About the Curriculum

We use a stimulating, revolutionary approach to piano instruction that is based on extensive research about how children best learn music, called "Music Moves for Piano". Students are given an opportunity to acquire the language of music in a way that encourages independent music making and musical thinking.

With emphasis on music as both an aural (listening) art and an oral (performing) art, our program develops the entire musician while students sing, chant, and move to music they will learn to play.

A solfege (syllable) system helps students organize the sounds they know and is key to a successful transition to reading notation. When students are ready to read, they are able to bring meaning to what they see on the page.

Incorporated into this instruction is a wise and systematic presentation of purely pianistic skills (keyboard knowledge, technique and body awareness) using an attractive and musically rich repertoire of folk and original compositions.

Creativity and improvisation are part of each lesson from the very beginning. Students  in our program are given an opportunity to take advantage of the benefits of a peer group setting.

Students who have used this series show high retention, secure performance skills, solid reading and writing skills, music creativity, and development of audiation skills (the ability to think musically with understanding). Many are able to easily create arrangements of songs, transpose and harmonize songs, improvise, compose original music, or play music for parties.

 Lesson activities are organized around four specific areas of musical development: 1) audiation skills (ability to think musically with understanding) using singing, chanting, moving, and pattern instruction; 2) keyboard geography and technique; 3) keyboard exploration, creativity, and improvisation; 4) book/listening assignments.

Students engage in movement and sing songs that will later be performed. They  also chant and sing tonal and rhythmic patterns, and learn to play piano pieces, initially without using notation.

Q & A about Music Moves for Piano

Q - Is your program like the Suzuki program?
A - There are similarities. We both believe that children learn best through listening rather than the printed page, emphasize the importance of positive early music experiences, make comparisons to language development, and incorporate both group and private instruction.

However, the Suzuki program encourages children to learn to imitate, whereas our program encourages children to go one step further and learn to audiate. As a result, our program emphasizes creativity and pattern instruction in addition to its sequential repertoire.

Both methods use carefully chosen and properly sequenced literature; however, MUSIC MOVES uses shorter pieces and a more diverse collection of tonalities and meters. In practice, Suzuki students are asked to listen to an entire lengthy "paragraph" of music and then to play it. MUSIC MOVES students are asked to listen to and understand a few "words" in a much shorter "paragraph." Those musical "words" (or patterns) are recognized in the many short pieces the students learn to play.

Q - What exactly is audiation?
A - Audiation is the ability to think musically with understanding, to be able to hear musical sounds even if there is no music present, to be able to sense when and what to sing or play.

Audiation contrasts with imitation because it involves learning through one's own ears rather than someone else's ears.

Q - When and how do the children learn to read notation?
A - Just as in language development, children learn to read when they are ready. Some children pick it up quickly without much teacher assistance. Others need more time and assistance.

In our approach to music literacy, the use of pattern instruction and associating syllables with the patterns is key to the transition to reading notation. Students much more easily associate symbols on the page with patterns they have sung, moved to, and understand in their heads. Moreover, the ability to give meaning to notes, phrases and styles is preferable to just reading note names and finding the right keys.

Q - What if my child needs to change teachers at some point? Will the transition to a traditional method be difficult?
A - Students can transition very easily to a traditional method. Any perceptive piano teacher will recognize that your child has inner musical skills, which are the foundation for good piano playing.

Q - How can we help our children practice?
A - You can best help practice by recognizing that a regular time each day helps build a good practice habit. The earlier in the day, the easier it is for practice to occur. Try to find ways to reward your child externally for practice. At lessons, we reward with stickers. At home, look for other ways to encourage your child. Remember, praise is always the most coveted reward.

In addition, help your young child deal with practice time by focusing on repetition rather than a specific amount of required time at the piano. Playing each piece three times or three different ways is less overwhelming than practicing for 30 minutes.

Remember that listening to the CDs and creating pieces at home should be a regular part of practice time along with creating a piece each day.

Q - Can my child start piano lessons before we have a piano at home? What about digital or electronic keyboards?
A - Students do need some type of keyboard or acoustic piano for Piano Lessons. A good acoustical piano is preferable, however, digital pianos are acceptable. Some digital pianos are preferable to inexpensive, neglected acoustical pianos of questionable quality.

If you plan to purchase a digital keyboard, please consider a full size keyboard and request that the action simulate an acoustical piano. The Yamaha and Roland (my favourite) digital keyboards have the best reputations. Yamaha digital pianos can be seen at Tom Lee Music (Barnet Hyw. near Eagle Ridge Movie Theatres). For information about Roland digital pianos,check out http://www.creativ.com . Creativ is located in North Vancouver, and has a rent-to-own plan.