The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #120632 Message #2626112
Posted By: Piers Plowman
07-May-09 - 06:07 AM
Thread Name: Music Theory Flashcards for Children
Subject: RE: Music Theory Flashcards for Children
Subject: RE: Music Theory Flashcards for Children
From: katlaughing - PM
Date: 06 May 09 - 11:07 AM
"What a neat idea! I would love to have a set in English. Good luck and they look great!"
Thank you, katlaughing. They're too much work to just make a set in English without having English-speaking students, but I'll let you know if I ever make one. My nearly-eight-year-old student expressed an interest in making more, which I intend to encourage. I left instructions with her mother that they should do the fourth, fifth and sixth of G major, if she decides to do it. It would be nice to work on them together, but there never seems to be enough time to do everything I'd like with them.
After explaining to her why the fourth, fifth and sixth are especially important, I've changed my mind and decided to do the other intervals right away. Yet another theory shattered upon contact with reality.
Subject: RE: Music Theory Flashcards for Children
From: Jack Campin - PM
Date: 06 May 09 - 05:38 PM
"One neat idea I once saw wa a set of dominoes for teaching time values. You might have a piece with a dotted crotchet on one end - which would match with three quavers - and a minim on the other - which would match with two crotchets or four quavers. Language-independent."
That is a neat idea, thanks. I've been mostly leaving teaching reading music to their mother, who is a music teacher and plays the piano quite well. I've been concentrating on doing things with them at the piano and the recorder instead, though we do a bit of reading music. I want them to be able to play by ear and especially to learn to listen. I feel that this was neglected and at times actively discouraged in the lessons I had when I was young.
I picked up a practice pad and two pairs of drumsticks for the two oldest children (the parents paid for them) and they have a few typical percussion instruments for children. We used them a little, but then I felt that we weren't doing enough on the recorder. I want to start doing more with rhythm with them.
The littlest one (three-years-old) demanded recorder lessons and I'm at a bit of a loss as to how to explain to her how to blow correctly to get the right sound. However, she's still interested and on Sunday I'll try to do a little more with singing and the percussion instruments. I think a G penny-whistle might be easier than the sopranino recorder for her, but then I really ought to get them for her sisters and that means the parents have to spend more money. However, it keeps me off the streets and out of the pool halls.