About Lesson For Kids – まずはじめに
Our lessons are not only about learning piano. We would like to assist kids to understand the importance of daily practices and feeling ongoing satisfaction at having achieved their musical skills that encourages learning throughout their lifetime. Music is conceptually linked with numeracy as well as literacy, and the skills that they will experience in our lessons give a strong framework that be applied to any other subjects.
As teachers, we believe in developing confidence and encouraging each student’s potential throughout our lessons. Maintaining a positive approach and resilience is important when learning new techniques. We take into consideration that students might need to take their time or have a break for a while and encourage their natural interests, developing their abilities by letting them do what they need to do rather than pushing them to follow a strict order. We do so because we believe in sharing learning as an ongoing process with students, who better process and improve their skills technically and mentally when encouraged to own their learning. If students are trusted by teachers, they won’t hesitate to challenge new things and learn from their mistakes. This is the most effective means of improving their skills.
子どもたちがピアノを通じて、何事も日々練習することの大切さ、達成することの喜び、上達することの楽しさを味わうお手伝いができればと思っています。勉強でも仕事でも、何かをやり遂げる方法、精神的な要素は、同じです。そして、「子どもを信頼すること」を方針にしています。ここでの「信頼」とは、「期待する」とは少し違い、失敗などを乗り越えて、どんどん成長していく力を子ども自身が持っていることを信じるということです。先生に信頼されていると、子どもは間違いを恐れる事なく、次々と新しいことにチャレンジしていくようです。
Starting with the Familiars (dogs and cats) – ワンとニャーオー♪
First of all students learn of reading music using music sheets with illustrations of dogs and cats instead of real musical notes. This simple and fun technique allows students who are new to music to innately engage with the fundamental concepts. With dogs the kids play a key of piano or clap their hands while saying “Woof!”, which leads to the learning of the concept of the “Crotchet”. “Miaow” (pronounced “Mia – ow” over two counts) while playing a key or clapping, which will become a “Minim” later. Kids love seeing dogs and cats in music at first rather than crotchets and minims, and this builds their confidence to see the technical elements of music as being accessible from day one.
３、４歳の子どもでも知っている、犬とネコの鳴き声を用いて、楽譜を読む事を学びます。ワンは、4分音符に、ニャーオーは、2分音符につながっていきます。音符よりも犬やネコのイラストが載っている楽譜の方が、導入には最適です。
Fundamental technique – 基礎はしっかり！
We concentrate on establishing strong basic techniques, with students learning finger shape, finger movement, reading and aural elements. Students use a textbook of finger exercises for encouraging correct finger shape and controlling their finger movement. We believe that it is important to have a solid reading skill, however students are also trained to develop their aural skills so that they will also be able to copy and play any pieces without music. Both these are considered important for not only developing competent musicians, but also creative artists.
習い始めて１ヶ月ほどたったら、テクニックの練習で指を鍛え始めます。幼い頃に習得した指の動きは、大人になってから習得したものとは比べものにならないぐらい貴重です。また、楽譜を読む能力も、耳に頼って曲を覚えていく能力、どちらの能力も伸ばせるように配慮しています。後々、楽譜があれば１人で弾けるようになりますし、楽譜がなくても耳コピーして演奏できるようになります。
Kids need fun! – でも、やっぱり、楽しむのも大事！
Even if we know that practicing basic technique is important to create powerful self-motivated learners, the students need to have fun with their lessons. We provide students with some famous pieces or help them find new pieces that they want to try. If they can play some pieces that they know, they will engage more positively and productively. This excitement makes them play the piano more and motivates them to learn more new pieces. If the piece is too hard to play, we will arrange it to a easier version. Our goal is that if they have a greater interest in their pieces that their parents don’t need to tell them to practise at home. We want them to self-motivate as much as possible in order to build a lifetime of learning. Ultimately we hope they are already on the piano before being told to do their homework.
基礎的練習と共に、好きな曲や有名な曲を練習していきます。 子どもたちは、とても正直です。やりたい曲やあこがれの曲は誰が何も言わなくても、必死に取り組みます。なるべく、それぞれの子どもが興味やワクワク感を感じて練習できる曲を取り入れられるようにしています。 弾きたい曲の楽譜がないときは、私が子どものレベルに合わせて楽譜を作ります。
About “Perfect Pitch” – 絶対音感は生まれ持った才能 !?
Throughout our experiences we strongly believe that anyone can have “Perfect Pitch” if trained. Student will gain the sense of “Perfect Pitch” while singing with solfa (note names) and doing dictation in lessons.
私の経験上、絶対音感は訓練によって身に付きます。少しずつ取得できるように、毎回のレッスンで、聞き取りテストや歌を歌います。
AMEB Grade – グレードを取得！
We highly encourage and celebrate the high achievements of our students. “AMEB” (Australian Music Examination Board) provides nationally recognised music instrumental exams and grades which HiroMelody can organise and extensively prepare for. There are approximately 10 students taking exams every year through HiroMelody. About AMEB： www.ameb.edu.au
オーストラリアにはAMEBというグレードを取得する試験があります。グレードを取得することも、ピアノの上達を楽しめる一つになります。グレード取得を希望する子どもさんは、必要なテクニックが取得でき次第、課題曲を練習していきます。詳細につきましてはAMEBのサイトをご覧ください： www.ameb.edu.au