Piano for Preschoolers - Blog

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noreply@blogger.com (Angie Crellin) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:29:00 +0000

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New Downloadable Version Now Available!

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Crellin) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:32:00 +0000

Downloadable versions of our award-winning products are now available on our website http://www.pianoforpreschoolers.com/. These new downloadable versions contain all the same materials that have been so successful in teaching young children to play the piano - but at substantially discounted pricing.

Piano for Preschoolers Basic Course includes a 17 song music book with color coded notes written on a traditional musical staff, a 19 lesson parent/teacher guide covering what a child would learn in 6-12 months of group or private lessons, a color strip that sits behind the keys of a piano or keyboard to guide children to the correct notes, and an audio file containing each song in the music book played with a metronome in the background and a voice-over count aloud. The cost of the Basic Course is now only $17.00. Our supplemental Holiday Songbook and Sacred Songs Book are priced at $7.00 each.

After you place your order on our secure site, you’ll be immediately directed to a download page with all your files. You may prefer to print one lesson and its corresponding song at a time. You can either print the color strip on cardstock for added durability or just print it out on regular paper and fold it before placing it behind the keys. Lesson One in the Parent/Teacher guide gives instruction on placing the color strip properly behind the keys.

Your child will instantly be able to play the first song, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and that success will motivate him/her to continue learning. Sing along and enjoy the special times together as you teach your child beginning piano.

Placing the Color Strip

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Crellin) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:15:00 +0000

From time to time, a parent will call with a question about the placement of the color strip on their piano or keyboard. So, I thought I’d describe here how to place the color strip and explain why the strip is placed behind the keys.

Piano for Preschoolers Basic Course comes with two color strips; one fits a piano or keyboard with full-size keys and the other fits a keyboard with mini keys like the Casio SA-75. Both strips come on one 8 ½ x 11 card. The card is perforated where the two strips separate. Once the strips are separated the strip with the Piano for Preschoolers logo goes on a keyboard with mini-keys and the other one fits a piano or keyboard with full-size keys.

Lesson One in the Parent/Teacher Guide shows exactly where to place the color strip on your piano or keyboard. It describes how to find middle C and align the green space on the color strip with that key. The colors on the color strip correspond with the notes in the music book and guide the children to the correct key for each note.

It is a very important distinction that the color strip sits behind the keys rather than putting stickers or labels on the keys themselves. Children are able to transition easily from Piano for Preschoolers to further study because they have learned from the very start to read where a note is on the musical staff and which key plays that particular note.

In the beginning, the color guides them and allows them to play songs they recognize right away. This success motivates them to continue learning. However, the whole time they are reading notes on the appropriate line or space (they’re just different colors) and they are seeing and feeling the keys of the piano or keyboard. (Stickers don’t cover them.)

For a child to master beginning piano concepts they have to learn to read music. To receive all the benefits of early music instruction children need to actually learn to play the piano. Piano for Preschoolers gives parents the confidence to teach this terrific skill even if they don't have any musical background. Our Basic Course equips parents with all the tools they need. This engaging and fun method encourages both parent and child as they learn. That’s why kids as young as three years old are learning to play the piano and having a ton of fun with Piano for Preschoolers.

Silver Lining in Uncertain Financial Times

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Crellin) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:45:00 +0000

During these uncertain financial times, many families are searching for affordable alternatives to kid’s activities. Private piano lessons are not feasible for a lot of families right now. Piano for Preschoolers has always been an affordable alternative to group or private piano lessons. Kids as young as two and as old as eight are mastering beginning piano skills using our method. Their parents are successfully teaching them at home even though they’ve never played the piano themselves.

As families take a hard look at their budgets and search for ways to cut back on spending, the simple things in life become most important. Enjoying time at home as a family becomes a welcome alternative to expensive outings. As you look back on these years what will you remember fondly – the trips in the car running from activity to activity, all the expensive equipment for each new hobby, or the latest and greatest toys whose packaging was much more interesting to your child than the toy itself?

