Not all children have the opportunity to study music in specialized schools or attend private lessons in or after school. Yet developing overall musicality is essential for fully developing a child's personality. And that's without even noting how useful it is to take music courses if you want to get into a top university.
My experience working in primary schools has made it clear that most schools are not providing enough accessible music lessons. Often, the available lessons do not explain beneficial and essential musical basics. Children get stuck reading the notes and never return to music in the future. They see understanding music as difficult and no fun at all. As a result, we have a whole segment of society that believes classical and modern music are from two different worlds that are completely unconnected to one another. In my opinion, music lessons in schools must be based on contemporary music to keep children's interest and nursery rhymes to maintain the traditional culture. A short journey through the history of music is helpful as well.
Parents often want to help their children and are ready to practice with them, but don't know how to go about it. Especially when the child is just starting school, parents often support their children and help them with their homework. We can use this tendency to help develop both parents and children.
I have been teaching music since I was 20. Now, I have nearly 20 years of experience. During this time, I have come to understand a couple of basic things, which I will try to impart to you here:
1. Music is excellent for entertaining and developing, just like dancing. However, while we have many discos and raves where people can go to dance, we don't have enough jam sessions, where people can create music with their knowledge of the basics. African drums and other percussion instruments may be the most accessible instruments to start playing music. That's because most beginner musicians are afraid to play something incorrectly or don't consider themselves capable of playing anything good. Music should be accessible to everyone, and the first place where people can play music together is within their own families. That's why I write books for children and their parents, so they can have fun together and help each other to develop.
2. The primary component of music is rhythm. That's why African drums and other percussion instruments are great for beginners. They can be played at home along with any song or piece.
3. The ability to control one’s hands, coordination, and fine motor skills are vital for playing any instrument and is often an issue that can be easily prevented by doing some simple exercises.
4. By talking with my students, I learned that many of them don't listen to music at home. That's why they don't feel the music. Listening and physically responding to music is important even in one’s early years. Clapping and stomping to the rhythm are very helpful.
5. The basics of harmony should be learned from the very first days of practicing music. Some children listen to modern music and want to play it. Still, it is not easy to play melodies along with recordings. That's why I first teach my students to play the bass. It’s fun and easy, and they can play along with their favorite songs.
6. The first and easiest way to learn something is to repeat after the teacher. This is why I always record videos of how a particular piece or exercise should sound. I understand that it is not always the best solution. Still, during the early stages of musical study, this approach works and helps students develop musicality.
Based on this understanding, I released four books on Amazon. Two of them are music theory books, one is a piano book and the last one for now is a traditional Ukrainian songbook with some theory basics. I would be happy if I could be able to help children and their parents begin their musical journey. I want to help them find one more area of their life from which they can derive some inspiration, fun, and creativity.
I believe that my books are helpful for music tutors, parents and their children, children alone (if they are over 12), or adults that are beginning their musical journey.
These days, music can unite people while making them happier and more creative. So, I am open to any ideas, possibilities, and offers.
Mr. Misha Shayter (Mihails Saiters) 05/09/2022 MishaMusicTutor.com
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