Piano Lessons at Montessori Preschool

[mummy marja]

Hi. I teach private piano lessons, and was recently asked to teach several young children at our Montessori preschool.

I've read several of the info links above, and I really like what I read. Here's a basic idea of how I teach young kids--I'd like to get some feedback from Montessori parents. Would this fit in with your expectations of the Montessori school? What would you change? What would your expectations be? Do you have any other ideas?

-Lessons are private, 1/2 hour each
-I use a music book geared for 3-6 yr olds--lots of colouring, stories, pictures.
-Hand puppets for playing games, doing rhythm, getting the child interested
-teaching rhythm--I will clap and they clap it back to me, we use words, names, funny sentences said rhythmically.
-Role reversal- kids take a turn being the teacher, I learn the new song
-The child is quite free to explore--"Let's look inside the piano to see what's really happening," and I don't expect them to stay seated at the piano the entire time--if they want to get up and jump the rhythm or sing the song instead of playing it, that's great. If one approach isn't working, I'll try something different.

TIA! Marja

[Lillianna]

Hi Mummy Marja!

I am a Montessori Mommy and a Directress. Also, I love music!!! I played a bit of piano when I was young, studied guitar, voice and drumming. I am currently taking violin with my dd (Suzuki).
One thing I would suggest is to get one of the Primary Directresses to show you the bell work and the work that is done with notation, composition and reading music (as well as what songs they are singing) for the Primary class. This will give you an idea of what the children are currently working on musically and where their skills lie.
The Montessori music program follows the same basic structure that the reading and math programs follow. The first experience with any discipline is the observation or introduction phase - the child should have the opportunity to watch someone else play piano (you). This would ideally involve alot of repetition for the child watching you play and listening. You could set up your lesson to begin with a 5 or 10 min. "performance" for the child. Even if the child watched you play for the full 30 min a week with no "direct instruction" he would indirectly be given many skills that are needed to play piano as well as training his ear. Of course, he should have a piano to practice on at home. The introduction is always done without the teacher talking so that the child is able to hear just the tones or the rhythm (no counting out loud). When the teacher is speaking, it distracts the child's attention. So first, there is a short (verbal) introduction, then the exercise is played (non-verbal), and then the child is invited to try.
Also, I would suggest (and this is true for both Montessori and for Suzuki) that the child practices simple exercises with many repetitions, start out with something very basic and gradually add increasing challenges. Lots of "taking turns" and just repeating exercises over and over again - so many more repetitions than any adult would ever feel are necessary but that the child enjoys. The lessons always follow the same pattern - so the child feels comfortable and knows what to expect. The child is never tested but should demonstrate proficiency before moving on to the next level.
I think it would also be great for the child to learn how to sit properly, how to hold your hands properly, how to care for a piano (polishing? washing hands before playing?), as well as the names of the parts of the piano.