These informative and amusing pieces are combined with hand-clapping patterns that move through the shape of a meter, so that sightreading and a strong internal sense of the beat are quickly developed together. A must for every serious, lighthearted music student in the new milennium. Composer Atsuko Ezaki, music teacher at The Greenwich Japanese School, found unexpected benefits from using the method. My 5th and 6th graders were delighted to learn both rhythm and English at the same time. Talking Music is truly a universal language.
Adults find themselves cheerfully overcoming ingrained rhythmic phobias.
Co-author Joan Harkness, a pianist who has concertized internationally, has observed how You've Got Rhythm tickles her piano students. They think they can't do it. Dembska and Harkness founded Flying Leap Music to create new music education materials which teach technique from a practicing musician's point of view, activating and integrating the senses, intellect, and imagination. Having met a wide variety of American audiences while performing together, they perceived a longing in both children and adults for a friendly, unintimidating way to learn in-depth musicianship skills. A piano method for adults is planned for release in the near futurel.