Even wonder how to teach young toddler to differentiate loud vs soft sounds? Mummy really think hard about this but bear in mind that young ones are interested in actions and sounds... in other words it must be interesting to them.
So, take lion as an example, Mummy told En En lion papa is very fierce (just like her daddy) and roars the loudest. Therefore, mummy leads En En hands to press on the left side of the piano which sounds the loudest... just let her presses to get the most loudest sounds produced from the piano. Then at the middle is the lion mummy (to make sure she can differentiate) and lion baby's sound will be the soft one, at the right most of the piano. When mummy was leading En En to press on the keyboards, not forgetting to imitate the sound of lion's roaring in Loud,Medium and Soft. En En was very happy to notify the differences and is able to tell "lion papa" is on the left side and "lion baby" on the right side. Sounds cool, huh?
Right now, she will point to the piano and said "I-yen papa" and wants to press on the keyboard. She got it right BUT lately she introduced in "I-yen Ah Mah", "I-yen Ah Kong"! *slap forehead*
Showing posts with label Children and Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Children and Music. Show all posts
Friday, February 22, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
You like pants?
I was stunned when one of my 5 years old student, Cecilia said this to me:
Cecilia: Teacher you like pants so much ah?
Me : Huh? What made you think so?
Cecilia: I never see you wear skirt or dress.
Me : Oh... yes. Pants is more comfortable. I know that you like dresses very much.
Cecilia: Yes la... dress is so pretty why don't want to wear?
Me : *speechless*
Cecilia: Next time you wear for me to see, OK?
Why? I also don't know why. I realized 95% of my working outfits are blouse and pants and I hardly have any dresses or skirts. Ever since En En is here, I never wear skirt. I might be getting some dresses and skirts for this Chinese New Year.
Cecilia: Teacher you like pants so much ah?
Me : Huh? What made you think so?
Cecilia: I never see you wear skirt or dress.
Me : Oh... yes. Pants is more comfortable. I know that you like dresses very much.
Cecilia: Yes la... dress is so pretty why don't want to wear?
Me : *speechless*
Cecilia: Next time you wear for me to see, OK?
Why? I also don't know why. I realized 95% of my working outfits are blouse and pants and I hardly have any dresses or skirts. Ever since En En is here, I never wear skirt. I might be getting some dresses and skirts for this Chinese New Year.
Monday, December 17, 2007
The joy as an educator
Guess what it is? I'm glad and happy... it's an achievement of satisfaction! You can't measure it with any material stuff including money!
It's SEEING YOUR STUDENTS IMPROVE in their learning everyday!
I just found out I connected well with those music students whom I nearly gave up on them! They were not bright student and they didn't pay much attention during the lesson or never practise the piano even I persuaded and buy them sweets to encourage them moving on. I didn't like when it's their lesson slot (yes, I got to be frank to you all that teacher do have preferred students, OK?) and hope the time passed faster. LOL! I was a terrible teacher.
But lately seeing that they really pour hard work and effort at last makes me feel joyful. Be it for the concert or the coming exam... I know they are serious this time as I can see they are improving. My students are like my children, no matter how bad they are, as long as I don't give up on them... they are the hope of the future.
Moral of the story: It's tough to become an educator. Same goes to parenting too!
It's SEEING YOUR STUDENTS IMPROVE in their learning everyday!
I just found out I connected well with those music students whom I nearly gave up on them! They were not bright student and they didn't pay much attention during the lesson or never practise the piano even I persuaded and buy them sweets to encourage them moving on. I didn't like when it's their lesson slot (yes, I got to be frank to you all that teacher do have preferred students, OK?) and hope the time passed faster. LOL! I was a terrible teacher.
But lately seeing that they really pour hard work and effort at last makes me feel joyful. Be it for the concert or the coming exam... I know they are serious this time as I can see they are improving. My students are like my children, no matter how bad they are, as long as I don't give up on them... they are the hope of the future.
