'Soft Way to Mozart' - piano teaching for little kids and beginners

JCS

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Re: 'Soft Way to Mozart' - piano teaching for little kids and beginners

« Reply #15 on: March 15, 2009, 05:33:42 AM »

this is great thank you


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Re: 'Soft Way to Mozart' - piano teaching for little kids and beginners

« Reply #16 on: March 26, 2009, 11:46:15 PM »

Quote from: pupisek on March 09, 2009, 08:00:17 AM

I found out that I can not import any "other" MIDI files into Gentle Piano program (I wanted to teach my daughter playing Czech nursery rhymes fist/as well). On Doremifasoft forum I got answer that I can send them music and they would transfer them to Gentle Piano music. It would be great and I asked about details (I even sent them an email) but has not gotten any answer since then... Can you help or not?

Yes, I can help you!
The 'other' MIDI files could be added to your Program, but they would be 'custom made' and each song would cost you about $15-$30 based on difficulty. You would have to send the images of the sheet music and wait. However, the pieces that already included in the package are good enough to develop skills to play piano with 2 hands and read music fluently

Quote

My other question is about piano keys and correct fingers. Soft way to Mozart does not stress correct fingers, I gues it does not even teaches it. I have never gotten any piano training myself so I was wondering.... How important is it to teach piano with correct fingers? I have friends that were taught to play piano regular ways and they say that it is very important and that is why they do not recommend Gentle Piano software to get for my daughter.

Let's put it this way: imagine yourself in a dark room. You ought to remember, how many steps between pieces of furniture, how many steps between walls etc. All the not-Soft Mozart ways of teaching music rely on muscle memory. My Soft Mozart students simply SEE the connection between notes and keys right away, they know, what they are doing and going to do. At first they are clumsy in fingering, but after playing a piece couple of more times they figure out the most comfortable fingers themselves!

For example, watch this lesson with 3 year old girl. She plays 'Hot Cross Buns' using 2 hands and is doing it with all the wrong fingers. But as soon as she start playing and memorizing only the right hand she naturally use 3-2-1 fingers.

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Our brain is working the way that we can't process too much of information at the same time (like computer freezes when we overloading it with too many programs). Traditional approaches try to teach by fastening fingers to keys - Soft Mozart teaches to listen, to hear and understand music and find the most natural way to produce it.

Hope, I answer your questions!


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Re: 'Soft Way to Mozart' - piano teaching for little kids and beginners

« Reply #17 on: March 31, 2009, 03:14:35 PM »

Thank you Helen for your answer.
If someone buys your program does it come with any manual for teaching piano and/or using your program for teaching? I know about some advices you provide on your both websites, but do you provide your customers with some manual that is more detailed and komplex? It would be great. Thank you.


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Re: 'Soft Way to Mozart' - piano teaching for little kids and beginners

« Reply #18 on: March 31, 2009, 04:03:17 PM »

Quote from: pupisek on March 31, 2009, 03:14:35 PM

I developed year lesson plan and usually sent it in document file to you upon your request.


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Re: 'Soft Way to Mozart' - piano teaching for little kids and beginners

« Reply #19 on: April 10, 2009, 04:21:31 PM »

Just came accross a website and found a testimony http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?page=2&t=86974:

"I was in this same position and I stumbled across Soft Mozart. I bought it for Otter and Emily and both used it and really did learn and learned WELL. I know this because Otter "impressed" a teacher at Awanas with his piano playing (he was playing Moonlight Sonata). She offered him free lessons because of all the songs he was playing and how much he loved piano.
He was well past the beginning materials she brought to the first lesson and he was already reading music quite fluently, etc.

Soft Mozart was totally painless. The kids just sat down with it every day and played the games as well as the songs via the provided music and went from knowing nothing to playing regular real songs in a short time.
After awhile Otter would request the music for songs he likes (Onward Christian soldiers, Amazing Grace, etc.) and I would print it off the Internet and then he would sit and just play (literally) the music from what he learned "naturally" with Soft Mozart.

I know I sound like a commercial and it probably sounds really gimmicky but it really did work for us.
Mind you that Otter is VERY motivated and LOVES music, but it even worked out fine for Emily (she also used an Alfred Adult Course book in addition to Soft Mozart). Otter actually did better than her using mostly only Soft Mozart.
My kids' motivation came from inside them rather than from me pushing it. I never required it. Never reminded, etc. It was totally up to them and using Soft Mozart they did it.

