EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

Our Educational Focus

Our commitment to a positive learning experience is expressed in the unique design of curriculum, materials and educational methods that match the varied and changing learning styles of children in their developmental years:. Because of this philosophy, we offer the following unique benefits:

The aptitude and learning style assessment,
Multi-phasic learning approach,
Customized combination of learning programs. Students may transition from the fun and synergy of a group exploration class (EMA) to the harder work of a private lesson by alternating between the two, taking 2 lessons of each during a month. When the child is ready, they may add to the number and length of the private lessons. This keeps it fun!

A Positive Experience is a Must!

The philosophy the underlines everything that we do here is based on the understanding that learning must be a positive experience for kids: it should be fun! In fact, research has consistently verified the fact that highly successful students in all fields have one basic thing in common: they have worked through three very different phases of learning:

Phase 1 graphic

Fun, warm positive: The "music-is-so-much-fun-I-want-more" phase. The first phase of learning must inspire the child with the possibilities of the art. This is best accomplished by a warm interaction with an instructor whose love for the children is as obvious as his or her love for the subject. In this environment, a child might respond to a music class, for example. by saying "I, LOVE music...but I think I forgot what a quarter note is..." This should be perfectly acceptable when children have truly been inspired about what they are doing. They will want desperately want to return to "do it again".

This first phase, in my opinion, is the most crucial phase of a student's development, and actually begins in the home environment, and often as many believe, even in the womb! A child's experience in the beginning will set the tone and course for their life attitude in the subject they study. It will determine how much energy they will release to move them through the next phase. Phase I usually lasts 1-3 years.

It is extremely rare (if even possible) to fully develop the innate gifting in child's life without first inspiring him. This helps him stay motivated enough to work through the second, more difficult phase of learning.

Phase 2 graphic

Technical Development: the "hard work" phase. Eventually (depending upon the age and abilities of the child), children who are progressing because they are enjoying the process will move into a phase of learning that requires more work and discipline. Although the basic techniques and approach must be taught in the first phase of learning, the second phase reinforces these issues and focuses on giving clearer understanding of the theory, and it must develop long term skills that are essential to a high level of excellence and achievement. This is the longest and most varied phase of learning, lasting anywhere between 5 and 15 years.

Interestingly enough, few children can be easily identified as high achievers until they have almost completed this phase of learning.

Phase 3 graphic

Presentation: The "passion-is-my-own-and-I-really-want-to-work-at-this" phase. The third and most advanced phase of learning requires a teacher of great technical skill who can readily communicate the finer points of the subject. In music for example, a student who can readily play any piano sonata must also understand the period of time in which it was written, the context of the music, and its original form in order to properly interpret and present it. It is in this phase that sensitivity to the art and the audience is refined. For a performing musician, it is preparation for the concert stage. For the potential teacher, it is the development of tools with which one can communicate the art he or she has long studied.

Although very few students actually reach the third phase of learning, a good teacher will always draw from the third phase processes even at the most elementary levels. This will allow even the youngest student to achieve a high degree of excellence long before their skill level warrants something as intimidating as Carnegie Hall.

Many parents assume that a child who has potential to achieve excellence must begin with a Phase III teacher. This, in my opinion, is very rarely the case, simply because no one teacher is capable to teach all three phases of learning. Those who are warm, exciting and patient with very small children are rarely those who have spent the years of serious study needed to be a Phase III teacher, for example.

Our Unique Approach

It is our desire to inspire children to learn in a way that allows their own natural "bents" and inclinations to surface. This desire has led us to develop an approach which can combine our copyrighted Early Music Awareness^™* curriculum with private piano, instrumental or vocal instruction when children are determined to be ready.

Animated staff

Last Modified: 2006.10.17

Actual Customer Testimonials:

"I wanted to let you and everyone at the Music Place know that the recital was lovely and it was so child-oriented. It was nice to be at a recital where everyone was there to make the children feel good about themselves -- it wasn't a competition." -- Vanetia J.

"I just wanted to take the time to tell you and your staff how much I appreciate all that you have done for our daughter Jasmine. She has really grown and matured since she has been attending The Music Place. It's such a joy and blessing to see how her skills have been developing over the years and how you have brought out her hidden talents." -- Ottielie A.

Evaluation Feedback: "Thank you so much for taking so much time answering all of our questions and trying to understand our children's musical needs based on their personalities and abilities. We look forward to The Music Place being part of our lives..." Robi T.