Simpedia

Jeff W. , North Dakota

I have 12-year-old and 10-year-old daughters who will play SM music all day. They fight over the piano. But neither one will practice their cello music, and I’m their teacher for both instruments. I also have another 12-year-old student who just started SM with me a couple months ago. He also plays violin. His mother can’t keep him off the piano, but he won’t practice his violin music.

I know some string methods are better than others, but I haven’t found one that even comes close to what SM does for learning piano. I’ve looked into Suzuki and like a lot about it, but as a stand-alone program, it really doesn’t work well in my opinion.

I, too, wish there were SM for strings.

(Comment)

In another email response to Janita’s question, Cindy B. wondered whether learning to read music for another instrument might sabotage the introduction of Simply Music’s approach to reading.
Following is a response to both questions:

Cathy H., California

First of all, learning another instrument or reading for another instrument will not sabotage the reading process at all. Secondly, I think one of the things that needs to be clarified, especially for teachers with no music background, is the difference between reading piano music and that of other instruments.

With a few exceptions (harp, violin and some others), most instruments read one line of text and are limited to a particular range … in other words, the instrument can only play a certain number of notes requiring the student to read within a certain portion of the staff much smaller than a piano. Some instruments are tuned to a different key so play on clefs pianists never see, i.e. alto and tenor clef, or require the student to purchase transposed or re-written music. By comparison, pianists read six areas on the grand staff, several simultaneously, sometimes reading 10 notes or lines of text at a time both horizontally and vertically. That’s just notes! Now throw in dynamics, pedaling, fingering etc…

Most parents do not realize the complexity of this and think that when their child starts a second instrument at school they are instantly reading ready to read piano music. In fact, they are not ready. There is no comparison between reading a single line of text in one language, and having to learn multiple lines on the grand staff in different languages simultaneously.

There is no danger of damage done to the student’s music experience, it’s just one more experience. What it will do is allow the student to experience another instrument enhancing their overall appreciation for music, especially for Simply Music, allowing them to learn a few notes that they will be very proud and anxious to share with you when the reading process begins.

Most students that I have who know only a handful of notes, are not good rhythm readers due to the fact that rhythm, like notes, is thrown at them. They learn the basics, and this makes complex rhythm patterns very difficult to master later on.

I have found that it is very rare to have a new student or student with prior experience come close to understanding how SM unfolds the reading process. Students gain a new perspective on the page, rounding out an often-incomplete theory education while enhancing their ability to read other instruments. It is very fast and thorough, and most with prior experience are amazed at how they now view the page.

Like everyone else, I have parents that are very anxious about this and can be very pushy usually because 1) they have no idea of the complexity involved in reading and more importantly 2) their friends are telling them their child should be reading. It’s important to remember that often this is as much of an education for the parent as it is for the child. So I solve it this way. I have them sit at the piano, pull out a very complicated piece of sheet music and begin to explain everything on the page bit by bit. When the parent gets a glazed look on their face, I have at times said “See how overwhelmed you are with all of this? Imagine how your child feels? This is how reading piano is taught traditionally, I’m going to make it much easier for your child.” I have even taken a sheet of my daughter’s flute music and used for comparison. Then I ask the parent if they now understand why it’s so important to take this slow, one step at a time and ask them to trust me, their child will get there soon. The parent never asks again.

The kids love the reading process and once involved, parents are very impressed at how fast and thorough their child learns. One month after starting the SM Reading Notes program, I had a girl show up to class and tell me that she had forgotten part of Minuet in G, pulled out the sheet music and read it. Your biggest problem will be curbing the enthusiasm of your students!