childhood. Dr. Frances Rauscher of the University of Wisconsin and Dr. Gordon Shaw of the University of California have studied the connection between musical and nonmusical training on preschoolers’ intellectual development for many years. Their studies indicate that music training generates the neural connections used for abstract reasoning, including those necessary for understanding mathematical concepts.

In one study, Dr. Rauscher and Dr. Shaw compared the effects of musical and nonmusical training on preschoolers’ intellectual developments. They found that preschoolers who received piano or keyboard training performed 34% higher on tests measuring spatial-temporal ability than did other preschoolers. Those who received piano or keyboard training could think in pictures and see the pictures moving or changing shape over time – a crucial skill for later success in mathematics, science and engineering.

Researchers at the University of California observed two separate groups of preschoolers. Group one took piano lessons and sang daily in a chorus. Group two did neither. After a period of eight months the musical three-year-olds in group one were expert puzzle masters scoring 80% higher than their playmates in spatial intelligence.

A research team exploring the link between music and intelligence reported that music training is far superior to computer instruction in enhancing children’s abstract reasoning skills. Music training jump-starts certain inherent patterns in parts of the brain responsible for such reasoning. Computer lessons do not force children to think ahead or visualize, as they must when playing a piece of music.

The world’s top academic countries place a high value on music education. Hungary, Netherlands and Japan stand atop worldwide science achievement and have a strong commitment to music education. Building upon the pioneering work of Dr. Rauscher and Dr. Shaw, a recent study at the University of Munster in Germany revealed that practicing the piano in early childhood expands the mind, literally altering the anatomy of the brain.

Children who begin piano/keyboard instruction as a preschooler are developing their natural musicality and a love of music that can last a lifetime. Research clearly shows the benefits of early piano/keyboard instruction. The times spent with a caring parent or grandparent singing along as they play are an added bonus. 0 comments

How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, Practice, Practice Like any skill from learning to read to tying your shoes, beginning piano takes repetitive practice to master. The good news is that practice doesn’t have to be boring and can be accomplished in as little as 5-10 minutes at a time. The familiar songs in our course give your child the opportunity to apply the musical concepts you’re teaching with each lesson. The kids have so much fun playing these songs, especially if you sing along! The special time with you creates such wonderful memories. It’s easy to get caught up in the fun and forget that as your child plays, you are cementing the building blocks and constructing a solid foundation for further study.

Positive reinforcement and the fun times together motivate young children. Your child will likely let you know when they’re ready to practice. Don’t be surprised if this happens several times a day and only lasts a few minutes each time. Require your child to work on the songs that need practice before playing the songs already mastered. This will keep you moving forward. The reward of playing the song he already knows will motivate your child to spend time on the new song – even if you only make it through a couple of measures in that new song during each practice session.

Consider allowing your child to pick out some small stickers and save them to be used only during practice time. You can make a small chart and have your child place a sticker on the chart each time he practices a new song. Or better yet, use the left side of the pages in the music book. This will create a powerful picture that shows your child the more he practices the better he gets.

The bottom line - it does take practice time for your child to master beginning piano. As many of you know, Piano for Preschoolers was born out of my search for a method to teach my own children to play the piano when they were preschoolers. I couldn’t find a method that was fun and exciting enough to motivate them to practice and continue learning. I found plenty of programs that were either gimmicky or more like video games than piano lessons. None of these really taught children to read music and play the piano. I found plenty of programs that were so boring they squelched any interest my oldest daughter had in learning to play. With Piano for Preschooler’s unique method your child can instantly play songs he recognizes. The color strip guides your child to the correct notes and that success motivates your child to continue practicing and gives him the opportunity to apply each musical concept.

The first time your child plays Twinkle Twinkle Little Star it will sound enough like the song so that you can sing along. With practice applying the lessons you teach in our program, your child will play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star while counting aloud to the proper rhythm, with proper finger numbers and position, while recognizing the names of the notes and which key plays which note, and yes not even seeing the color anymore but only the notes on each line or space. All that can be accomplished in the short bursts of practice I’ve described and you’ll both have a ton of fun in the process.

Write to me at angie@pianoforpreschoolers.com and let me know what other tips and suggestions you’d like to hear.

Angie 0 comments

Turn Your Next Play Date or Family Get-Together Into a Piano Recital Once your child has mastered the first several songs in the music book, consider planning a recital for friends or family. The opportunity to perform for an audience will boost your child’s confidence and reinforce the importance of regular practice.

Depending on your child, the audience might consist of parents and siblings after dinner followed by a special dessert or grandparents on a Sunday afternoon. Encourage family members to sing along to the familiar tunes as your child plays. This will help your child with the rhythm.

Also consider standing close by or sitting on the piano bench with your child during the performance. Young children often lose their place in the music, especially if they’re a little nervous. Be ready to point to the notes moving along as your child plays if necessary.

Lesson Six in our Parent/Teacher guide includes a sample scrapbook page to preserve the memories of your child’s first recital. Remember to keep it light and fun. Pile on the praise and applause after each song. Your child will beam with pride.

If you have regular play dates with a group of moms and kids, planning an afternoon to showcase the children’s accomplishments makes for a memorable event. Other children might want to bring artwork they’re proud of or even a special Lego creation.

You’ll probably want to limit your child’s performance to 2-3 songs for this audience. The other kids will be familiar with these songs and sing along as your child plays. Consider making a simple comment book by folding and stapling construction paper with each child’s name on the front. Ask the moms to make positive comments about each child’s performance or creation in the books. These comments make a great take home gift for the moms and are confidence boosters for the kids.

Regardless of the audience or the outcome of the event, the opportunity to play for a friendly audience will motivate your child to continue learning. Turning your next family get-together or play date into a piano recital is the perfect opportunity to showcase your child’s accomplishments.

Angie

P.S. I love to hear your stories about first recitals and to see pictures of the kids performing. Please keep them coming. 0 comments