Isaac - 3.5 year old just started with Demo

Just started using the demo version of Ode to Joy with Isaac, my son.

The software has managed to stir his excitement and has started playing it on 30/4/2013. On 1/5/13 the next morning, he has asked to play with it again.

For now, he has been playing with one finger only and getting used to the solfege symbols on the piano. I have put the key guide on the piano.

At the first go, I did not record his marks, but on the next morning, he did:
RH - 23/30 and 25/30

As for the left hand, I decided not to do the left hand as he didn't quite get it of how to put his fingers. But the next day, he has learned how to put his fingers a little. Having to play two notes at once is quite hard for him at this age.

I am wondering, when should i tell him what fingers go where for the RH hand? Are there any fingerings given in the actual copy of the software?

Hi Andrea and Hellene,

Thanks to Andrea for the informative links. They answered my questions especially for the fingering part as I was also trained in the traditional music method.

After watching one of Hellene's video on fingering for little kids, I have ask my son to play the left hand part with 2 fingers and he has done really well.

Day 2
RH - 23/30 T208
LH - 4/18 T 229 (was still trying to tell him to play two notes with only the left hand)

Day 3 scores did not record

Day 4 (did more left hand today)
RH - 29/30 T49
LH - 12/18 T56 first try, 18/18 T23 (was the best score for the day using two fingers)

He has been very enthusiastic about it, I think because it is a computer and he loves the flowers and butterflies that appear. He has been asking to play "Ode to Joy" everyday so far for 4 days now.

He has been playing Ode to Joy with his index fingers only so far. Don't know when I should show him where to put the actual fingers. But he has been good at hitting the right notes and looking at the computer so far and enjoying it more.

So far, we have only listened to the Alphabet chant (he loves it, as it starts slow and then increases in speed) and played Ode to Joy. Tried the demo version of the note duration game, but seems to hang my computer after the 4th note. Will try the flash card with him soon.

Update on Isaac's progress.

Isaac has been playing Ode to Joy still practising with separate hands. He has started to use more fingers now after he learned how to play 'Do-re-mi-fa-so' with 5 fingers on left and right as an exercise before he starts to play the music. Most of the time he plays the song with one finger. He is still playing in Position 1. I have only tried giving him position 2 and 3 once in a while.

My question is, when is it a good time to start both hands together and when should he play in position 2 and 3? Can he start on a new song even though the Ode to Joy song is still a work in progress?

He is also still playing with his flash cards and guess the key game.


His best scores so far for Ode to Joy, P1
R - 26/30 T44 using five fingers (note fingering is not all right, but it his second attempt at using five fingers)

L- 17/18 T19

Will do up a video soon. What do I need to show in the video?


I am happy with his progress. SoftMozart is definitely a program I have never seen before. It has allowed little people like my son to actually play the piano and now he is not banging on the piano but actually playing note for note. He has even begun to play C major scale on his own unaware of it, but of course not with the right fingering.

As for reward of practising, I have used the BrillKids Music trial software as a reward for his practice as he likes that a lot.

Regards,

Esther

After watching Helene's video on fingering , I think I will continue to let Isaac continue to play with one finger till he gets a low number on timing. Do you think this is a good idea?