DD (3 yo) starting with SM - experiences

bk wrote: Hi Andrea, thank you so much for your answer!

andreasro wrote: You can just play some games from time to time, Guess Key 1-3 minutes, or another game, depending on how she can and knows to use the computer.

Taking pauses may help. Your DD is doing great and A LOT for her age! I still can't convince my son to play one song with the right hand but he likes to play the games with Mr. Oops, Guess Key is the one he can play pretty good . He doesn't like doing exercises at all. And he's 4! For know I've chosen to practice with him around as he likes to take my place and play or imitates me, which is good to. At least he's always interested in piano and there's no pressure.

Unfortunately she also doesn't like the Guess Key game. We always play for 1 minute, but she says, its sooo boring. Well, she plays it quite well, when she wants, about 60-70 points in 1 min. I told her stories, but that doesn't work anymore... well let's see, maybe we reduce the playtime to half a minute or so..

May I suggest you to play Guess Key for 30 seconds and write the result. Next time the same. Point for her that she 'won' over last time, if there more points and reward her with 'butterfly' from construction paper. Give her a 'butterfly' for ANYTHING positive that she does, for some small achievements. After that let her 'buy' a sticker or something small using her 'butterflies'. Music and math have to be together, hand in hand Practical math... Great motivation! She will feel like she is being respected and her progress appreciated!

At least your son enjoys playing. My DD doesn't anymore. Mostly she doesn't want to play just 1 song, I then sometimes give her a candy, when she plays. I know, this isn't the right way. I also show her videos of other children playing.

Candy is not a good way, because dentists are not cheap nowadays ! You may call it 'points', you may call it 'money', you may call it anything: something that you can give, pay more or less, if she following your suggestions, it is something that she has to collect through the lesson and see her progress in concrete ... butterflies. But you have to be fair, like her playmates. If she looses - well - she looses. Don't be frugal and when she makes a little step forward - pay 5-10 butterflies!

@Madabplus: Thank you also very much for your answer!

Yes, I will try to remember, if she only plays one songs 2 times a week it is better, then not to play anything. Maybe I'll try to take a video or tell her, she will make a family recital. I hope, that will motivate her without candys or chocolate. [/quote]

I also always ask my student to play the same thing 2 times: i session - 2 times R hand. If second try better with points and with time, I am writing the result and put a star for each number. I say: Oh, YOU are double winner! Next time we'll try the left hand! Kids love to be winners!

An other problem is, that we always play the same songs... I don't know... most of the songs are too complicated for her at the moment. Best she likes the songs from introductory. And 1 or 2 from the nursery primer. But we play these since 9 months, I think maybe that's boring her so much. Which songs would you say are easy and fun to play?

For that I would like to see her videos. As soon as I will see her playing, I will be able to draw you plan for this semester.

bk wrote: Thanks very much for this idea! How can I cut a song with the SM software?

Here's a video from Hellene