Most parents and grandparents will fondly remember the special times with their children and the wonderful memories of baking cookies, snuggling and reading favorite stories or making music together. These are the times the kids will treasure as well.

A caring parent or grandparent is a child’s best first piano teacher. It is so important that a child have a very positive first experience at the piano if they are going to receive all the benefits of piano instruction and hope to continue their study. Learning to play the piano in a nurturing environment with a parent cheering them on and singing along as they play gives a child the necessary confidence and motivation to learn.

These are the special times together that create wonderful memories. The silver lining in all the doom and gloom of these tough economic times might be discovering what you sought as an alternative to a more expensive activity has become priceless.

More Reasons You Are Your Child's Best First Piano Teacher

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Crellin) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:58:00 +0000

As many of you know, I developed Piano for Preschoolers to give parents the confidence to teach their young children beginning piano at home. Thousands of caring parents and grandparents throughout the country have successfully taught their children to play the piano with Piano for Preschoolers. Most of these parents either never played the piano or took lessons for a short time when they were kids. I believe the main reason Piano for Preschoolers has worked so well for these families is that a caring parent or grandparent is a child’s best first piano teacher. Piano for Preschoolers simply provides a method that allows parents without any musical background to teach beginning musical concepts. Being able to play songs they recognize right away gets the kids excited about playing the piano and makes their first experience at the piano a very positive one. However, it’s the special times together learning to play and enjoying making music that mean the most to the kids and their parents.

I’ve written before about how I believe a parent knows their child best and given the proper teaching tools makes the best first piano teacher. After all, you can work with your child when he/she is most open to learning and can stop the lessons when the time is no longer effective. It’s never made much sense to me to schedule half hour lessons at an arbitrary time each week at a strange house and expect a three or four year old to cooperate and make progress each week. A caring parent singing along as a child plays is the best motivation to keep practicing until a child gets it right. This nurturing environment creates the perfect opportunity for kids to benefit from early piano study.

As you can imagine, this affordable method and simple approach is very popular with parents and grandparents. There are also several preschool music programs and many private teachers using Piano for Preschoolers to teach their youngest students. Unfortunately, these teachers seem to be more the exception than the rule. It’s a challenge to find teacher who will take on very young children. The overwhelming majority of the feedback I receive is from parents who are thrilled to have found an easy and affordable method to teach their young children to play the piano. I get phone calls and emails all the time from proud parents whose kids have mastered the beginning piano concepts in Piano for Preschoolers and gained self-confidence as a result. Please keep them coming.

Occasionally I hear from or read a review from a piano teacher or musician who clearly is more interested in telling me how smart they are than providing a positive first experience at the piano for the youngest pianist. Fortunately in the three years Piano for Preschoolers has been available this has only happened a couple of times.

Recently such a review reminded me once again why I developed Piano for Preschoolers. I wanted to give the youngest pianist a nurturing and very positive first experience at the piano. I wanted to empower parents to teach their children beginning piano at home. I truly believe a caring parent or grandparent is the best first piano teacher. The piano teachers that don’t get it are just part of the deal. Fortunately most parents do get that they are creating wonderful memories and giving their children all the benefits of early piano study by teaching them with Piano for Preschoolers.

Creating Wonderful Memories For You and Your Child This Holiday Season

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Crellin) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:10:00 +0000

Now that we’ve all settled back into our school year routines most of us are looking toward the holiday season and planning the activities that will make this year special. This time of year always flies by around our house.

Many people are ordering the holiday songbook along with our basic course these days. Now is the time to start practicing those wonderful Christmas Carols your child will play for friends and family in a couple of months.

Our Holiday Songbook is a supplemental book that gives the children more opportunities to practice and apply the musical concepts they’re learning in our basic course. It includes fun songs like Jingle Bells and Up on the Housetop, etc. Just like the songs in our basic course these carols are all written in color-coded notes on a traditional musical staff. Using the color as a guide, kids will be able to play these songs right away. With practice they’ll be reading the notes and getting the rhythm and fingering right.

