Hi, guys! I am back with a new book! You Can be a Musician: A Defense of Music

[HH]

Hi,
Hope, you remember me! Long time - no see 

I will try to answer all of your messages that was collected in my inbox.

I have good news: finally I had translated my book 'You Can be a Musician: A Defense of Music'.

First I wrote in in my native language and placed it on the Internet. I received a lot of letters from Russian speaking musicians and parents all over the world. It took me awile to translate the book and find a good illustrator (I lOVE books with pictures! LOL)

So, in the book I tryed to answer some questions: why, for example, chinese kids carry tune better then others? What makes learning enjoyable and successful? Where the music notes came from? What is 'good technique' and how to achieve that?

So, here is the link to the book. Enjoy!

http://softmozart.on.ufanet.ru/smbookeng/music00.htm

I would monitor this topic and will try to answer all of your questions!

Sincerely yours,
Hellene Hiner

[aangeles]

Hi Hellene!

I am glad to see you back on this forum! Congratulations on your new book!

I have been really interested in Soft Mozart since I read about it in this forum and looked it up online. Having taken almost 8 (painful) years of traditional piano lessons myself, I am very interested in having my daughter learn an instrument without the pain and the tears. I read through a lot of your old posts and I think a lot of your theories make sense - which is why I have decided to try out your program with my daughter. I was just waiting for her to get old enough. 

She is now 27 months old - very coordinated for her age but does not have a great attention span. What age do you suggest starting children on Soft Mozart? Also, I would like to ask your opinion on the Suzuki method - a lot of the criticisms I heard on Suzuki boiled down to two which are problems of the student with improvisation and reading fluency. My initial plan for my daughter was to start her on Soft Mozart for piano and Suzuki for violin and then eventually let her make her own decision which instrument she prefers to study. Will it be counter-productive to use the two different teaching methods at the same time?

Looking forward to your response. Thanks!

[HH]

Hi Hellene!


Looking forward to your response. Thanks!

She is now 27 months old - very coordinated for her age but does not have a great attention span. What age do you suggest starting children on Soft Mozart?

I start teaching students from 24 months. It is possible with Soft Mozart and extremely important for the brain development of children of this age.
All of our games are based on advanced algorithms and very interactive (they register every move of your child)  and  the whole system is built the way that develops attention span of small children from ‘scratch’.
I was in this forum long ago and don’t remember if I wrote that you have to play 1 game a month and start with 1 minute of playing (game time). Every week the game time could be increased by half-one minutes and all the results had to be written down.
Due to the fact that child ‘compete’ with herself is making learning process enjoyable. 

 Also, I would like to ask your opinion on the Suzuki method - a lot of the criticisms I heard on Suzuki boiled down to two which are problems of the student with improvisation and reading fluency.

You see, when it comes to any approach in learning anything you have to know the basic rules of didactics to judge for yourself: from concrete to abstract, from simple to complicated. Average 27 month old child mostly
1.   Has some speech memory (she developed it simultaneously from parents)
2.   Has some hands/fingers coordination
3.   Has ability to hear sounds
4.   Has ability to see objects, focus on medium to small objects and shift focus from one object to another.
Suzuki method is using some, but not all listed above child’s ability:
1.   It uses speech memory by starting with Solfeggio (Do Re Mi) instead of ABC
2.   It actively develop fine motor skills of both hands in coordination
3.   It develops hearing through intensive listening , singing and memorization through listening and singing.
The only cone of this method is a lack of eyes engagement i n the process of learning, The later version of Suzuki with color coded staff don’t fly. So, I would give this method 6-7 points out of 10.

My initial plan for my daughter was to start her on Soft Mozart for piano and Suzuki for violin and then eventually let her make her own decision which instrument she prefers to study.
[b]
I don’t see any conflict between Suzuki and Soft Mozart. In fact, they pretty much could complement each other. Soft Mozart would add visual and interactive components to the learning experience. [/b]

Will it be counter-productive to use the two different teaching methods at the same time?
No.

