Music For Your Child (Paperback, Illustrated Ed)

MUSIC FOR WILLIAM KREVIT Illustr teJ By MARC JIMONT DODD, MEAD COMPANY COPYRIGHT, 1946, BY DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED NO PART OP THIS BOOK MAY BE REPRODUCED IN ANY FORM WITHOUT PERMISSION IN WRITING FROM THE PUBLISHER PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AMERICAN BOOK-STRATFORD PRESS, INC., NEW YORK I feel deeply grateful to my wife, without whose con stant help and encouragement this book could not have been written and many sincere thanks to Miss Lorna Dietz, music-editor of the American Book Company, who read and edited the manuscript with such kind interest, knowing that there is a real need for this book. INTRODUCTION AVE you ever met anyone who said to you mourn fully, I studied the piano for six years and I cant play a note. I really do love music but somehow or other practicing was not made interesting enough for me when I was a child. Well, in the course of my teaching expe rience I have met scores of such persons. The reason for this unfortunate situation is that these victims, when they were young, were either misguided by their music teachers or misunderstood by their par entspossibly both. And they lost precious time and the joy of learning music. At the same time dollars were wasted on what were perhaps tortured hours. However, in the last twenty years we have come a long way in the study of music. Since the days when our mothers took piano lessons, the entire method and procedure of study have been altered, and much new teaching material has been made available. More music teachers today have college and conservatory training. They have studied the principles and methods of peda gogy. They know how to go about teaching. The alert music teacher isconstantly improving him self and learning the most modern methods. As a re sult, music is made more interesting to the pupil and is thus more easily assimilated by him. Dressed in Sun day clothes to be a more welcome guest, the same old vii viH INTRODUCTION scales are different and entertaining. The plain old etudes, introduced with a dash and a flair, help stir the students imagination. They are presented by methods not unlike those of modern advertising imaginative titles, attractive illustrations on the printed page, and anecdotes about them and their composers. Scores of books have been written about music peda gogy for the teacher but very few for the enlightenment of the parent. Yet the successful pupil is the result not only of the teachers effort but also of co-operation on the part of the parent. This co-operation implies patience, sympathy, understanding, and, above all, knowledge. Mothers want to know when and how to start their chil dren off with music lessons what instrument to use how to select the proper teacher and how every member of the family can enjoy and participate in musical activity at home. How can I get Freddie to practice is a frequent question. And you cannot just shout at Freddie, Sit down and practice your scales It doesnt work. He wont listen. Nor will he enjoy practicing those scales in so strained an atmosphere. This book answers the question of when and how to get Freddie to practice. It tells you what to look for in purchasing an instrument. It shows you how everyone in the home can enjoy the benefits of music more fully through phonograph records, reading material for music appreciation, the amateur ensemble group, and the family glee club. It is theresult of years of observation and reflection on the part of a parent and music teacher. CONTENTS PAGE Introduction vii CHAPTER I. Why Music . . . 3 IL Who Shall Have Music 13 III. When to Start Lessons 19 Bibliography. Recommended books and. rec ords for young children IV. How to Select the Music Teacher ... 33 V. What Instrument to Learn 45 How to select the instrument VI. The First Music Lesson 55 VII. Adventures in Play-Land 61 VIII. Practical Hints to Parents on the Practice Period 69 IX. Playing for Friends and Visitors at Home 87 X...