A Good Beginning Never Ends

Research says that pre-natal care is important to have a healthy child. Teaching children good nutrition & hygiene at an early age is beneficial to their growth and development. Children involved in music from a young age have the foundation they need to make great musicians.   Here's my latest story about a Kindermusik kid.

Tonight I went to a concert at Berry College. The first of the 2011-2012 concert series featured Toby Oft, the principal trombonist from the Boston Symphony Orchestra.  That is a prestigious position, and Mr. Oft is only 35 years old.  The concert was well attended, primarily by college students obtaining credit for a music class.  I took my 12 year old, Kate, who is in her 2nd year of playing the trombone.  I wanted her see and hear one of the best trombonist in the country.

The concert was wonderful. The second movement of the first piece was so lyrical, and he played with such a  lush tone. I was truly mesmerized.  His accompanist, Ling Leng, from the New England Conservatory played with such ease & precision. It was, perhaps, the best concert I have attended in many years.

Kate & I spoke with both performers as we left the auditorium.  There were numerous students waiting to speak to Mr. Oft,  get his autograph & a picture with him.  As I was about to leave, I hear a little voice say "Ms. Kathryn". I turn and see this cute fellow smiling at me, and he says "I'm Max."   It was a child I taught in Kindermusik.  He & Kate were in the same classes (of course she didn't remember him).  Max lives in Trion, and plays the trombone.  He had come to Berry this past summer for the Encore Music Camp, and now he was back for this wonderful concert.  I was delighted to see him, and asked about his family.  I'm so glad he remembered me, and thought enough to speak to me before I rushed out.

Max has great parents, who are responsible for all he is becoming.  They made the decision  that music would be an important part of his life.  They made the trip to Rome for Kindermusik on a weekly basis for many years.  All those years of listening and learning music as a youngster has Max primed to be a great musician. Even if Max doesn't continue studying music past high school, he will be a friend of the arts, and a knowledgeable audience member. Remember, a good beginning never ends!

Listening to Music, part 2

I admitted that I don't do a lot of "leisure" listening.  In fact, I prefer silence to background sounds.  My kids are used to it, but they do think it is weird.  They probably prefer "no music" to the talk radio they get with their dad, but that is another story!

Though I'm not a listener in my down time, I do believe listening to be beneficial.  Just as children learn to talk because their environment is filled with words, music can be learned in the same way.  Shinichi Suzuki developed his music education philosophy based on "Japanese children learn to speak Japanese".  The premise is that children learn based on the environment in which they live.   He taught that children who listened to music could learn to be musicians. 

In a nutshell, here is the Suzuki philosophy:  A child and his mother would come for a violin lesson. The child is taught by rote, and the mother also.  When the child goes home, the mother is the teacher.  The mother makes sure the child practices daily, and that there is a time for listening each day too. The child would listen to recordings of the songs he is learning on the violin. The listening might occur during the meal, rest time, or while the child is playing.  Thus the environment is saturated with music.  The child that learns in this way develops a sense of musicianship before he is encumbered with reading the music.   The lay term that is often used is, "he has a good ear".

Kindermusik has a similar philosophy.  The classroom is filled with music, and activities that promote steady beat, vocal expression, exploration and improvisation of sounds.  When the families leave the Kindermusik class, they take CD's home that allow them to saturate their environment with the same songs they enjoyed with the group.  When the children are between 4 1/2 - 7 years old they are introduced to the notes, rhythm and terminology they have already experienced.

Does this transfer to learning songs?  YES!  

The children have it in their body, because they have moved to the song. The children have it in their voice, because they have sung the song.  

In my next post I will share the benefits of music listening through a few personal stories.

Listening to Music

As a musician, I admit to listening to very little music.  I know that seems strange, but let me explain.  Most people have music playing in their car, and in their house.  The majority of the time this is just filler...background music.  Nothing wrong with it.  In fact, society promotes it.  Elevator music, music while we shop, music while we are 'on hold', commercials and tv shows with music.  I get a lot of strange looks, and comments when I tell people that I don't listen to music.  They usually think I am kidding.   

Music is my job.  I have to listen to it, right?  Yes, but even my leisure listening is with a definitive purpose.  I turn on Copland, and really listen to the motifs that occur throughout his symphonic works.  I listen to Bach, and enjoy the polyphonic texture he created with elegance and proficiency.  David Holt sings a folk song, and I listen to the instrumentation as it compliments the text.  At church I listen to the blend of instruments and voices. During football season I go to hear the band at half-time!

Yes, I sing along when I listen to music.  I will tap my toes, and sometimes conduct the music.  I may not listen the same way as other folks, but I embrace music with my heart, soul & mind.