In a classroom situation, keeping the child’s attention, and giving them something they can successfully accomplish while you are busy helping other children is vitally important for any teacher. Introducing music to children, who have not had any music experience before entering your classroom, is a great challenge. Learning to read standard music notation is very frustrating to some children, and they become the trouble makers in the class because they cannot do the assigned task.
The Animal Note method makes beginning note reading not only easier, but fun. The Animal Notes are simple to read on the Grand Staff and to then find the correct key for that note on the keyboard. The word clue for each notes location helps the student not only learn the Animal Note, but to transfer that knowledge to standard music notation. The pieces in the “Note Reading for Children” teach the first nine notes normally learned by beginners in piano. The “Timing for Children” stays with the Animal Notes so the student can concentrate on learning and hearing the difference in the proportions of the notes and how these notes should sound together. It is an opportunity to help the student develop a strong audio skill for correct timing in future pieces of music they will be playing. Yes, counting is a vital part of practice in learning the pieces in the timing book and playing them correctly.
Hand position at the keyboard is very important to successful mastery of the piano piece. Both these challenges can lead to tension and frustration in a keyboard classroom. The “Magic Spider” who always walks on the tips of its legs is a great way to show the students how to use their fingers correctly at the keyboard, and helps them to learn correct hand position. An explanation of why this is so important and a demonstration of the differences it makes help the students develop good technique from the very beginning.
The "Classroom Size Animal Note/standard note Grand Staff Flash Card Set" makes it easy htmlFor the class to study the word clues and become comfortable with standard music notation. If used frequently the students have little to no trouble transferring the knowledge they have gained to standard music. If you are teaching a beginning band or orchestra you would find the Classroom Size Animal Note/stand note Flash Card Sets in the "Treble", "Base" and "Alto Clefs" very helpful as you start your students on their individual instruments. Truly, the Grand Staff flash card set will make your job easier and lessen your students’ frustrations.
To help the students enjoy the music they are learning, the Animal Note method provides two "Fun Book–One”, “Fun Book–Two”, and a “Christmas Song Book” song books. Children truly like working on songs they and others have heard. It encourages them to continue striving to get better. Plus these songs make great recital pieces for the program planned for parents at the end of the school year.
The "Moving On – One” and “Moving On – Two” books are great for the class room situation. When the student as successfully completed the above books they are ready to start transferring the lessons they have learned to standard music notation. These books provide several pieces that are first written in the Animal Notes and then repeated in standard music notation. The second book has more difficult songs with varied rhythms and many basic elements of early theory that can be practiced and learned while still in the comfort of the Animal Note system.
The “Basic Elements of Theory” book gives simple explanations of several basic elements of beginning music theory in a way children can relate too. It is a great reference book for the children and perhaps will give you, as the teacher, some alternative approaches to teaching some of the basic elements of theory.
"Hi!, I have not yet given you the update on our music class this past
school year. Well, we had our end of the year recital and each and every child played a
song on the piano at our community building! It was so wonderful, one
boy had his memorized and everyone did so well. Many of these kids have
never had music lessons in their life. The teachers were very
complimentary. One teacher said I am just amazed at what you have done
and I can't wait until next year for music. I owe so much to your
Noteimals program, it really worked well."
- Lannie Olsen - Montana
Noteimals method of teaching my piano lab is an all engaging activity that makes learning fun! It is brought to us through the loving and exciting spirit of a most delightful lady, Glenna Cook
This method of reading piano notes excites my piano lab of twenty to twenty four children without being boring. I teach third, fourth and fifth graders at Booker Arts Magnet Elementary in Little Rock, Arkansas. My fifth graders perform a recital for our Volunteer In Public Schools luncheon in May. The Fun Songs for Young Children offers a variety of familiar tunes, allowing each child to play a different song. This makes the year’s evaluation much more interesting and successful. Thank you, Glenna Cook.
- Mary Lofton - Arkansas