Part 1, THE BUDDING MUSICIAN is a set of CD’s containing 22 lessons for children who are just beginning their music study, ages 4-9.  It is designed for parents or teachers to enjoy with the child.  Each lesson is approximately ten minutes long, and will give an opportunity to giggle, play, clap, laugh and sing.  Questions for the child are sprinkled through each lesson, and lessons can be repeated if desired.  By working through one lesson per week, you will complete the course in about six months.

Part 2, ARE YOU LISTENING? has 21 “hands on” and “ears on” lessons of about 10 minutes each.  The student and teacher/parent learn and practice three progressive levels of listening:

1.      The sound level. (enjoying music for the sheer beauty of sound)

2.      The expressive level. (Learning to discern the mood or message of the music)

3.      The mind level. (Learning to recognize and enjoy the craftsmanship of the music)

As they listen closely to the world’s great music (excerpts from more than 75 piano and orchestral masterworks), they discover how composers and performers manipulate melody, rhythm, tone color, texture and other musical elements to create beauty and communicate musical ideas.  The child’s musical imagination unlocks and their ability to communicate through music is gradually released.   Such skills enable a child to reach the highest levels of musical understanding and enjoyment which few people achieve.

Studies show that students who have success at learning music are those whose teachers and parents were more concerned with the child having fun in the beginning stages, rather than trying to mold the student into a polished performer.  Suggetions for parents and teachers are included.  This combination of fun, adult/child interaction, and musical training is the foundation for and companion to expressive playing and musical creativity.

a product of Brad Thompson