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Beginner piano students can focus on reading notes and finding the right piano keys and missing the point of playing – making music, well, musical. It requires a creative human touch and a sensitivity of which children are capable, when they know where to look for it. Here’s a plan for connecting to music in a creative, artistic, and human way. I call it the HEART approach to making piano music.

The HEART approach to making music H – Hear Listen to every note in your mind before you play it. Frederick Chopin (1810 – 1849) spent a great deal of time practicing playing each note of a piece of music slowly, so slowly in fact that it would be painful for anyone who listened to it. But that’s what Chopin was doing – listening to every note very carefully. He would connect to the music with deep listening to allow every note to resonate with him. Likewise, hearing every note in your mind before it’s played and thinking about how to hit each key is important to playing thoughtfully and creatively.

E – Energize Gather the energy of music by feeling the vibrations of each note as it is played.

To ask What is the composer trying to communicate with this music?

R – Reply Do not hold yourself back. Allow yourself to fully respond to the energy and spirit of the music as you play each note as you imagine it.

T – Tell the story Imagine telling your best friend an interesting story. Infuse the storytelling with your own personality. It is magic that will bring music to life.

After learning to read the notes and locate them on the piano keyboard, novice piano students can add art to their playing with the HEART approach to making music.

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Source by Cynthia VanLandingham