Moral of the story: It's tough to become an educator. Same goes to parenting too!
Monday, October 1, 2007
How to teach 2-3 years old music?
Anyone know how to teach a 2 or 3 years old children music? I have a 3 years old student recently. This is my first time having such a young age student. Having headache and start to wonder why nowadays parent send their toddler to music lesson when the child is still learning to talk!!?? Kiasu syndrome??
Personally, I think it's not necessary and it's just too early. Unless you don't mind spending earlier. By the way, I'm refering to one to one teaching method. Children at this young age need to get active and is curious about their surroundings. They have very short concentration period. I do not know how others think, even one day if I think En En is talented in music and show interest in it,(in fact, she is!) I'll just start to introduce her different sounds and enjoy first. Yes, switch on the radio and dance together. That's how they learn to respond with music. Anything in the house can become the music instrument such as the milk powder tin, wooden chopstick to hit together or hit on the tin, any ordinary household item that is safe for use on toddler. Mind you, we even let En En use 2 of the cup covers which is made of stainless steel as cymbal. Suitable for her little hands too! Let them know how we get the sound and build up the beat.
Basic requirements for a student to attend a specific musical instrument class:
1) Able to read and write ABC and 123, basically knows all the alphabets.
2) Able to do simple calculation, this is for beats counting purpose.
3) Able to understand simple instructions. Can you assure that 3 years old will understand what is tone or rhythm?
4) Able to concentrate longer. Young children is easily get drifted away by things and environments that's why it's kind of difficult to get their cooperation.
5) Able to follow/perform the beats counting as music is all about correct beats and tempo. So, start to train your little one in counting beats by hand clapping with nursery rhyme.
I might be updating this topic in the future if I come across any new ideas in teaching the little one music. One more thing before I forget, involve them in a small group as they all love having fun together. It's not suppose to be a serious class, it's a playful moment!
So, what do you think and what is your suggestions?
Personally, I think it's not necessary and it's just too early. Unless you don't mind spending earlier. By the way, I'm refering to one to one teaching method. Children at this young age need to get active and is curious about their surroundings. They have very short concentration period. I do not know how others think, even one day if I think En En is talented in music and show interest in it,(in fact, she is!) I'll just start to introduce her different sounds and enjoy first. Yes, switch on the radio and dance together. That's how they learn to respond with music. Anything in the house can become the music instrument such as the milk powder tin, wooden chopstick to hit together or hit on the tin, any ordinary household item that is safe for use on toddler. Mind you, we even let En En use 2 of the cup covers which is made of stainless steel as cymbal. Suitable for her little hands too! Let them know how we get the sound and build up the beat.
Basic requirements for a student to attend a specific musical instrument class:
1) Able to read and write ABC and 123, basically knows all the alphabets.
2) Able to do simple calculation, this is for beats counting purpose.
3) Able to understand simple instructions. Can you assure that 3 years old will understand what is tone or rhythm?
4) Able to concentrate longer. Young children is easily get drifted away by things and environments that's why it's kind of difficult to get their cooperation.
5) Able to follow/perform the beats counting as music is all about correct beats and tempo. So, start to train your little one in counting beats by hand clapping with nursery rhyme.
I might be updating this topic in the future if I come across any new ideas in teaching the little one music. One more thing before I forget, involve them in a small group as they all love having fun together. It's not suppose to be a serious class, it's a playful moment!
So, what do you think and what is your suggestions?
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Talented Music Student
Well, this is not my En En but I do hope she will be one of them, I mean enjoying activities that she participate.
I was helping another music teacher to teach her student as she was sick today. I replaced her for 2 lessons, hence 2 different students aged 3 and 5. OMG! Imagine that 3 years old one... well, merely can't teach anything as he's way too talkative and not to mention he's still learning ABC. So it was abit like music play class in nursery. He speaks good Mandarin, even he's from German-Chinese parentage, a very cute and gorgeous child.