You might consider planning a mini-recital for family and friends during the holidays this year. Add some cocoa and cookies and you’ll have a simple event that everyone will always remember. A videotaped performance makes a special gift for grandparents or aunts and uncles who might not be able to attend in person.

As we head into this holiday season I’m grateful to all the parents who are giving their children the benefits of early piano instruction and creating special memories with Piano for Preschoolers. As you work with your child I’m always available to help in any way I can. I’d love to hear about the wonderful memories you’re creating. I can always be reached at angie@pianoforpreschoolers.com.

Angie

Does Music Really Make Kids Smarter?

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Crellin) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:45:00 +0000

I received an email last week from a musician questioning the music and math connection recent studies have found. He said he has many friends who are terrific musicians but can hardly solve simple math problems. Most parents already know about the music and math connection and our website has links to the research indicating children who are exposed to early piano instruction do better in school. However, this musician’s email got me thinking about all the things we do as parents of young children to give our kids every advantage as they face the challenges ahead of them and all the other reasons parents choose to teach their children beginning piano at home with Piano for Preschoolers.

I’m very grateful to all the parents who take the time to write to me and tell me how well their children are doing with Piano for Preschoolers. Their stories are all different and they decided to teach their children beginning piano at home for a variety of reasons, but one thing is always the same.

Regardless of the age their child started learning or how far they’ve gotten in the course, these parents are beaming with pride and amazed at how quickly their children are picking up the beginning musical concepts. The children are excited to be playing songs they recognize and the parents are having as much fun as the kids!

I know when my kids were infants well-meaning people would tell me “they grow up so fast – enjoy these times”. But in my sleep-deprived state, I was just trying to make it through the day and didn’t really take their comments to heart. As they grew into curious preschoolers I tried to give them the most loving and nurturing environment possible to discover what the world had to offer. Now that they’re elementary and middle school aged, I know how fast the time really goes and the special times we spent learning and exploring together during those early years are special memories.

Yes, the research clearly shows a connection between early piano instruction and increased intelligence later in life. Yes, the coordination and confidence your child will develop by using all of his senses learning to play the piano will help him down the road in countless ways. Yes, you can teach your child beginning piano at home even if you’ve never played a note with Piano for Preschoolers.

However, what touches my heart more than anything else are the stories of the special times together and the wonderful memories created as children play songs they love while parents sing along. Does this mean your child will become a math whiz or play Carnegie Hall? I don’t know. What I do know is parents throughout the country are teaching their children beginning piano at home with Piano for Preschoolers and giving their children every advantage they can as they help their children develop critical skills that will carry them forward.

Fun Ways to Teach Rhythm

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Crellin) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 23:59:00 +0000

One of the more challenging things for most parents to teach is rhythm. Throughout Piano for Preschoolers there are tips and exercises to help your child play with a steady rhythm and learn timing. One of the best ways to help your child get the rhythm right is to clap the notes instead of playing them on your piano or keyboard. Once your child starts to understand how long he/she is supposed to hold down each note you can start learning a new song by clapping the rhythm together before your child plays the notes on the piano. To do this simply clap each note as you sing the lyrics of the song holding your hands together for the longer notes. For example, if your child is about to learn to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star as you sing twinkle twinkle little star how I wonder what you are it would go something like clap clap clap clap clap clap clap hold clap clap clap clap clap clap clap hold. The important part is to keep your clapping steady. By the way, if your child continues studying music there is a tool called a metronome which ticks and tocks in the background as your child practices to help keep a steady rhythm. For now, singing along and clapping are much less intimidating and more fun. To change things up a bit, try slapping your thigh or stomping your foot instead of clapping as you sing the lyrics.

You can also play some fun rhythm games that will not only help your child keep a steady rhythm but also help with many forms of coordination and memory skills. For example, first establish the beat by tapping your foot or slapping your thigh or even nodding your head. Then, clap a short sequence (perhaps clap clap clap hold clap clap clap hold or clap clap hold clap clap clap hold clap) and ask your child to repeat it. Have fun with this and after you’ve demonstrated a few sequences ask your child to make up a new sequence and you repeat it.