[aangeles]

Thanks for your reply!

Do you have any plans of becoming product partners with Brillkids or offering forum members some sort of discount?    As you can probably see from the numerous threads on teaching music, I think a lot of parents on this forum would be very interested in an innovative and effective way of teaching toddlers and children to read music and play the piano.   

[kirthika]

Hi,
I am from India,bangalore.How I can teach my baby music lesson by soft mozart.He is 27 months old.

[HH]

Thanks for your reply!

Do you have any plans of becoming product partners with Brillkids or offering forum members some sort of discount?    As you can probably see from the numerous threads on teaching music, I think a lot of parents on this forum would be very interested in an innovative and effective way of teaching toddlers and children to read music and play the piano.   

Yes, we have some plans on it in closest future. Will keep you posted!

[HH]

Hi,
I am from India,bangalore.How I can teach my baby music lesson by soft mozart.He is 27 months old.

We have a lesson plan and many videos that would assist you. Something like this:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/5EixzXTn2sI&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/5EixzXTn2sI&rel=1</a>

[Ouroboros1]

How well does this program work on a laptop?  Also what connection does it need to interface with the piano (I'm hoping simple Midi output).  I have a Yamaha DGX-630 and was wondering how it would work with Soft Mozart.

[HH]

How well does this program work on a laptop?  Also what connection does it need to interface with the piano (I'm hoping simple Midi output).  I have a Yamaha DGX-630 and was wondering how it would work with Soft Mozart.

It doesn't make any difference - lap or desktop.
Yes, the interface is required. You may find good deal on Internet, if you need it. I am not a technical support person and can answer mostly teaching questions. 
You may download DEMO version of Gentle piano and Guess Key game and check (http://www.doremifasoft.com/dopr.html). If any technical questions, write to us: [email protected]
Or call 832-746-3154 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              832-746-3154      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

[HH]

Chris asked me a question several times and several times I failed to answer it bold and clear enough. We use to say that the life is a school and here is the example. We are both creators of computerized ‘methods’ to teach music, but our communication is lengthy and wordy, because, based on both experiences, we trying to get to the bottom lines of 2 so similar from the first glance) inventions.

When Soft Mozart was already created and I have to present it to many different people, the hardest thing to do was to provide a summary.
So, when I found somewhere a phrase: to complicate is simple – to simplify is difficult, it stroke me like a lightening,  We also use to say in Russian «Все гениальное просто», which means genius is simple.
 
Everybody had some ‘eureka’ moments in their lives. What is the most amazing – is a striking thought: ‘Gosh, how come didn’t I get it before??? It is so simple!’

I will give you a remote example about ‘eurekas’ moments in teaching that you probably didn’t know before and couldn’t find by ‘googling’ (‘till this text would be captured by searching machines). Do you know, that English Alphabet is being easier and faster  learned by kids from English speaking compare to Russian?  And the difference is so simple that it is not even funny! A song! Yes, ‘Alphabet song’ – all it takes  to be much ahead of other languages’ carriers.

You would say; big of deal! One year earlier – one later… But you see, if to think global, human’s life is limited to certain amount of years. It takes big chunk for ‘getting the knowledge from previous generations and adopt it’ out, happy retirement out and this ‘sweet baby time’ out. How many years do we have to contribute something to the world, to create something really cool, unique and valuable?

It doesn’t mean that we all have to fiercely  enforce our knowledge to a baby as soon as he peeped  out to see us first time in his life and staff all of his time with lessons, but little simple but genius thing like ‘Alphabet Songs’ or ABC with pictures has to be more common. 

BTW, if you have some simple yet ‘genius’ tips about music being helpful in learning different things, please, share about it!

And now I will return to the dispute between creators of Soft Mozart and Piano Wizard...

[HH]

So, let’s return to the basic question that was asked by Chris Salter:

‘What I don't understand is how you think no other method (than Soft Mozart – HH), or even variation, could work.’

