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Listening and Reading: The Keys to Music Success
By Rebecca A. Micha
When is the right time to start music lessons for children? That question has been asked by so many parents that the logical answer is: it depends.
The youngest child can respond to musical sounds just as it recognizes the parent's voice. Responding to the sound of music begins when the physical movement can be transmitted to the legs, arms, and whole body. But the first step to helping a child on his or her musical response is to provide that listening experience. Singing to a child, or playing a CD while rocking can program the listening skills so important to learning that sound and movement are a natural response.
But formal music lessons are not meant to just be fun. It is a means of communication. A child can get a "head start" in group programs specifically designed to stimulate and reinforce the home introduction to music as a fun activity. MusikGarten and Kindermusik are designed to introduce music skills in a group setting with the parent, and they are structured to guide and reward the child for accomplishing musical goals. These programs give a great advantage to stimulate an interest by actually applying that knowledge to learning a musical instrument.
Children often sing songs which they have heard on television or radio, and some parents believe that vocal instruction would help to speed up the progress in a young child. Formal voice lessons are geared to learning how to use the body as a musical instrument. Using breath control, Italian vowels, articulation and interpretation of music is a process that needs some maturity, as well as stage presence. This is accomplished when the student practices and is motivated to learn as directed by the voice teacher. It is the ear which translates the pitch to the vocal cords, and a good ear is the first and most important factor in good singing.
The ear is important in learning instrumental music as well. Making mistakes or playing the wrong note must be recognized by the student during practice times, even without the teacher.
Often, parents ask, "can you teach my child to play by ear?" Playing "by ear" is an inborn gift which is very rare, and is virtually an imitation of what is heard from others playing a piece of music. "By ear" musicians who have not studied music as a language to be read and interpreted individually may be impressive, but careers are rarely built on those who cannot read music, and they are usually entertainers rather than true musicians.
Music is like a foreign language. To recognize the musical symbols, note by note, measure by measure, playing the correct tempo, using dynamics, takes time and effort and commitment on the part of the student and parent.
The quality of life that music can provide even for the amateur musician is immeasurable. To feel the emotion, and to understand the complexity of a music composition is an accomplishment that is individual, and sharing that effort in a performance gives the student personal pleasure and admiration from peers. Music is a universal language that speaks to all people, all cultures, throughout time and place. It gives a connection which cannot be matched by any other expression of the human creative spirit.
Rebecca Micha has taught music in Gainesville, FL. for forty years. She was the Director of Cultural Affairs for the state of Florida and has taught in the Fine Arts and Humanities department at Santa Fe College for Twenty-five years. Rebecca is co-owner of the Academy of Music and Art and The Gainesville Guitar Academy.
Brain Balance Achievement Center: NEW DRUG-FREE program for children with ADHD, dyslexia, Asperger's, Tourette's, autism and other learning disabilities.
By Staff Writer
What do parents of graduates say about their child's progress?
- "He has no problems whatsoever doing homework now. This used to be a huge problem."
- "My son is happier and free to be himself! He has grown emotionally and best of all he is so much more verbal. I have already recommended this program."
- "Because of Brain Balance, our daughter can now say a whole bunch of positive things about herself."
- "His handwriting has improved tremendously. He has shown great improvement in reading fluency and his comprehension is coming along nicely."
- "His athletic ability has become more noticeable. When playing catch and hitting a baseball, his hand-eye coordination is improving."
- "We attribute the changes to Brain Balance - but it's almost as if the other therapies are finally clicking in. She's able to improve in all her therapies as a result of Brain Balance! We are thrilled to see our daughter improve in all areas! Others have commented that she is doing so well (therapists and friends and relatives). She is a joy to be around now!"
- "He has come such a long way in such a short amount of time! We attribute all of these changes to Brain Balance and we are thankful that we found this great achievement center."
How is Brain Balance different?
The program is based on Functional Disconnection Syndrome research correlated by Dr. Robert Melillo, author of Disconnected Kids: The Groundbreaking Brain Balance Program for Children with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Other Neurological Disorders. FDS is a functional imbalance of brain activity within each side and/or between the right and left sides of the brain. Current research continues to describe this as brain under connectivity, de-synchronization and/or Functional Disconnection Syndrome. The brain literally becomes desynchronized or out of rhythm. Just as an orchestra may be filled with extremely gifted musicians, the music played will sound horrible if the musicians play out of rhythm with each other. The brain, too, must function in rhythm or in synchronicity.
The most accurate diagnosis for children often considered to have autism, Asperger's, Tourette's, ADHD, dyslexia and other learning disabilities is actually Functional Disconnection Syndrome. The latest functional MRI brain research shows that in FDS, there is a functional disconnection between the two hemispheres of the brain. The hemispheres of the brain are essentially out of synch. One hemisphere can process information at a slower speed, like dial-up, and the other hemisphere is processing at DSL speed.
What does the program include?
First, Brain Balance determines if a child that is exhibiting abnormal emotional, social, physical and academic symptoms has FDS. Approximately 75% of the children evaluated do. After determining which hemisphere is functioning immaturely, they design a specific program integrating physical (sensory and motor) activities, cognitive exercises, and supportive nutritional initiatives for each child. They literally change the brain through exercising the circuits and retraining the hemispheres to communicate effectively. Typically the multi-modal approach creates results that are exponential as compared to only utilizing one modality such as EEG/bio-feedback.
Will it help my child?
Brain Balance has helped thousands of families coping with these challenges. The program has been available in New York for 15 years and opened in Westlake Village 3 years ago. There are now 15 locations in the country and 7 more scheduled to open in 2010.
Teachers, family, friends, and the children all benefit. The professional supportive team at Brain Balance Achievement Center appreciates being a part of the solution for these families. At present Westlake Village is the only location on the West Coast so students come from other states in addition to California to attend the 12 week after-school program. Brain Balance is proud of the sustainable results utilizing its unique multi-modal approach.
Dr. Gary Erkfritz, Executive Director, has spent the last ten years of his 43-yr career focusing on childhood nutritional/allergy issues. Expanding his work to include Brain Balance allows him to help these children and their families in a much more comprehensive manner.
To reserve your seat at the next free parent educational event call:
(805) 371-8085.
Email:
Westlake@BrainBalanceCenters.com
Log onto:
www.BrainBalanceCenters.com
The Brain Balance Achievement Center of Westlake Village is located at 650 Hampshire Road Suite 102, in Westlake Village.
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