Congratulations to everyone who took their piano exams this summer. Everyone worked so hard and what a great achievement.
David Purser Grade 1 90/100 distinction
Hannah Tuckwell Initial 84/100 Merit
Scarlett Inchcoombe Initial 89/100 distinction
Amber Bates grade 1 76/100 merit
Charlotte Bates Initial 68/100 Pass
Jennifer Bates Grade 1 83/100 merit
Melody Stockwell Initial 87/100 distinction
Thursday, 16 July 2009
Tuesday, 14 July 2009
Music fo Life
This is a strange time of year. Everything seems to come to an end. For some of us it's the end of another school year, or the course we have been pursuing. Many of us are waiting expectantly for new things in the Autumn.
This is also the time of year when we begin to review our involvements and look ahead to a new term in September. When making choices for our children's pre-school or after school activities we are presented with an array of different choices all very tempting.
When choosing activities for my children I find myself considering which activities I feel will have lasting value. Skills for life!
The more I work in music education the more I see it's life-long value.
Parents who phone me for piano lessons are often puzzled at why I will not teach very young children. I tell them that I have found it to be somewhat unsuccessful. For a child to get the most out of an individual lesson I feel they need to be self-motivated and able to appreciate the need for some concentrated daily practice.
On the flip side of this I have found that children who come at 7 or older have often missed out on crucial fundamental foundational music skills. Their concept of pulse, the underlying beat which underpins most music, is often weak and much harder to grasp at a later stage. They also often struggle with pitching notes correctly i.e singing in tune.
Over the years I have really seen the importance of building these skills as early as possible. I know that the baby who bounces to the steady beat and often hears a voice singing to him will excel in music later if these things are continued. I have seen the evidence not only in my own children but also in the many children who have made their way through the various classes we offer.
I do not believe we are born with a musical gifting. There is certainly no evidence to support that. But I do believe we can birth music into our children. I am so passionate about this. It is a gift we can give our children that they will never loose or run out of time to pursue. It will prepare them not only for music but also give them confidence and skills way beyond the remit of music. Musical skills to mathematics, literacy, creativity and physical ability.
With the right start we can all excel in music. It's never too late to take up an instrument or learn to sing, but as we get older we can find it much harder to develop foundational concepts such as pitch and pulse.
I have seen first hand the real value in regular music instruction. Not only do parents testify to their children's blossoming skills but they also tell me that their own skills have improved. I can only guess the number of adults who tell me that their own singing has improved simply by attending a class with their toddler each week.
There is no doubt that involving oneself in music is one of the greatest ways we can improve our quality of life. Whether we listen, play or dance there is something about music which takes us away from the general cares of the day and allows us to find space.
I am so glad I have been able to give my own children the gift of music and hope you will see it's value for your child too.
This is also the time of year when we begin to review our involvements and look ahead to a new term in September. When making choices for our children's pre-school or after school activities we are presented with an array of different choices all very tempting.
When choosing activities for my children I find myself considering which activities I feel will have lasting value. Skills for life!
The more I work in music education the more I see it's life-long value.
Parents who phone me for piano lessons are often puzzled at why I will not teach very young children. I tell them that I have found it to be somewhat unsuccessful. For a child to get the most out of an individual lesson I feel they need to be self-motivated and able to appreciate the need for some concentrated daily practice.
On the flip side of this I have found that children who come at 7 or older have often missed out on crucial fundamental foundational music skills. Their concept of pulse, the underlying beat which underpins most music, is often weak and much harder to grasp at a later stage. They also often struggle with pitching notes correctly i.e singing in tune.
Over the years I have really seen the importance of building these skills as early as possible. I know that the baby who bounces to the steady beat and often hears a voice singing to him will excel in music later if these things are continued. I have seen the evidence not only in my own children but also in the many children who have made their way through the various classes we offer.
I do not believe we are born with a musical gifting. There is certainly no evidence to support that. But I do believe we can birth music into our children. I am so passionate about this. It is a gift we can give our children that they will never loose or run out of time to pursue. It will prepare them not only for music but also give them confidence and skills way beyond the remit of music. Musical skills to mathematics, literacy, creativity and physical ability.
With the right start we can all excel in music. It's never too late to take up an instrument or learn to sing, but as we get older we can find it much harder to develop foundational concepts such as pitch and pulse.
I have seen first hand the real value in regular music instruction. Not only do parents testify to their children's blossoming skills but they also tell me that their own skills have improved. I can only guess the number of adults who tell me that their own singing has improved simply by attending a class with their toddler each week.
There is no doubt that involving oneself in music is one of the greatest ways we can improve our quality of life. Whether we listen, play or dance there is something about music which takes us away from the general cares of the day and allows us to find space.
I am so glad I have been able to give my own children the gift of music and hope you will see it's value for your child too.
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