I didn’t create a ‘method’ – I built a foundation for methods to be created by others. 

Yesterday I was referring to example in medicine field that you have to know everything about illnesses to be able to be a doctor. I found a better metaphor: I came up with two essential parts that can’t be beat or overwrite: I discovered ‘body temperature and how to measure it’ and ‘blood pressure’ in music learning.

What is it? You call it ‘to hit right note at the right time’ – we created the same, but added a littleextra to it - the exact measurements to collect and analyze the data.

So, from the first, elementary ‘mode’ of the Grand Staff to original sheet music (weather beginner plays it with one hand, 2 hands, with notes’ names or without, with colors or without, with focus’ support or without, with notes displayed or hidden) all the data – accuracy and timing – is measured.
When this ‘machine’ was created and I started to teach with it, the whole entire new world suddenly was opened up to me!  It’s like I built a first microscope.

When you have many visual presentations of music notation from elementary to advanced, when you can give your students support for eye focus or take it away, when you can change tasks for coordination, when you EVEN change weight of piano keys – this machine always give you an accurate data and you see, how human mind is actually works in exact numbers!

So, when you write about your invention:  ‘I don’t know how, but it works’, I smile. Because with ‘Soft Mozart’ I know EXACTLY how it works with precision that nobody ever offered before.

Now I know, for example, what ‘time and temperature’ has to be for a student to ‘hear’ the music flow. What numbers suppose to be to move to a next level. These measurements help to understand, what one has more developed – coordination, music ear, music memory or visual aspects.
This is why every color or shape on the screen, every visual transformation in Soft Mozart is the way it is. Simply because it is the best ‘time-temperature’ combination.

This is why many accuse us of making this software in DOS (which is not true - it is written in visual C++). We just hid the ‘windows’ and other aggravating features off the screen (but you can return them, if you go to tuning). This is why we eliminated the use of the mouse. This is why in just computer games we use computer keyboard as a predecessor of piano.

You told me a story about your father and building trucks.

I have my story from Russian tales about ‘Left handed’ (it is a character famous for his crafts).

Once left-handed came to a queen and presented a tiny sculpture of little town with people and horses and many different things.
Queen liked the present very much, but she noticed a scratch on the needle of the tower and pointed it to a ‘Left handed’ asking to ‘polish’ the nick.
‘Left-handed’ smiled and gave the queen a magnifier. She looked at the nick and was stunned to see… another tiny sculpture of little town with people and horses and many different things, but made even better than the first one placed right on the tip of the needle..

On the video 5 year old girl is learning how to pick Tonika, Subdominant and Dominant using 'Soft Mozart' (when I presented this feature in university of arts, students got very excited about it. Appearently, it is 'very hard' to develop):

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Dq3xrN4xpMo&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/Dq3xrN4xpMo&rel=1</a>

[Yimmy]

Hello HH,
I have spent the last 2 days reading your new book and I can’t say I understand it all (75% probably?) as I’m definitely MUSIC ILLITERATE but my aim is to help my baby become MUSIC LITERATE amongst other things. However, I basically agree with your principle of children learning the alphabet of music, SOLFEGGIO early on and the ability to read music as one go – almost like the ability to decode at a glance as its obviously easier as a child to learn this.
Even before you got to explain this later in the book, I instantly likened it to children learning phonics as well as sight words and the logic of these words(Latin)  as  all these methods are necessary for most kids to develop perfect reading skills for the future.
So, my questions are
1. So if the approach is to learn from the beginning, which I totally agree with;  At what point does SOFT MOZART teach some of what the tradition music education teaches  i.e. music terminology, music history and other music theory concepts...as there is a need for these as well. Or you recommend, we teach them after they learn trhu soft mozart?
2. Also, please can you describe to me what the growth pattern of a child that started using SOFT MOZART is , particularly one that started from over 2 years old and is now older 7 or 8 years or older? Do you have students that have used the program for that long? How proficient and accomplished are they? and how have they developed and fared when they go into the school systems?
3. Do you have a lesson plan/curriculum we as parents can ensure that the  child follows i.e. 1 year plan etc?
Thank you, and look forward to your reply.
yimmy

[HH]

HI, Yimmi!

