Author: Rene
Date: 2001-11-26 06:11
Having two children in young age, I want to add my experiences. Beware, it might become a long posting.
Both children went into the Musiaklische Früherzieung (early musical education) that is offerend here in Germany for chlidren in the age of 4-5. It was not really a success, measured by the time they spend with music after they went through the procedure.
Though the teacher was ethusiastic, the major problem was that they used a metallic xylophone (Glockenspiel) which is complete inappropriate for children. They simply cannot manage to hit the right plates, and hit them in rythm. Also the playing was combined with note reading, which does not make it easier. The usual method of removing keys was not offered, and finally all of the children in the class were lost. They also did some other fun stuff, which saved the day a bit.
Then came the primary school (age 6-7 to 9-10) and the recorder. Again, I find that this instrument is only appropriate for older children. Almost all of them had huge problems with covering the tone holes and, as a consequence, playing in rythm. To my son, it was simply a frustrating experience, and he gave up.
My daugther (aged 10) is learning the piano since one year. I thank the lord that her teacher is patient with her. For she does not like to practice. I think she continues the instrument only because we push her, and because the teacher is patient. Despite of that, she is making progress.
So are my children lazy, clumsy or don't they have musical spirit? For my son (now 8), I dare say no to latter two, yes to the first. He is beautifully singing and can reproduce tunes easily.
Why did the school efforts fail? I claim that it is due to inappropriate method. Any method that works only for highly talented, hard practising children looses the majority. And even for children with some talent and enthusiasm, the setup must be chosen wisely.
Would it have been so bad to remove some keys from the xylophone, leaving only a pentatonic scale, let the children find their own ways on this scale, maybe give them some tunes (there are great pentatonic tunes) to replay, and see what comes out? How about giving them a set of bongos, and let them drum to a CD with a pop recording? Another idea is the presentation of classical instruments, live or video taped, and education in the way these instruments work. Maybe let them try to produce sounds on these instruments.
Some will answer that only hard work leads to musical success. True! But you can only work hard if the instrument inspires you, any you can feel your success. For the less talented children, this means that technical difficult instruments cannot be used. I am afraid that the clarinet is in that class of instruments, as well as the recorder. For very young children, they are no good. By the way, the violine is no better, and a pain for the parents.
Following Orff, I would recommend rythm instruments, along with xylophones with removed keys. Also those plastic toots might be an idea. But first of all I recommend the human voice, which is far the best instrument the children own.
Rene
|
|
The Clarinet BBoard
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
