| There isn't a kid around who doesn't understand the | | | | every kid is so vastly different, in age, in temperament, |
| bases of baseball. Home plate, first base, second, third, | | | | in ability, in desire. |
| and the final mad dash for home plate again. | | | | Finding Middle C securely in both the sheet music and |
| I often compare baseball and piano chords when I'm | | | | on the piano can take kids months and sometimes |
| trying to give kids an idea of how chords work | | | | years. Think of it in terms of baseball: some kids can |
| together in groups. | | | | hit and some can't. But with piano, those who can't hit |
| Children readily understand the idea of home plate, and | | | | right away can be taught how. In baseball, you seem |
| see the similarity of home plate and Middle C. That's | | | | to have far less of a chance of an infinitely patient |
| the place we always start from, no matter where we | | | | teacher. |
| go. And that's where we always end up. In terms of | | | | You have to keep trying to find Middle C again and |
| chords, that would be a C chord. | | | | again, just as you did with the ABCs. It is a ledge on |
| That's why every beginner's piano piece starts out | | | | which the child can rest, a bit of security in a sea of |
| with Middle C. It's like starting the alphabet with A so | | | | uncertain notes on the page. On the subject of learning |
| you know how to get started. | | | | the notes, see also my game, Mister Notey, in which |
| Giving things a familiar beginning makes it easier for | | | | the teacher uses their head and arms in a comic |
| kids to start over and try the piece again. They are | | | | routine that describes the general shape of notes on |
| fairly sure that the piece is going to begin on Middle C. | | | | the lines and spaces of the five lined musical staff. |
| You have no idea how hard it is for kids to familiarize | | | | Luckily, there are many fascinating things about the |
| themselves with the minutiae of sheet music until you | | | | piano you can interest a child with while they are |
| have actually done so for hours a day. You'll begin to | | | | learning where home plate and Middle C is. |
| see what is possible and what is not. And how long it | | | | There are four chords, just like the bases. Home, 1, 2, 3 |
| will take for each individual child. | | | | are the same as C Dm F G. There are four steps to |
| What I am certain of is that every single child can be | | | | completing the circle, in baseball just as it is in music. |
| taught the rudiments of simple sheet music, if you are | | | | Make a game of everything at the piano, and you will |
| patient enough. What I'm not certain of is how long any | | | | have a child's interest at all times. |
| individual child will take to reach that goal, because | | | | |