I have spent the last 2 days reading your new book and I can’t say I understand it all (75% probably?) as I’m definitely MUSIC ILLITERATE but my aim is to help my baby become MUSIC LITERATE amongst other things.

Thank you for reading the book. Could you, please, specify, what was out of your comprehension? I want to be simple and clear to be understood if not 100%, but at least 99 )

However, I basically agree with your principle of children learning the alphabet of music, SOLFEGGIO early on and the ability to read music as one go – almost like the ability to decode at a glance as its obviously easier as a child to learn this.

I am so glad that you are with me on this! For some people, SOLFEGGIO is either ‘movable do’ or empty note.

Even before you got to explain this later in the book, I instantly likened it to children learning phonics as well as sight words and the logic of these words(Latin)  as  all these methods are necessary for most kids to develop perfect reading skills for the future.

By singing the phonics alone with playing them kids also develop perfect pitch and ability to (at least) to carry tune.

1. So if the approach is to learn from the beginning, which I totally agree with;  At what point does SOFT MOZART teach some of what the tradition music education teaches  i.e. music terminology, music history and other music theory concepts...as there is a need for these as well. Or you recommend, we teach them after they learn trhu soft mozart?

Soft Mozart is not tailored to teach any terminology or music history. It just lays a foundation for beginners to explore a lot of music pieces and read them through.  Once, for example, my students pass the stage of finding the right note and a right key and start to hear the music flow, they all of or sudden notice Treble or Bass Clef or alteration signs and ask mw ‘ What is it?’ If they behave well, I answer!

2. Also, please can you describe to me what the growth pattern of a child that started using SOFT MOZART is , particularly one that started from over 2 years old and is now older 7 or 8 years or older?

I would say that it is all different based on individuality and practice organization. I guarantee that one would love to read music and to perform for others,  would have better self esteem and more creative mind. But will one develop desire to compose, or to participate in piano competitions, or both, or just play for oneself – it is all unique routs.   

Do you have students that have used the program for that long?

I personally don’t have students, who I taught from 2 ‘till now, but plenty of them that started from 3-4.
 

How proficient and accomplished are they?

Well, the best result for now is not my DIRECT student, but a student of my trainee from Ukraine, who started with Soft Mozart and now still improving sight-reading with it:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Dae_sfOme6c&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/Dae_sfOme6c&rel=1</a>

But I don’t want you to set the goal to see your child on stage. It could be something like this:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/jkJKTTFOjYM&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/jkJKTTFOjYM&rel=1</a>

or that:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/3oDRLXjUaxc&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/3oDRLXjUaxc&rel=1</a>

and how have they developed and fared when they go into the school systems?

You see, Soft Mozart does not in conflict with traditional way to teach music, it just ads to it. I received a lot of feedback that my students are fared in school with outstanding results: they are really good in choir and at sight-reading.

The only problem that I had notice is that at first they have to get adjust to ABC notes’ names, because I personally teach Solfeggio. But in the program all the games and songs using both system that you can switch by pressing a key on computer keyboard, All what I recommend is to pass the same theory games with letter names. (Yes, we have plenty of ‘theory’ games, but they are not ‘theoretical’ – they build skills to know theory in making)

3. Do you have a lesson plan/curriculum we as parents can ensure that the  child follows i.e. 1 year plan etc?

Yes, I have 1 year lesson plan that I usually provide upon request.

[Yimmy]

thank you for your honestly!!!! yimmy..

[Nikita]

I am starting to do my research on the Soft Mozart and Piano wizard sytems, so I can grasp what Hellen and Chris are on about (because it's mostly over my non-musical head).

 I thought this youtube clip gives some good insight so that I could grasp the soft Mozart idea.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/6bUeNO6U7tI&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/6bUeNO6U7tI&rel=1</a>

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