The one that I considered as talented is the 5 year old chinese girl - Alycia. I was surprised that she pick up very fast in the lesson, understand very well even I just spoke to her once, speaks very fluent English with slang. She made me wonder whether she's studying in International School? I was even suprised that she learns violin, ballet, attending drawing class and was told by her mum that she wants to join as much activities as she can and in fact enjoying every classes. I would say this is quite a rare case as most of the children nowadays are forced to attend music class, to join a lot more of extra-curriculum and I even saw a few music students (luckily not mine) crying in and crying out from the music room and parent have to watch them outside the class! I was thinking the child must have no interest in music otherwise, it shouldn't be so difficult for everyone.
I remember during my time, I was looking forward for my music lesson, my parent nevre encourage, never discourage... it's all up to me. I still believe music is for enjoying and fun. If one doesn't feel so, better don't force to learn. So, back to that talented student, I believe it must be very costly to raise a child who enjoy so many activities that we have for young children nowadays. No doubt, she will be a very brilliant student with multiple talents.
I was helping another music teacher to teach her student as she was sick today. I replaced her for 2 lessons, hence 2 different students aged 3 and 5. OMG! Imagine that 3 years old one... well, merely can't teach anything as he's way too talkative and not to mention he's still learning ABC. So it was abit like music play class in nursery. He speaks good Mandarin, even he's from German-Chinese parentage, a very cute and gorgeous child.
The one that I considered as talented is the 5 year old chinese girl - Alycia. I was surprised that she pick up very fast in the lesson, understand very well even I just spoke to her once, speaks very fluent English with slang. She made me wonder whether she's studying in International School? I was even suprised that she learns violin, ballet, attending drawing class and was told by her mum that she wants to join as much activities as she can and in fact enjoying every classes. I would say this is quite a rare case as most of the children nowadays are forced to attend music class, to join a lot more of extra-curriculum and I even saw a few music students (luckily not mine) crying in and crying out from the music room and parent have to watch them outside the class! I was thinking the child must have no interest in music otherwise, it shouldn't be so difficult for everyone.
I remember during my time, I was looking forward for my music lesson, my parent nevre encourage, never discourage... it's all up to me. I still believe music is for enjoying and fun. If one doesn't feel so, better don't force to learn. So, back to that talented student, I believe it must be very costly to raise a child who enjoy so many activities that we have for young children nowadays. No doubt, she will be a very brilliant student with multiple talents.
Monday, May 7, 2007
Children's Creativity
CASE I:
Little Thean attended my music lessons as usual and on-time every week. He is my moody student and he's just 5 years old. He loves music and he will cooperate with me if he's in good mood, meaning he will do theory as instructed and play the piano without any nagging. Otherwise, he will talks non-stop to avoid playing on the piano.
These few weeks I was surprised by his creativity in using drawing and art skills when doing his theory. One time the sticker of a minim rest printed wrongly from the look it should be (become a semibreve rest) and I was blank on what to do as the answer was minim rest. Before I'm able to say a word, my little student already suggested to put it upside down so that it looks like a minim rest. What a Good Idea!
Another surprise is colouring flowers for the correct answer and I was expecting him to have one colour for one flower but you guess what! Little Thean coloured the flower in sections! Not only that, it's in vertical and horizontal sections which he drawn by himself. Then some more add 2-3 colors onto one flower.
CASE II:
Little Andrew is abit hyperactive. He's a new student and has no focus when comes to the last 10 minutes of the lesson. He did the colouring very simple as long as the colours sit in the place without filling up the whole space, he consider that as done. I'm glad that even so, he will seperate out different the colour for different item.