Clapping the rhythm of poetry and nursery rhymes as you read them helps your child learn about rhythm. Little Jack Horner sat in the corner or Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet would be clap clap clap clap hold and clap clap clap clap hold and so on …

Remember as you’re exposing your child to these different exercises you are not only teaching very important early piano concepts but also helping establish the neural connections that will benefit your child in so many ways in the future. There are some incredible correlations to be found between musical structures, patterns found in the natural world and complex mathematical phenomena. It may all seem like just a lot of fun as you’re singing and clapping along but the long term benefits of this special time together go way beyond the fun.

Adding Emotion to the Music and Learning to Hear the Dynamics in Different Pieces

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Crellin) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:03:00 +0000

Once your child has mastered the first few songs in our course there are some fun games you can play to help your child discover different sounds and different emotions in the music.

The first step to adding dynamics or emotion to the songs your child is playing is being able to hear them in other music. Play several different pieces of classical music and ask your child to tell you the story the piece is telling. You might ask if the main character is happy or sad? What the weather is like? Where the story takes place? Etc. You can even take this a step further and ask your child to draw or paint a picture to illustrate the story the music is telling. This exercise develops very important listening skills.

You may need to demonstrate this next exercise for your child. Ask your child to make up a song that sounds like different emotions or settings. For example, ask your child to play a song that sounds like a storm and then a song that sounds like a sunny day. Ask your child to play a song that sounds like a huge giant stomping through the forest or a tiny fairy flying from flower to flower. Next, ask your child to play a song that sounds like a baseball player running from first to second base or a ballerina dancing on stage. It doesn’t matter what notes your child plays, you’re just trying to get them to play the “story” behind the music.

There are notations in written music called dynamics that tell the pianist how the composer intended the piece to sound. It’s not important that your child know the Italian names of the dynamics at this point. If your child can hear the difference and feel the different emotions each dynamic evokes then he/she will be way ahead of the game.

You can start with four dynamics:

Forte (f) Loud
Piano (p) Soft
Dolce Sweet
Staccato Brief and Detached

Take Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star or one of your child’s favorite songs and ask him/her to play the entire song forte, piano, dolce or staccato. Then take each line and ask your child to play the first line forte and the second line piano, etc.

By continuing to nurture your child's natural love of music through the piano lessons you are teaching and fun exercises such as these you are developing skills that will serve your child well long after the lessons end. The special memories you're creating will be treasured by both of you.

Next time I’ll give you some fun games to help with rhythm and some exercises to help keep the rhythm steady. Playing with steady rhythm and counting aloud are some of the most challenging skills for young children to master. These fun exercises keep the kids motivated and help develop these important skills.

Turn Your Next Play-Date into a Recital

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Crellin) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 00:27:00 +0000

In Lesson Six of the Piano for Preschoolers Parent/Teacher Guide I talk about how important it is to give your child performing opportunities once he or she has mastered the first few songs in our course. This opportunity can be as simple as a your child playing for the family after dinner and then serving a special dessert, or playing for visiting grandparents or other relatives. It’s great fun for everyone to sing along as your child plays Twinkle Twinkle Little Star or Yankee Doodle. Pile on the praise at the end of each song, and your child will beam with pride. With this special event, you are not only rewarding the hard work put in to learn the songs, but you are also motivating your child to continue learning. It is that pride and sense of accomplishment that will keep both of you working to master the beginning piano concepts in Piano for Preschoolers.

Why not take this performance a step farther and turn your next play-date into an opportunity for your child’s young friends to showcase their accomplishments as well? If you have a group of moms that meet regularly for play-dates or park days you can easily turn that day into a performing opportunity for the children. Some children may want to recite a favorite poem or show off a dance they’re learning in ballet class. Other kids may have a Lego creation or an art project to display. Add in sugar cookies or a special treat and it will be a memorable day for everyone.

An easy take home memento is a simple booklet made from a folded and stapled piece of construction paper with blank pages inside. Include each child’s name on the front and something about whatever they shared with the group. Inside this booklet the other moms can write positive comments about the child’s performance or project. This makes a great take home gift and becomes a treasured keepsake that will be a cherished reminder of the special day.

