Learning the Suzuki Method in Music School

March 6, 2014 by

There are many ways to learn a new instrument. You can pick one up and start playing, or learn in school band. You can watch videos online and hope to get somewhere. You can also take formal lessons from professionals or at a Houston music school. Each school tends to have its own ideology and method for teaching. One such method for learning music is called the Suzuki method. This system is focused on listening and repetition.

Hear the Music

You’ve probably heard some musicians say they just “play by ear.” This is a large part of the Suzuki method, as students must spend a lot of time listening before they learn to read music. This ideology began during World War II in Japan. It is based on the principle that as children mimic sounds to learn to talk, they can do the same when learning an instrument. When you know how something is supposed to sound, and you can get an idea of the dynamics and tone of the piece, you may be able to play the song much more effectively.

Practice Makes Perfect

Of course, practicing is still required. You cannot just listen to a song and learn how to play it. But as you’ve heard the model piece so many times, you can practice the piece efficiently to get it performance ready. Another part of this method requires the continued practice of the beginners’ pieces. Just because the musician moves on to a more advanced book or musical piece, he or she will not just dismiss the old stuff. The idea is that these beginning pieces serve as a foundation and can be incorporated into everything else the learner plays.

Other Information

Although listening is the primary method for learning, students still use books at varying levels. There are 10 books in all, and the progress can be slow. The beginning books never stop being practiced as the student progresses. Most of these books focus on classical compositions. Teachers often supplement Suzuki books with other things like scale books or music books for other genres. If you decide to put your child into a Houston music school, be sure to inquire about the level of parental involvement they will require for your child’s success in music.

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Music-and-Me Mondays Re-lived

February 21, 2013 by

Looking for fun way to spend the day with the kids? Well, music and movement always delight little children. When the kids weren’t in preschool yet, our Monday mornings were always filled with music. During our PLAYhouse preSCHOOL days, we called it our Music-and-Me Mondays. Next to our Arts & Crafts Day (Wonderful World of Wednesday), this was their favorite time of the week. We’d spend hours listening to music, dancing to upbeat songs, and creating our own music. Of course, the music sounds a lot better when it comes from the AV Installation system instead of the kids’ makeshift instruments, but they can have a great time making their own music. These were the times when the kids discovered that drumsticks can be used to create music even without drums.

Here are some of our favorite Music-and-Me Mondays activities that you and your child may enjoy as well:

  1. Freeze Dance. Everyone knows how to play this one! You dance when the music is on and freeze when it stops. Change the rules a little bit and have the kids dance when there’s no music instead.
  2. Our Home Band. Gather items around the house that can be used to make music and form your own rock band at home.
  3. Slow Dance, Fast Dance. You will need a music player that can play music in slow or fast motion for this one. Just change the speed that the music is played and have the kids move according to the tempo. It’s really fun to see them transition from slow to fast dance.
  4. Alphabet In Motion. This is one of our faves from Baby Songs. The kids are no longer toddlers but we still love doing this. It makes for a great morning exercise as well coz we just have to do it several times over – always.
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In Search For Music Classes This Summer

January 11, 2013 by

Our little girl has been begging to be allowed to play her Hannah Montana electric guitar so we inquired at the branch of The Voice Academy of the Philippines in Riverbanks Mall.  We were not certain if she could be accommodated because she is only four years old.   It turns out that they do accept very young children to any of their classes.  Their only requirement was that the child should already know how to read.  Our little girl is an advanced reader so this wasn’t a problem at all.  Unfortunately, I find the fees too steep. I can already buy Ovation Guitars at music123 with the money I’ll be shelling out for a short course in guitar. They do offer the most varied classes on instruments and voice though so you may still want to check it out.

Short courses on voice and instruments cost Php 8,495 for twelve 1-hr-sessions.  Formal trainings cost Php 12,495 for 24 2-hr-sessions. Visit www.voiceacademy.biz for more information about their music classes and branches.

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From Orphan Annie to Sharpay

July 31, 2012 by

Musicals were a great part of our growing up years.  Though we were not allowed to watch movies (even the ones shown on television),  we were permitted to watch musicals such as Wizard of Oz, My Fair Lady, and other classics. We never really tire of watching them even if we’ve seen the Sound of Music and such thousands of times.

Since I want my children to appreciate classic musicals as well, I’ve been building our video collection of these shows.  We already have Orphan Annie, Oliver Twist, The Sound of Music,  Mary Poppins and The King and I.  We’re still searching though for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and My Fair Lady which seem impossible to find in any local video store.

The kids though love to sing current hits as much as they love to sing Annie’s Tomorrow and the Von Trapps’ So Long Farewell.  And since we do love watching the Disney Channel, they also get to watch current musicals such as The High School Musical, Camp Rock, and Jade’s favorite – Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure.  I personally do not like Sharpay but that movie showed that she was not as shallow and self-absorbed as she was in The High School Musical.  Plus, my little ones look cute when they song My Boi and Me.

Classic or contemporary, there’s no doubt my kids love to watch anything musical.  They also love to imitate the characters that they watch.  You should see them ‘rock’ after watching Camp Rock and Hannah Montana the Movie.  I really wouldn’t be surprised if I’d see them performing with electric guitars someday.

I love it that my children appreciate the music of our time the same way that they love current hits of this generation.  Hopefully, we’d be able to cultivate their love of music well.

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ANGELO ORTIZ Helps Nurture Young Children’s Talent in Music

July 18, 2012 by

Moms out there who’d like to develop their children’s musical abilities to their fullest potential would find this very interesting:

Press Release

Nurture Your Child’s Talent with A World Champion Pianist

Every child has a unique God given talent. Whatever his exceptional gift is-dancing, writing, acting, arts, singing or playing an instrument- it is best to nurture it well.

With music, some kids have the exceptional ability with pitch and reading. Others have a gift of listening and can play exactly what they hear, instantly. Listening to a KLS youtube video or other learning videos can only improve their musical abilities. Whatever talent or special ability in music your child has, RED Talent Studio in Makati City, in partnership with World Champion Pianist & International Recording Artist Angelo Ortiz, will develop it to its full potential through a private (one on one) instruction format.

Angelo’s approach includes all the necessary fundamentals to be a properly trained and well-rounded pianist. Whether your child’s dream is to be a classical pianist or just simply play the piano as a hobby, he/she will be trained with a method that has been the discipline of concert pianists worldwide, accompanied by a comprehensive approach including the special learning and playing techniques from a World Champion. Checking out additional resources similar to Rutgers Online could be of great benefit for your children.

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Angelo’s teaching method is designed from the student’s learning capacity and ability to play the piano. He carefully evaluates the child’s talent and special needs in order to design a teaching method that is fit to the personality and interest of the child. The curriculum includes basic studies such as sight-reading, ear-training, solfege, music theory and composition. Your child will learn all the necessary information including the basic and advance techniques of Angelo to help your child read, understand and express music effectively.

Angelo Ortiz will start holding personalized classes for beginners and advanced students including children with special needs this July 2012 at Red Talent Studio in 7E, Tuscan Bldg., VA Rufino St. Legaspi Village. Makati City. For inquiries and reservations, please call 5533675, 09153755333 or email [email protected]. RED Talent Studio also offers voice, acting, guitar and dance lessons. Please visit www.angeloortiz.com and www.facebook.com/redtalentstudio or www.redtalentstudio.com.

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