Ear Training Recommendations Toddlers Kids Teenagers

I’ve had a few parents who bought Ear Training for Children. Here is some feedback on how the program is working with their children. I thought was exceptionally helpful and insightful. (I had to smile when I read #6)

In the situation below the customer has both a pre-school child and a teenager:

1. Sing out loud with your kids, more often than not. Younger kids want to do what their parents do. Older kids may be embarrassed to sing out loud just like many adults. When you are singing too they can see it’s not something to worry about.
2. If they want to just listen, let them listen. Sometimes just you sing, sometimes you both listen. Let this be a no-conflict activity.
3. Play or sing in car. I did this twice daily for ~5 minutes with my solfége tracks with my daughter to and from daycare
4. After mastering at least the lyrical track: sometimes just sing the melody together (any format) without the track; the adult gets practice in holding the correct pitches in key while hearing the child not be in key (was very difficult for me at first!)– eventually the child will be singing it correctly with the adult.
5. If you have a piano or other instrument the child can play, after they have mastered either degrees/names/solfége, show them how the sounds/labels map to the instrument and encourage them to “play along” with the lyrical track — while singing, so the mismatch is obvious, and while not singing, so the mismatch is a non-vocal hearing experience. If they advance enough, they can try to guess the “random” note by playing it directly on the instrument.
6. Your “give-a-quarter” idea as motivation for practicing has worked wonders! She has practiced without complaining every day, and sits through her lessons without constantly losing focus. She’s earned enough to buy a fidget spinner. :) Thank you!!

It is also recommended that you read Bruce Arnold’s Blog at his artist site. It contains more discussion of the musical topics found in these FAQs as well as other subjects of interest. You will also find the “Music Education Genealogy Chart” located here which shows you the historic significance of the music education products found on the Muse Eek Publishing Company Website.

Ear Training Recommendations Toddlers Kids Teenagers

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