The special times together and the memories you’re creating as you teach your child beginning piano with Piano for Preschoolers are precious. Sharing your accomplishments with family and friends can make them even more special. Enjoy!

Family Review Center Awards Piano for Preschoolers 5/5 Stars!

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Crellin) — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 21:31:00 +0000

At the end of last year, Family Review Center requested a copy of our basic course to review. According to their website “The Family Review Center focuses on introducing companies and products to our viewing audience with no hype or pressure, but simply the facts and our unbiased opinions; allowing the consumer to decide what is right for them and their family.”

Recently I was proud to learn the Family Review Center gave Piano for Preschoolers 5 out of 5 stars! They posted the following review on their site. From their comments, it’s obvious to me they really spent some time with our product. I think their comments will be helpful to parents and grandparents looking for a fun and easy way to teach their preschoolers beginning piano.

Next time I want to talk more about performing opportunities for your children. If your child has performed for family or friends after working with Piano for Preschoolers, I’d love to hear about their special events. As always, you can reach me at angie@pianoforpreschoolers.com.

Angie

Excerpt from the Family Review Center Review of Piano for Preschoolers:

Equal to 6-12 months of class instruction, the Piano For Preschooler program will give your preschooler confidence to begin playing piano, and parents the confidence to teach piano, shortly after the product exits the box.

The Piano For Preschoolers program teaches counting aloud, rhythm, finger position, finger numbers, reading music and the names of the notes. The program is set to familiar songs of childhood (ie: Old McDonald, Ten Little Indians, etc.) to make learning the content that much easier. There are a total of 17 songs used in the program.

This program starts a child out in Piano by guiding their fingers using color strips that will fit on any piano or keyboard (two sets included). Once they have worked to the end of this book, the last two songs work to transition them to notes written in black, so they may convert their thinking to normal sheet music. From here they will be ready to expand their music concepts and piano playing by working on music you will find at the library or music store, or begin with formal lessons by a teacher.

This is an easy first step approach to music and piano. Because it is simple for parent and child, it will help children to develop a new love for music, as parents are the best encouragement and coach in the early years.

The kit contains all of the following:

Beginning piano book with color-coded notes on a traditional musical staff

CD with voice-over "count aloud" for each song in the music book
Color strip for keyboards and pianos, colors matching musical notes in book

Parent/Teacher Guide that includes step-by-step instructions

This program is well priced and well in tune with the needs of both parent and child in a music learning setting. This is so easy to use, I know you and your child will see success from the very first lesson. It is then up to you to encourage your child and develop a strong sense of a love for music as you come to appreciate and explore the world of music together in a fun and loving setting.

More Reasons You are Your Child's Best First Piano Teacher

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Crellin) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 18:41:00 +0000

One of the questions I’m asked all the time is how a parent without any musical training can teach their young children to play the piano. As many of you know, I firmly believe a caring parent or grandparent is a child’s best first piano teacher.

Many of the reasons I believe this are underscored in Philip Sheppard’s book Music Makes Your Child Smarter. Recently the publisher sent me a copy of Mr. Sheppard’s book. I’m always eager to learn more about the link between early music instruction and increased intelligence so I read this book with particular interest.

In Music Makes Your Child Smarter Mr. Sheppard agrees that you have the capacity to be your child’s most inspiring music teacher – even if you haven’t had any musical training yourself. He cites a study conducted by Moore, Burland and Davidson at the University of East London. This study monitored the ongoing musical activities of 257 children. The researchers found that children who maintained interest in playing an instrument had:

Started at an early age;

Had a great deal of parental support;

Begun their studies with teachers who were friendly, but not very technically able.

Mr. Sheppard goes on to reiterate that you don’t need musical training to be your child’s best, most inspiring music teacher - and your home is the perfect place for learning.

