Joshua Urben • April 11, 2022

Sound Before Symbol When Learning to Play the Piano

In our recent Key Sounds UK Piano Teacher Training, we had a session run by Joshua Urben who chose to discuss ‘Sound Before Symbol.’ For those who prefer reading, we’ve transcribed the key areas we felt would benefit piano students and teachers moving forwards.


As frustrating it may be at first, it can be hugely rewarding to sit down at your piano and be able to play a song you love. All of these areas are connected to patterns which we can learn and evolve to both learn songs we are familiar with and create our own pieces of music.


Although we as a school believe in teaching sheet music and symbols, we first encourage students to first hear and feel the music rather than relying on sheet music 100% of the time within their piano journey. In the long-run we have found this creates a more fulfilled, creative and accomplished piano student.


Background


World Folk Music and Jazz are predominately by ear. These genres follow the ‘Suzuki’ approach which is the belief that “musical ability is not an inborn talent but an ability which can be developed. This approach means that any child who is properly trained i.e., through sound and symbols on sheet music can develop musical abilities, just as all children develop the ability to speak their mother tongue.


Traditional Piano Teaching


A lot of students today are taught purely through sheet music.


Students Next Steps


Here is the teaching we pass on to the students:

  1. Try a play a song on the piano by using your listening skills.
  2. Ask a teacher, friend or family to play a note, interval or chord on your piano and try and guess the answer.
  3. Listen to music with your instrument in them.
  4. Clap or tap rhythms to music.


If at first you find this difficult try to describe the sound and the location this would be on the instrument.


Remember that when you are trying out these hacks to look at them little and often but also be patient with yourself. If you wish to know more about these hacks and resources, feel free to take a look around our website or connect with us directly!

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