For example, there are 2 answer for selection, either it's a minim or semibreve. For young beginner's theory books, there are lots of colouring and playing with stickers. So, it happened that the answer is drawn inside a car. Meaning we have 1 car for minim and 1 car for semibreve. Then the child needs to colour the correct answer. I thought Andrew was not that patient in colouring and since he always doesn't fill the blank with full colour but to my surprise he still insisted the car is red, the window is blue and the tyre is black colour. For an active child to do this, it really need more patience and of course I gave him "Good" and stars not because of his colouring (his colouring can consider bad if you are a perfectionist) but because of his attempt to perfect his work.
We all have a similiarity, that is we are LEFTIE! They really have good imaginations and in fact I really encourage them to do as what comes to their mind even it's always end up a messy page. That's what I call CREATIVITY!
Little Thean attended my music lessons as usual and on-time every week. He is my moody student and he's just 5 years old. He loves music and he will cooperate with me if he's in good mood, meaning he will do theory as instructed and play the piano without any nagging. Otherwise, he will talks non-stop to avoid playing on the piano.
These few weeks I was surprised by his creativity in using drawing and art skills when doing his theory. One time the sticker of a minim rest printed wrongly from the look it should be (become a semibreve rest) and I was blank on what to do as the answer was minim rest. Before I'm able to say a word, my little student already suggested to put it upside down so that it looks like a minim rest. What a Good Idea!
Another surprise is colouring flowers for the correct answer and I was expecting him to have one colour for one flower but you guess what! Little Thean coloured the flower in sections! Not only that, it's in vertical and horizontal sections which he drawn by himself. Then some more add 2-3 colors onto one flower.
CASE II:
Little Andrew is abit hyperactive. He's a new student and has no focus when comes to the last 10 minutes of the lesson. He did the colouring very simple as long as the colours sit in the place without filling up the whole space, he consider that as done. I'm glad that even so, he will seperate out different the colour for different item.
For example, there are 2 answer for selection, either it's a minim or semibreve. For young beginner's theory books, there are lots of colouring and playing with stickers. So, it happened that the answer is drawn inside a car. Meaning we have 1 car for minim and 1 car for semibreve. Then the child needs to colour the correct answer. I thought Andrew was not that patient in colouring and since he always doesn't fill the blank with full colour but to my surprise he still insisted the car is red, the window is blue and the tyre is black colour. For an active child to do this, it really need more patience and of course I gave him "Good" and stars not because of his colouring (his colouring can consider bad if you are a perfectionist) but because of his attempt to perfect his work.
We all have a similiarity, that is we are LEFTIE! They really have good imaginations and in fact I really encourage them to do as what comes to their mind even it's always end up a messy page. That's what I call CREATIVITY!
Sunday, April 8, 2007
A Real Life Hyperactive Kid - Part I
Never really come across a real hyperactive children. Today, I finally have a new student who is real active one. Not sure whether he's hyper- or not coz uncertain on the medical terminology about hyperactive.
He is almost 6 years old, today is the first day for lesson. Before we started, I noticed this little boy is moving here and there non-stop even when talking with the parent who are sitting. The way he carry himself really remind me of my little En En. Hmmm.... I wonder my little princess can grow up like this active boy? If this is true I believe everyone taking care of her will be extremely exhausted.
The parent and grandma of Andrew was with him for his first lesson and they even informed me that it will be a great challenge to teach this child. Maybe first day he behaved quite alright but I know there are more to come later.
It's not easy to get further explaination on Hyperactive symptoms online, as I would said it's limited or I'm not good enough at searching??!! Found some definition of Hyperactive - Attention-Deficit-Disorder-Hyperactivity (ADDH)in year 1980 by american Psychiatric Association. Hyperactive chilren are significantly more reactive to environmental stimulation. Wow... sounds very scary as many children also reactive to environemntal stimulation... well, I think I should do some study on this topic as I also read about boys are in higher tendency to become hyperactive than girls from a research. Really need to get some information from my younger sis who intended to do her child physcology study in near future.