I developed Piano for Preschoolers to give parents the confidence to teach their young children beginning piano and through these special times together create some wonderful memories. It’s gratifying to know experts in early music education agree that you are your child’s best first piano teacher. Piano for Preschoolers provides all the tools necessary to teach your child beginning piano and make the experience a successful and rewarding adventure for both of you.

Angie

Santa Brought a Keyboard or Toy Piano - Now What?

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Crellin) — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 15:14:00 +0000

I’ve received several calls the last few days from parents whose children received keyboards or toy pianos for Christmas. They are in search of a fun and rewarding first experience at the piano. Most of the keyboards and toy pianos available come with some sort of songbook to peak the interest of the child. Unfortunately, they’re often too difficult for young children to follow, or don’t teach the beginning piano concepts children need to learn in order to receive all the benefits of early piano study. Other programs require more time at the computer than the piano, or resemble video games more than piano lessons.

Piano for Preschoolers combines the fun experience of playing songs the kids already love with lessons that teach the concepts children must master to be prepared for further study. The kids have so much fun playing songs they recognize on their new instrument with parents and grandparents singing along, they don’t even realize they are mastering these beginning piano concepts. This combination of an exciting and fun first experience and step-by-step mastery of rhythm, fingering, reading music, etc. is what has helped so many families successfully teach their young children to play the piano using our program.

I know there are many choices out there when it comes to beginning piano lessons. As you consider the different options available, I’m happy to help you make the right choice for your child. I firmly believe that a caring parent or grandparent is the best first piano teacher. Using our award-winning method you can teach your child beginning piano even if you’ve never played a note in your life. It’s critical that your child’s first experience at the piano be fun and rewarding but actually teach them to play. The confidence your child gains playing songs everybody knows will carry you both through the lessons and build a solid foundation for further study. Congratulations on recognizing the importance of early piano instruction and giving your child the best first experience available. Enjoy these special times together.

Angie

Piano for Preschoolers Wins 2007 Amazing Toy Award

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Crellin) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 11:34:00 +0000

Each year about this time, Kaboose (the largest independent family focused online media company in North America) announces the winners of their Amazing Toy Awards. Many months ago they requested a sample of Piano for Preschoolers so their testers could review and evaluate our course. Last week I found out Piano for Preschoolers was 1 of 14 products chosen this year in the preschool category!

Here’s what their mom testers had to say:

Before Piano for Preschoolers, “we weren’t able to engage our daughter with our piano, but after just a few tries of ‘playing the colors,’ she enthusiastically tries to play simple melodies using the color-key system.”

From the Why It’s a Winner Section:

“This is a great introduction to the concept of reading music as well as the basic fundamentals of technique and notation. As the child’s skills grow, the exercises evolve and become more challenging.”

These testers really understood our program. Playing the familiar tunes using the color as a guide gives the children the instant success that motivates them to continue learning. Each new song provides an opportunity to practice and apply the musical concept each lesson teaches. The lessons build upon each other and as the children continue to play the familiar tunes they are mastering beginning piano skills. The kids have so much fun they don’t even realize they’re learning. And they certainly don’t care about the enhanced brain function they’re gaining through early piano instruction. They’re just having a ton of fun playing songs they recognize for family and friends.

The award winners were posted yesterday on babyzone.com and the affiliated site parentzone.com. Kaboose has a large network of sites and is one of the five most visited family destinations online.

On a more personal note, I hope you and your family have a Happy Thanksgiving. I’m especially grateful this year to all the parents and grandparents who have given the special children in their lives the gift of early piano instruction and all the benefits that come with it. Thank you for your dedication to your children and your continued support of Piano for Preschoolers.

Warmly,
Angie

I Can't Believe It's the End of September Already!

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Crellin) — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 12:49:00 +0000

This time of year always flies by for our family. Now that we’ve settled back into our school routine, it’ll be Christmas before I know it. My kids are busy with football practice and dance class and the weeks just seem to fly by.

I’ve noticed more and more people adding our holiday songbook to their order these days. There’s just something extra special about playing Christmas carols while family sings along. I know over the years there have been times when I haven’t been able to spend as much time as I’d like at the piano. But around the holidays, I always make the time to play the carols I love and enjoy the wonderful memories they evoke.

