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KinderPiano Launches Young Children Into Music
Starting Children Young in Music Improves their Chances of Success
Studies show that starting children young in music improves their brain and their chances of becoming successful. That’s why Susan Pascale, director of the Pascale Music Institute (home of the famed Los Angeles Children’s Orchestra), created the unique KinderPiano for Little Fingers® program. It launches children ages 3 ½ through 1rst grade into musical instrument studies.
Pascale discovered through years of teaching that 3 ½ or older is the perfect age to start children on piano. Pascale is also one of the violin teachers at the institute, and the author of a Galamian- based violin method, and the popular ‘Ultimate Practice Organizer with Reward Stickers’.
At her institute, KinderPiano is a prerequisite for youngsters who want to play strings. “What I’ve found is the kids who studied piano early, especially before five years old, were more successful. They developed the brain pathways for learning music, and then were ready to tackle the more difficult physical challenges of the violin, viola, cello or bass.”
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Graduates of the program have gone on to top schools and orchestras, including The Juilliard School in New York.
The five-week KinderPiano class session, Pascale explains, is just enough time to assess a child’s readiness to begin formal musical instruction and lay the groundwork for future studies. “It’s never too early to perform,” Pascale says, so at the conclusion of the series, there is a recital with the KinderPIano and other string and pianostudents.
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“After the recital, most children continue on piano, or enter our strings program.”KinderPiano classes are small, no more than 7 students. Each child sits at a keyboard, with a parent alongside them. They learn basic piano skills, including listening, rhythm, form, and simple note-reading.
The next session begins October 18th. Keyboards for home use are available. To see videos of PMI students in action, go to Pascalemusicinstitute.com . For more information, call 626-403-4611 or emailstringsprogram@aol.com.