I think it's a good place to start if you can't or don't want to get a teacher for awhile. At some point I think it would be good to move on to a teacher, but Soft Mozart could, in my opinion, easily work for quite some time. As I said above, Otter was playing music I printed from the Internet with NO problem. Soft Mozart has plenty of material from very beginning pieces like Soft Cross Buns, to very complicated pieces. You can get an idea of what there is from the website. There are a lot of videos and there is an area where you can preview some of the songs included in the big package.
It's fun, it's easy to get started with and you don't have to know anything to start it.
Otter is a total success story for it.
Also, even though he has free lessons now each week, he continues to use Soft Mozart and I believe it's helping him to progress even quicker than he would otherwise.
Let me know if you have any questions.
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« Last Edit: April 10, 2009, 04:29:31 PM by HH »	Logged

mmetlich

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Re: 'Soft Way to Mozart' - piano teaching for little kids and beginners

« Reply #20 on: April 11, 2009, 10:29:47 PM »

Dear HH, I think I have read most of the threads on Music in which you mention this program, but I still have some questions. What age would you recommend for the children to start with this? I noticed the program is $199, are there any discounts or coupons or anything? Do you mail overseas (Mexico)? and is the program complete in itself considering that I don't know much music (always studied, but can't really play anything well)?


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purplefungi

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Re: 'Soft Way to Mozart' - piano teaching for little kids and beginners

« Reply #21 on: April 12, 2009, 10:37:20 PM »

HH, are there any personal preferences for keyboards beyond compatibility? My price range is 1,000 and lower.


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Re: 'Soft Way to Mozart' - piano teaching for little kids and beginners

« Reply #22 on: April 13, 2009, 10:19:02 PM »

Quote from: mmetlich on April 11, 2009, 10:29:47 PM

You may start teaching kids from 2+ year old. If their age between 2 and 6, $199 is good enough. If you have children older then 6, you may consider to buy a Deluxe version (all levels 'till university for $359)
I think it would be some discounts for members of this forum. Just stay tuned!
Yes, we mail to Mexico! Shipping usually about $40.
Program is complete for you to be able to teach and learn as well.
BTW, here is a site dedicated to the method in Spanish from Spain (Madrid): http://www.accionpiano.com/


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Re: 'Soft Way to Mozart' - piano teaching for little kids and beginners

« Reply #23 on: April 13, 2009, 10:22:45 PM »

Quote from: purplefungi on April 12, 2009, 10:37:20 PM

HH, are there any personal preferences for keyboards beyond compatibility? My price range is 1,000 and lower.

I like Casio keyboards/digital pianos, but any other brand would work. If your child is small, better to start with light touch keyboard (under $100). Later on you may buy more expensive instrument, when you develop better coordination.
Here is the page that explains more about choosing the instrument: http://www.doremifasoft.com/chdipiorelpi.html


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jaluitgirl

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Re: 'Soft Way to Mozart' - piano teaching for little kids and beginners

« Reply #24 on: April 13, 2009, 10:36:19 PM »

HI HH,

Thanks for answering our questions. It would be GREAT if you could offer us any sort of coupon or discount. Also your link for "how to choose an electric piano or keyboard is very helpful.

Since I live in a very remote part of Alaska, I can't go to the store and press the keys to hear if they sound electronic or piano-like. I am going to have to buy my keyboard online using amazon or ebay. It's very confusing when I read reviews from people who purchased keyboards to know if the keyboard is really good enough or not. I'm sure you don't want to endorse a particular keyboard.... however, if you could make a recommendation on a particular model - I would really appreciate it. You had mentioned in a previous post that it's possible to find one for under $100 - so if you don't mind could you please recommend a particular model that meets all the needs of the software? Perhaps you could even recommend a couple for us to choose from.


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The Architect

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Re: 'Soft Way to Mozart' - piano teaching for little kids and beginners

« Reply #25 on: April 14, 2009, 05:27:22 AM »

Quote from: jaluitgirl on April 13, 2009, 10:36:19 PM

HI HH,

Thanks for answering our questions. It would be GREAT if you could offer us any sort of coupon or discount.

Stay tuned!


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Re: 'Soft Way to Mozart' - piano teaching for little kids and beginners

« Reply #26 on: April 15, 2009, 03:19:36 PM »

Quote from: jaluitgirl on April 13, 2009, 10:36:19 PM

Hi, jaluitgirl!
Here what I found in Best Buy: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8394427&st=keyboard+61&type=product&id=1179876644295

You also could find some on Internet (look for keyboards with at least 61 keys with MIDI)

Hope, it would help!


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Re: 'Soft Way to Mozart' - piano teaching for little kids and beginners

« Reply #27 on: April 15, 2009, 03:24:17 PM »

'Soft Mozart' now is part of curriculum for future music educators in Russia.


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purplefungi

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Re: 'Soft Way to Mozart' - piano teaching for little kids and beginners

« Reply #28 on: April 15, 2009, 04:13:47 PM »

Thank you for answering our questions so quickly. I'm very impressed.

I have ordered the program. I think that it will be a great jump start into learning the piano since it is hard for me to leave the house (because of young children). I have been wanting to learn an instrument for a very long time, and this would be my chance. My little ones can learn beside me when they become interested.

I haven't decided yet on a keyboard. I'm still figuring out where I would like to put it in my house, but I'll figure it out soon.