I guess that’s why the first supplemental book I wrote was the holiday songbook. I wanted to give kids more opportunities to practice the musical concepts they’re learning. Since I know firsthand the joy that comes from playing the piano at this magical time of year, holiday songs were a natural choice. The first few pages of the holiday songbook describe which lessons from Piano for Preschoolers Basic Course apply to each song. Just like the songs in our Basic Course, your child will be able to play the familiar tunes using the color as a guide right away. As you work with your child on the musical concepts that apply to each song the rhythm, finger positioning, etc. will get better with practice.

I hope you’ll consider adding our holiday songbook to your order. Or if you’re already working with your child through our Basic Course, the holiday songbook is another fun way to practice the musical concepts you’re teaching. Now’s the time to start practicing these wonderful carols that will bring such joy to your family’s holidays this year!

Angie

New 17 Track CD with Voice-Over "Count Aloud"

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Crellin) — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 13:22:00 +0000

I’ve just recorded a CD and voice-over “count aloud” for each of the 17 songs in the music book that comes with our basic course. Any customer that orders our basic course will now receive this in their package. This CD is a useful tool as you teach the rhythm of each song and your child learns to count aloud.

When you first begin working with your child, just playing the correct notes using the color as a guide and trying to play the different notes with different fingers is a huge accomplishment. However, as you move through the course and your child begins to master the beginning piano concepts, counting aloud is one of the most important skills you’ll teach.

All the familiar songs in the music book give your child an opportunity to practice and apply the concept each lesson teaches. The ability to play a recognizable tune right away provides the motivation to continue practicing and learning. When you introduce counting aloud this CD will be very helpful. Each song is played with a metronome keeping time and the voice-over counting aloud each measure.

Keeping the rhythm steady is one of the trickiest things to learn. It’s natural to slow down or speed up the “counting” as your child searches for the correct note. Counting a steady rhythm and your child’s fingers keeping up with that rhythm will come with practice. At first, you’ll be counting aloud as your child plays. The goal is for your child to be able to count aloud as he/she plays. This will come with time and lots of practice.

As always, you know your child best and are you’ll be the best judge whether to use this CD primarily as a teaching tool for yourself or to let your child hear, and perhaps even play along, to the CD. This will depend a lot on your child’s age and how much of the course you’ve covered. Above all, always keep it fun! Your child is mastering difficult skills a baby step at a time. Singing along as your child plays and eventually counts aloud is always a great way to add fun and help with the rhythm.

Angie

By the way, if you ordered our course before the CD was available and would like a copy, I’m happy to send it to you. Just email me at angie@pianoforpreschoolers.com.

Piano for Preschoolers Receives Dr. Toy Best Products Award!

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Crellin) — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 22:36:00 +0000

Ever since my kids were very young I’ve always looked to Dr. Toy for products that offered something “extra” for optimal learning, play and fun. So, I’m thrilled to announce that Piano for Preschoolers has been selected as a winner in Dr. Toy’s Best Products Resource Program Summer 2007!

As many of you know, noted child development authority, Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D. (a.k.a. Dr. Toy) developed Dr. Toy’s Guide (which is available at www.drtoy.com) as a free service to consumers who desire to purchase safe, affordable, educationally-oriented, and stimulating toys and products for children.

Dr. Auerbach believes “parents need help to get a head start locating new, diversified products that children will enjoy using while they increase learning skills, enhance instruction and expand creativity.”

We’re very excited about the national recognition this award brings. Still, I’m most proud when I hear from caring parents teaching their young children with Piano for Preschoolers about how much fun their kids are having learning to play the piano. When I developed this method, one of my objectives was to give parents the confidence to teach their children beginning piano at home. To hear about the wonderful memories these parents are creating as they work with their children warms my heart.

Happy 4th of July!