He is almost 6 years old, today is the first day for lesson. Before we started, I noticed this little boy is moving here and there non-stop even when talking with the parent who are sitting. The way he carry himself really remind me of my little En En. Hmmm.... I wonder my little princess can grow up like this active boy? If this is true I believe everyone taking care of her will be extremely exhausted.
The parent and grandma of Andrew was with him for his first lesson and they even informed me that it will be a great challenge to teach this child. Maybe first day he behaved quite alright but I know there are more to come later.
It's not easy to get further explaination on Hyperactive symptoms online, as I would said it's limited or I'm not good enough at searching??!! Found some definition of Hyperactive - Attention-Deficit-Disorder-Hyperactivity (ADDH)in year 1980 by american Psychiatric Association. Hyperactive chilren are significantly more reactive to environmental stimulation. Wow... sounds very scary as many children also reactive to environemntal stimulation... well, I think I should do some study on this topic as I also read about boys are in higher tendency to become hyperactive than girls from a research. Really need to get some information from my younger sis who intended to do her child physcology study in near future.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Nursery Rhymes
Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been
(En En gave me a wide smile once I started singing)
I've been up to London to look at the queen
Pussy cat, pussy cat, what did you there
(En En started to look at the picture for the cat)
I frightened a little mouse under her chair
(En En laughed with her cute dimple showing on her face)
It is always be my wish to sing rhymes for my kid and most of the rhyme I still able to remember since childhood. I guess my mum did the same to me and also from my memory when I was attending music school at young age.
I found this big Nursery Rhymes card board in Popular bookstore 3 weeks ago and without a second thought, quickly paid for it. I did buy books for Good Night Stories and nursery rhymes to read for En En but she is not so interested to sit quietly together with me. She prefers to crawl up to my bed then down to the floor. Up and down and up and down till she's tired enough to sleep.
This big illustrated nursery rhyme pasted on the cupboard door by daddy and En En was delighted to look at it and will sing by herself.
There are 9 rhymes in total and every time I sing to her I'll use my finger to point on the words and most of the time En En will follow my finger and recognize the picture of the rhyme. When my MIL sing to her Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, she will quickly turn to the cupboard and look for the picture. Most of the time, she's able to identify which rhyme belongs to which picture. She even can do Twinkle, twinkle little star since 8 months old with both hand by grabbing and releasing her five fingers together. What an achievement!
(En En gave me a wide smile once I started singing)
I've been up to London to look at the queen
Pussy cat, pussy cat, what did you there
(En En started to look at the picture for the cat)
I frightened a little mouse under her chair
(En En laughed with her cute dimple showing on her face)
It is always be my wish to sing rhymes for my kid and most of the rhyme I still able to remember since childhood. I guess my mum did the same to me and also from my memory when I was attending music school at young age.
I found this big Nursery Rhymes card board in Popular bookstore 3 weeks ago and without a second thought, quickly paid for it. I did buy books for Good Night Stories and nursery rhymes to read for En En but she is not so interested to sit quietly together with me. She prefers to crawl up to my bed then down to the floor. Up and down and up and down till she's tired enough to sleep.
This big illustrated nursery rhyme pasted on the cupboard door by daddy and En En was delighted to look at it and will sing by herself.
There are 9 rhymes in total and every time I sing to her I'll use my finger to point on the words and most of the time En En will follow my finger and recognize the picture of the rhyme. When my MIL sing to her Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, she will quickly turn to the cupboard and look for the picture. Most of the time, she's able to identify which rhyme belongs to which picture. She even can do Twinkle, twinkle little star since 8 months old with both hand by grabbing and releasing her five fingers together. What an achievement!
Monday, March 19, 2007
Appreciation
I feel happy and valuable if I got feedback from my music students. Most of them are little girls, always feel shy to talk to their teacher (I'm not fierce, but just look serious)and I try to talk to them in order to encourage them to talk back to me. Most of the time, younger ones are easier to sweet talk with... Ahah! They are also the group that are more playful and like to bargain with me if ask to complete their theory or do more practise. Weird! How come the younger ones are so good at working out with these tricks...
