The Course
Understanding the Basic Music Skills course of study.
Noel Jones, AAGO
Please note that I am not an educator, but have worked to publish this series. As a musician, I have been asked questions about this method and what follows is my own, my view of this course:
Arthur Murray was born Moses Teichmann in Hungary in 1895. Emigrating to the United States, he worked as a draftman in the day and taught dance at night. He apprenticed under the popular dance team of Irene and Ivor Castle and went on to work for them. Going on to study business, he continued to teach dance. Murray was inspired by a casual remark made by William Jennings Bryan one evening "... You know, I have a fine idea on how you can collect your money. Just teach 'em with the left foot and don't tell 'em what to do with the right foot until they pay up!" Murray thought about what Bryan's remark, and devised the idea of teaching dance steps with footprint diagrams supplied by mail. These mail order dance lessons were very successful and led into the establishment of schools with trained teachers in the school of Arthur Murray around the world.
A course of study is built upon basic concepts that come together to create a dancer, musician or professor of physics. Teachers such as Dr. Ina Grapenthin are pedagogists, people who teach teachers techniques of teaching.
As we can see above Arthur Murray, a dancer, came across a method, a means of teaching that spread around the world. his method was different in how it reached the people and it succeeded.
This course of study, too, is unlike any other, in fact people who look over the books often state that it does not lay out music study as they know it. That is because a course of study is built by analyzing how a course is taught and improving upon it. As we all know, a famous Japanese school of music study challenged the teaching of strings. Many of those who looked over the books criticized them for not being like other, tried and true methods. Today with concert stages and orchestras full of students who studied successfully under this program, it is clear that staying with the "tried and true" programs is not always wise.
This program rapidly involves students in making music using the strength of group dynamics to move all members of the group to a level of proficiency, eliminating stages at which those in individual study can become discouraged. This is just one of the reasons for the creation of this group music study method.
.Learn basic music skills, skills that apply to all disciplines of music, creating a foundation for enriching lives of children and adults of all ages.
Too many times parents and students feel that the only goal of studying music is being able to play or sing a piece of music, with no mistakes, the equivalent in some minds to pitching a no-hitter baseball game.
But there is much more depth to music study for children, youth and adults than just playing the right notes. Children grow up learning to speak by hearing their parent and brothers and sisters speak; discovering the alphabet opens new doors of communication.
Almost everyone can recognize a tune they've heard before. With basic music skills they are able to play it from a printed page, having learned the musical alphabet of pitches and the meaning of notes printed on paper.
Many of us are familiar with students who come alive when they play an instrument. Music is something that people can identify with and communicate with on a personal level.
We all know of someone who plays music or sports who fall short of the mark, fails to reach their potential. When questioned after a big game or concert that does not go well, coaches and conductors use the same words, "It's time for us to go back to the basics."
What are ways basic music skills can enhance learning in terms of other subjects?
Can music help my child read?
Here are the ways:
Listening Skills
• Attentive listening,
• Increased attention span, Increased concentration
Auditory Discrimination
• Beat – Basic words and sentences
• Rhythm – rhythm of words
• Pitch – voice inflections, exclamations, questions and pitch differences
• Stress – accents in words and sentences
Visual
• Reading from left to right
• Recognition of differences in written symbols.
Music is like math.
Rhythm notation is divided into whole, half, quarter and other parts of the whole, all of which makes the study of music quite relative to the study of mathematics, especially fractions. The Ancient Greeks considered Music and Math to be one and the same subject.
We learn about our human heritage from music.
The history of music is the history of mankind. Every significant event in human life has been accompanied by music. From the ancient to the most contemporary culture music is central to every ritual. Even simple songs of people from around the world are a rid introduction to them and their culture.
Music fosters imagination, creativity and develops social skills.
Music fosters imagination which is a strong driving force in education.The study of music, especially in a group, provides an opportunity for the development of mutual respect, cooperative and democratic behavior, and builds new friendships.
Psychomotor Skills
Music facilitates the audio-tactile development of young ears and eyes, thereby strengthening the whole motor coordination.
Aesthetic Expression
Music is not bound, like words, to a specific meaning.Through music each person can find his own personal expression and interpretation. Different levels of aesthetic response may occur, depending on the experience and understanding of the musical event.To know music for its artistic merits is yet another way to know the world.
Why learn basic music skills on an organ keyboard?
A student learns best when the teacher first lays the foundation and then builds the house, step by step.
Analyze all of the steps that are necessary to play the piano. Students must:
1.Translate the symbols from the page. (Read notes and other markings).
2. Learn the varying shades of touch, or strike intensity which results in tone production which dies away after playing.
3. Listen attentively.
4. Use trial and error to produce the tone with the proper intensity.
5. The brain and the ear must work together, which controls the fingers, which control the keyboard.
Since we are teaching the brain the ears and the intensity of the finger action, all at once, consider learning basic keyboard skills on an instrument that does not challenge the physical abilities of young students and senior citizens.
Success begets success!
If students play an organ keyboard where these requirements are not necessary he/she is able to make an acceptable sound immediately, motivating the student to achieve the next step.This theory was proven in the 1950’s when the home organ was popular, due to their affordability. Many church organists resulted from this program even though the material was mostly popular.
After the student has mastered basic skills (reading, finger independence, coordination) the student is able to transfer the information to the piano, or any other instrument for that matter. Today, with the creation of a simple one manual keyboard interest in the organ has been revived. Home keyboards are restricted to playing only two sounds.The organ keyboard has a vast variety of sounds and an assortment of orchestral timbres.
Consider having piano students study the organ where basic rudiments, such as the harmonic overtone series necessary for advanced pedaling, is much easier to understand from the organists view.
Dr. Ina Grapenthin has created an enjoyable basic music skills course using the organ keyboard. The sequential material has been created for ensembles, similar to an orchestra, and presented for group instruction.
Based upon Dr. Ina Grapethin’s background which combines being a respected church organist, recitalist and educator, including studying under Robert Pace, the pioneer in the creation of group piano study, This Basic Music Skills course of study is culmination of her work and study, a unique approach to the learning the basic skills of music.
Hear Dr. Grapenthin perform as an organist.
Students meet for group instruction. Group instruction makes it possible for beginning players to work together to make music, music that is fun and fulfilling to play,