Angie

Transitioning From Color-Coded Notes to Black and White Music

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Crellin) — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 11:16:00 +0000

From time to time I’m asked how a child transitions from playing the color-coded notes in our beginning course to music written in black and white. Most of the time this question comes from someone trying to decide whether to purchase our course or not. Some of these parents and grandparents have seen xylophones or other toys with colored keys and wonder if Piano for Preschoolers is similar to those products. (It’s not, by the way, and it’s also nothing like the video games I’ve seen lately masquerading as beginning piano courses.) Once a parent or grandparent actually sees the course and works with their child, they realize it’s easy for the kids to transition. Here’s why:

The colored notes in our music book are written on a traditional music staff (the one with five lines and four spaces). From the very first song, the children learn which note on which line or space is played with which key on the piano or keyboard. The color strip that corresponds with the colors of the notes in the music is placed behind the keys not on the keys. There aren’t numbers or letters or colors on stickers that you place on the keys themselves. The music is written in real notes not cute characters or numbered circles, or colored dots that look nothing like traditional music. This is a very important distinction. As your child is learning how long to hold down a quarter note and a half note and which finger number plays which note, he/she is looking at the keys themselves and the notes themselves. Your child is actually playing and reading real music throughout the entire course.

The kids have so much fun playing songs they recognize while a caring parent or grandparent sings along, they don’t even realize they’re learning to read music and applying the musical concepts that are taught in each lesson. By the middle of the course, they’re not even seeing the color anymore. They’re seeing the notes and the keys that play those notes. The color simply gives children the opportunity to begin piano or keyboard study at a very young age with a fun and easy method that motivates them to continue learning.

Yes, the last couple of songs in the beginning course have notes written in black to begin the transition. By the time you reach those songs in the course your child is playing more complex music and practicing all the beginning musical concepts you’ve been teaching. At that point, your child is well prepared for further study and can move on to all the exciting music written in black and white.

If you have a story to share about your child transitioning from the color-coded music in our course to music written in black and white I’d love to hear it. Write to me at angie@pianoforpreschoolers.com.

The Science Behind All The Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Crellin) — Tue, 22 May 2007 19:55:00 +0000

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.

How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, Practice, Practice

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Crellin) — Thu, 10 May 2007 15:00:00 +0000

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

Turn Your Next Play Date or Family Get-Together Into a Piano Recital

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Crellin) — Thu, 03 May 2007 13:38:00 +0000

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.

You Are Your Child's Best First Piano Teacher

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Crellin) — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 17:40:00 +0000

Welcome to the new Piano for Preschoolers blog. This format will allow me to share additional tips and ideas as you and your child work through our course. Please chime in with any suggestions or feedback that would be helpful to others as they teach their children beginning piano.

Speaking of teaching your children, I had an interesting call the other day from a mom whose four-year-old had been told by his piano teacher never to come back after his weekly lesson. Apparently the boy cried the entire way home from the lesson. This child really wanted to learn to play the piano and the mom was searching for a method she could teach at home. As we talked I was reminded of the many reasons why a caring parent or grandparent is a child’s best first piano teacher.

As a parent or grandparent of a preschooler you know your child best. When you teach your child beginning piano at home you can work on a lesson with your child when they are most receptive. You don’t have to drive to a lesson at a scheduled time when your child may or may not be in the mood. You also know when to stop; whether its after five minutes or your child wants to continue for half an hour. After all, you’ve already taught your child so many things. Beginning piano is just another skill you can teach him/her if you have a method that breaks the musical concepts down into tiny steps and is fun enough to keep your child engaged and ready to learn more.

Besides, the special times together make wonderful memories rather than the sad story this mom shared with me. Many parents call me because they can’t find a piano teacher who will take their 3-5 year old children and they’ve already been through the group music classes that don’t really teach a child to play. Many of these children are eager to learn and I don’t think it is fair to them to ask them to wait until a teacher is ready for them at 6 or 7. By then they may be involved in sports and other activities and their interest in learning to play the piano may have vanished. A caring parent or grandparent with the proper method can successfully and easily teach their preschooler beginning piano. People all over the country are doing it and I am proud to hear from them frequently.

Until next time … keep playing (the piano and in life),
Angie