I did a replacement class for *Kathy and by a chance, I was assigned to be her music teacher starting this month. Kathy is 11 years old, a big girl who has better understanding. Just one class with her then I was told that she likes me and she understand more about what I taught her. She even requested to change teacher!!! What a surprise for me as I never thought that I will be good at teaching.
This appreciation from a little girl really encourage me and I feel it's worth for me to try out in education line.
I did a replacement class for *Kathy and by a chance, I was assigned to be her music teacher starting this month. Kathy is 11 years old, a big girl who has better understanding. Just one class with her then I was told that she likes me and she understand more about what I taught her. She even requested to change teacher!!! What a surprise for me as I never thought that I will be good at teaching.
This appreciation from a little girl really encourage me and I feel it's worth for me to try out in education line.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Attractive Teaching Tools
Never thought that the teaching materials for music are so wonderful nowadays. They even created games and cards to help students for memorizing while playing. This creative idea is very handy and useful especially for the young ones. Shown here are some creative products by Hal Leonard.
How I wish that we had this back in our old time so that I won’t feel so dull and boring whenever I was attending the lesson. Music is all about enjoying and sharing activity.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Music student
I still remember the interesting and stunning conversation with my student. I teach music for part-time. Most of the time it's about how they throw back the answer to me, they have very direct reply and always with that innocent look. I found it's very funny to have them around too... :O)
5 year old Catheryn* showed up in her pretty pink cheongsam with nice hair tied and clipped with pink foral hairclip.
Teacher: Why you wear so pretty today? Where are you going later?
catheryn: No lah! I don't go anywhere, it's chinese new year mah. (It's Chap Goh Meh)
Teacher: Did you do your homework teacher gave you last week?
Catheryn: (with confident)Yes! I finish all already.
Teacher: So, you must know all the notes very well now?
Catheryn: What notes?
Teacher: The homework I gave you have it all (open the book and show her), all these, can you remember?
Catheryn: I don't know... (tried to avoid the conversation by looking elsewhere)
Teacher: You did the homework and must know to tell teacher what notes they are. Nevermind, we do another exercise.
Catheryn: Teacher, I don't want to do because I don't know.
Teacher: You don't know then must learn and teacher will teach you.
Catheryn: (nagging)I don't want... I still don't know....
Teacher: Do you want to have stars and happy face chop on your book? (kids love to receive the stamp of a star)
Catheryn: (nodded head happily) Can I have candy too?
Teacher: If you are able to tell teacher the notes....
Catheryn: Yes, I know now!!!
See how a child is getting more clever nowadays.
5 year old Catheryn* showed up in her pretty pink cheongsam with nice hair tied and clipped with pink foral hairclip.
Teacher: Why you wear so pretty today? Where are you going later?
catheryn: No lah! I don't go anywhere, it's chinese new year mah. (It's Chap Goh Meh)
Teacher: Did you do your homework teacher gave you last week?
Catheryn: (with confident)Yes! I finish all already.
Teacher: So, you must know all the notes very well now?
Catheryn: What notes?
Teacher: The homework I gave you have it all (open the book and show her), all these, can you remember?
Catheryn: I don't know... (tried to avoid the conversation by looking elsewhere)
Teacher: You did the homework and must know to tell teacher what notes they are. Nevermind, we do another exercise.
Catheryn: Teacher, I don't want to do because I don't know.
Teacher: You don't know then must learn and teacher will teach you.
Catheryn: (nagging)I don't want... I still don't know....
Teacher: Do you want to have stars and happy face chop on your book? (kids love to receive the stamp of a star)
Catheryn: (nodded head happily) Can I have candy too?
Teacher: If you are able to tell teacher the notes....
Catheryn: Yes, I know now!!!
See how a child is getting more clever nowadays.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)