The Playing Child (Reflection on Ch. 8)

p. 192 "... Suzuki's method: (1) begin early with listening at birth and lessons from about two-and-a-half years onward; (2) delay music reading until musical skills and performance techniques have developed; (3) involve parents in lessons and home practice; (4) use excellent music literature that is developmentally appropriate; (5) balance private lessons (for attention to technical skills) and group lessons (for motivation and socialization); (6) repeat, review, and reinforce the performance of previously learned music; and (7) accentuate self-development while de-emphasizing competition."

Reading this section was really cool, because I realized that my piano teacher (with whom I studied for 10 years) followed most of these seven principles. (1) and (2) don't apply so much - I didn't begin studying until I was 8 or 9, and she believed that reading music should come along with learning musical skills and performance techniques. I really liked her teaching style and her influence is some of what led me to want to become a music teacher.

p. 198 "Some of these instruments can be made by a teacher or a parent, or by children as an art project, although their musical quality may be questionable."

As part of the promotional efforts for "Waiting for Superman," a documentary/film on America's educational system, www.donorschoose.org gave away $5 donation "gift cards" to people who pledged to see the film. I pledged, and received a $5 donation to put towards a classroom project of my choice. The project I chose was this one, The Incredible DIY Musical Instrument Project!, in which children were building their own electric guitars. I think DonorsChoose.org is a really awesome idea and I would love to continue to support them in some way...

p. 212 "The Autoharp is a zither, commonly equipped with twelve, fifteen, or twenty-one chord bars that are depressed by pressing on buttons."

I've seen an Autoharp played in movies (one in particular comes to mind - Christopher Guest's 'A Mighty Wind') but never had the opportunity to play myself. I think it looks like a really cool instrument with a lot of possibilities for students and teachers. I'd be interested in getting the chance to play around with one.