May 24, 2021

This Memo includes

• Feature Article: The Best Age To Start Piano Lessons

• Student showcase of Qi-Le, Connor and Aura

• Upcoming MOM events includes our next "Crescendo Kids Online" class and FREE Piano Party!

• Parents Ask Pam - When should we transition from Crescendo Kids to private lessons?
  

Feature Article - Best Age to Start Piano Lessons

What is the best age to start piano lessons?  

Most musical experts propose the best age to begin learning an instrument is age 9 or 10. This is why elementary schools typically introduce instrument lessons in 4th or 5th grade.  Shinichi Suzuki, famous for his innovative methods to teach music to young children, believed music lessons started in the womb.  

Suzuki likened learning music to learning a language.  A child first learns by listening.  When applying this to music, it is super important to have classical music as part of your home life.  I would guess that for most families, music is a given, but does it have to be classical?  Classical music typically gives complex musical arrangements, multiple chord transitions, and sometimes key and modal transitions as well.  Compare this to pop music, which typically uses a 3 chord structure and very simple song development.  In other words, if music is a language, classical music is your high vocabulary English professor and pop-music is the teen-ager with limited slang expressions.  Both have their purpose in learning a language.  However it is easy to understand how listening to quality music is vital to learning to play an instrument and it should be implemented as early as possible.  

A limitation to playing and learning the piano is dexterity and focus.  Being able to move and control individual fingers are certainly necessary to playing the piano.  Most children have the needed dexterity around age 3 - 4 years old.  Focus is another animal all on its own.  This is the key to choosing the right age and piano program for your child.  

A good teacher of any subject teaches by incorporating a student’s learning styles and motivations.  We can all learn through whatever teaching style is given to us, however each person responds differently and some find certain teaching styles easier and more motivating to learn from than others. This is certainly true of young children. Finding a teacher that understands how your child thinks and is motivated is the key in knowing the right time to start piano lessons.  

We know that children are ready to learn music at a very early age.  The challenge is that traditional private lessons are not ideal for younger aged children.  Unfortunately, many private piano teachers needing to build their studio, and at the request of parents, may take on younger students without making a plan to adjust their teaching style and expectations for the younger child’s developments. In contrast, Move Over Mozart has developed a program specifically for the pre-reading child.  Our interactive teaching style and various stylistic approaches to learning a new concept assist in reaching children from all backgrounds and learning styles. We understand how a child learns at various developmental stages and our lesson plans reflect the best learning activities for each age group. 

So what is the best age to start piano lessons?  Start now!  Find the program that fits your child’s age and learning style and get involved!  In the meantime, crank up the Chopin!  

Student Showcasing

Each week we showcase a different student from our classes. Thanks to Qi-Le, Connor, and Aura for sharing their music with us! Like us on Facebook to see the new student each week.

Qi-Le, student of Ms Sachie, performing Skateboard Doodle and Nobody Knows the Trouble I’m in.

Connor, student of Ms Sachie, performing, Once A Man Was So, So, Mad!

Aura, student of Ms Sachie, performing her own arrangement of Señorita.

Upcoming MOM Events

Summer discount special! $20 off the first month! Use the coupon code, SUMMER.

Brag-Tag Incentives - Students can now show off their piano accomplishments!

Want to see all upcoming events? Check out our calendar. It is a new feature on our website.
FREE Online Piano Party! Students share their own music as well as participate in musical games, creating music and learning some music history. Each party is a little different with a theme and a special guest instrument. Come, meet our piano teachers, play some music, and have fun! All ages and musical levels are welcome. Parties are available to non-students, former students as well as current students. Click the link to sign up. Piano Party Sign Up

Sunday, June 27, at 11:00 am. RSVP required. (NEW DATE - We didn’t really want to compete with Father’s Day.)

Parent Information Meetings - Have questions about our online piano class program? Want a tour of our practicing app? Click the link to schedule your meeting with Miss Pam. Parent Info Meeting

June's Crescendo Kids Online begins Tuesday, June 1. This is a great way to start your child's musical education or continue piano lessons. Students are put into one of 4 classes depending on their age and musical ability.
Crescendo Kids Online Sign Up

Pre-Reading - Ages 3 - 5 years, or students not yet reading, 
We use a color-coded method for the students to match their five fingers to five keys on the piano.  New songs using only those 5 notes are given each week.  

Primary - Ages 5 -7 years or older and brand new to music, 
This group is for the very basics of piano playing.  Students learn to play simple rhythms, correct hand position, and the names of the white keys on the piano.  

Beginning Elementary - Ages 7-12 years or younger and reading notes, 
This is for students just starting to read notes on the staff.  Students are taught how the staff relates to the piano and how to translate the notes to making music.  Also, having the students memorize a few key notes on the staff will help greatly with their ability to read music.

Advanced Elementary - Ages 7 - 12 years with previous piano lessons
This group already reads notes on the staff and can immediately identify many of the notes by name.  They will learn more advanced technique and music theory beyond the initial basics of learning to play.  

Parents Ask Pam

Have a question for Miss Pam? You can email, text message, or message on Facebook your questions. She will respond immediately to you, and your question might be featured in future newsletters.

Q: When should we transition from Crescendo Kids to private lessons?

A: Move Over Mozart’s Crescendo Kids, Classes and Online, was created for the young and beginning musician. It is our hope that your child will transition to private lessons at some point. But when is the ideal time to make this move? The following are some questions to help you make this decision about your individual child.

1. Do you have a piano or its equivalent at home? While a small keyboard is great for getting started with lessons, there are many playing techniques that are just not possible on most keyboards. Additionally, you will need a keyboard/piano with all 88 keys. Not only does this help with orientation, but many pieces require the lower and upper octaves.

2. Is your child practicing daily? Private lessons require an intensity that many young children are just not ready for. Private teachers expect 30 minutes of practice, 5 days a week. For most young children, this is too much.

3. Is your child reading notes on the staff? Although private teachers will teach this, Move Over Mozart’s Crescendo Kids is able to play many theory games to reinforce some of these basic concepts. This will give your child a strong foundation of how to read music and how notes move on the staff before switching to private lessons.

4. Is your child at least 8 years old and in 3rd grade? Although there are some private instructors that will take students at a younger age, this is the ideal age to start private lessons because the student has matured to a level where private lessons can be enjoyable. This is actually a little younger than traditionally recommended, however, Move Over Mozart students have more training and experience than the typical beginning student.

5. Has your child progressed faster and farther than the material and curriculum provided in Crescendo Kids? Our piano program has many levels for achievement. Occasionally there will be a child that we believe would learn better in the private setting, but our Crescendo Kids program is very favorable to learning music, especially for young children.

Click this link for more information about our online private lessons. MOM Private Lessons

Your Comments And Questions

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