Hockey or Music lessons for boys?

Posted on February 15, 2010 by Susan McAllister-Bee

Huge decision. In Southwestern Ontario hockey is no doubt the most popular sport for boys, and probably girls too. If a boy doesn’t grow up knowing how to play hockey, then he might as well move to …. well, you know what I mean. It’s not uncommon for a hockey schedule to take up two nights a week and all day Saturday. Where can you possibly fit another extra-curricular activity in?

Do you consider music education an extra-curricular activity? Some parents don’t. Let’s realize that music education is not being taught in the classroom to the extent it once was. Some schools have abandoned their music program all together. This is a sad and unfortunate truth.

Luckily, some parents realize music education is necessary to ensure that their children learn the skills necessary to read music and play a music instrument.

Canada can thank an infamous Frances Belodis for creating Music for Young Children (myc.com). This program allows parents to be involved with their child’s musical journey in a fun and in-depth way. The graduation rate of students from the MYC program is phenomenal. Unlike when you were growing up, MYC students are much more likely to continue their musical journey throughout their life.

So, when trying to choose between hockey or music, consider both. Your child will thank you.

Why Music for Young Children?

Posted on December 26, 2009 by Susan McAllister-Bee

There are many reasons to choose a MYC program over a typical piano teacher. Here are just a few:

Students as young as 6 know how to make and use the Circle of 5th’s (from logic)…….not just by memorizing what to write down! Does your music teacher?
Students as young as 5 are learning “harmony”. MYC teaches I, IV and V7 chord progressions to be used in any key signature. This means students can play songs without looking at a music book. Can your music teacher?
MYC is fun! 30 years of world-wide success can’t be wrong!!

Freedom to improv….

Posted on December 13, 2009 by Susan McAllister-Bee

Have you ever seen an amazing pianist perform flawlessly when they are given a piece of music, but if you take the music away they are really stuck? It is very common to get carried away with the technical side of things. Let’s face it, Bach and Mozart wanted you to play their music exactly as it was written.

There is no doubt that technique is a vital component to playing music, however does technique give you the elements to be creative on your own? Here at the Bee Music Studios we teach creativity and improvisation as well.

In the Music for Young Children program, children are learning to chord as young as 5 years of age. That’s right……..they are playing Hot Crossed Buns, or Jingle Bells, or Mary Had a Little Lamb with no music!! It’s really not that difficult.

The key is learning to listen and play patterns and chords in I, IV and V with no music. Here in the Music for Young Children program, that’s exactly what they are doing, along with reading music. Both aspects are key elements in the develop of a strong foundation of music understanding.

Your comments are appreciated……..Have a great holiday! Susie

How old should my child be to take singing or piano lessons?

Posted on November 29, 2009 by Susan McAllister-Bee

First, let’s start with singing.

Children should be encouraged to match pitch as soon as they start to talk. For instance, matching low sounds like a frog, or high sounds like a fire siren…..these are important first steps in ear training and learning to match pitch. It helps them recognize their high voice (the fire siren) and their low voice (the frog).

Singing “on key” can start to become a problem when the child only learns to “hear himself” instead of listening to both himself and the accompanying music and singer. This is where the adult can be very helpful by encouraging proper pitch matching in a fun and loving way. Music classes once a week such as Music Pups and Music for Young Children are a wonderful way for the family to sing and enjoy music together.

The recommended age to actually start singing lessons is much debated. In my studio we start at the age of 6. As long as the student is able to pay attention for 20 minutes of vocal warm-ups and exercises, followed by 10 minutes of singing songs, then this is a good age to start lessons.

Lessons help the child learn how to sing through their entire vocal register…..both the head voice and the chest voice. Lessons draw attention to matching pitch in the correct register. This helps eliminate any bad habits such as reaching for high notes in their chest voice. Students also develop a comfort with performance because they are singing with other students, and performing regularly in front of their parents. All these steps add up to huge benefits for their self-esteem and, of course, their singing voice!!

When should a child start piano lessons?

Do you remember when you started piano lessons? I do…I was 5. I think the novelty lasted about a year and a half. The only reason I continued was because my family was very musical and my grandmother taught me how to chord.

Today, we have a great program called Music for Young Children that helps make having a music/piano lesson fun for the entire family. Students get together in a small group setting with their parent and meet for up to an hour to study the keyboard and music education. Children start as young as 3! The hour is filled with songs and games about the critters that live on the keyboard, and the rhythm critters who tell us how to play our keyboard. The children love this.

Currently in my studio I have students as young as 9 achieving their Grade 1 Royal Conservatory piano exam and Preliminary Rudiments theory exam. All students do very well. The reason…….because we have fun and because the family is involved.

Homework and keyboard/piano practise is assigned weekly. It is the parent’s responsbility to see that this is accomplished. There is some flexibility in the program, so when things get tough the student has options so they can reach the same degree of achievement. The program is phenomenal and must be seen to be really appreciated.

Parents are encouraged to visit the myc.com website for a teacher near you. This program is celebrating its’ 30th year, and the founder is a Canadian named Francis Belodis whom I am very fond of!

That’s all for now! Questions and remarks are welcome!

Musically,

Susie

Hello world!

Posted on October 13, 2009 by Susan McAllister-Bee

Welcome to my first post! My passion has always been studying the voice and singing. I’ve studied with a few good teachers….all with different approaches to the voice. In this blog you will learn what has worked for me and my students.

Part of the fascination I have with the voice is that you can’t see it! Unlike any other instrument……like the piano, guitar or trumpet, etc., ……the voice is a instrument that everyone has and everyone can use. So why do so many of us fail to use our singing instrument? My guess is because we think we don’t sound good, and therefore we don’t use it.

I have taught music to kids of all ages. It is important for children to start to make singing sounds as soon as they start to talk. This is easy to achieve by playing games with mimicing sounds like airplanes, birds, trains, and frogs. This is where it all starts. Exploring the voice!

In Music Pups that is exactly what we do! Not only do we sing and make musical sounds, but we play rhythm instruments, and we use creative movement to stress the beat or rhythm. It’s loads of fun for the entire family and a great way for the family to learn how to structure the learning process at home………..That’s all for now, Susie!