The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-11
kindergarten
for the Piano
Wsw 1tfhod of TEACHING 61usie
b. Series Of Games.

~ the Introduction Of fascinass
I'll - Ing toys and games Mis- Eve
t~ iyn Ashton Fletcher has sue
III ceeded In absolutely obIserat-
LIZ Ing the difficulties met with b.
children when beginning their
work at the piano. Not only 50. but Il
has transformed the teacher from a pa
tent drudge Into an animated comrade.
Barely rear u regular. well directed
play. and the seeming miracle Is accom-
! pIsshed :
As the initial step in this method. the
children are given a large box Allied with
pretty, queer-ghaped toys. cut out Of dna
thin wood and painted black ON one side.
Perhaps a child first picks out OF the box
q cslriously interAsssh8 scEoil-ltke figure,
which he In told he may cal. Mrs. Treble
Cleft" and that IL in rather fun 10 play
that she Is the mother Of quite family
Of little children. Then comes a circular
sort Of affair. Mr.. Bass Cien," who 10
also the happy pcssessor OF family Or
he may take up an eiltpticai ring. or a
stem seven or eight inches long, with
similar ring attached. something like a
pipe: again the eiiipse may be solid. and
there may be one, two, three or more
hooks on the stem. These the child takes
into his hands and plays with in all sorts
Of ways. They are his dolls. his soldiers.
or what not. and IL IL as easy 10 name
thing else.
But ali these imaginary little folks must
have a house 10 live In. and how shall
we build IT. All. Here il a strong piece
Of wood with I'VE large fnclosed wheels
provided with springs-on the same prin-
ciple as a tape measure-attached TO IL.
The tape lines are long ard black. and we
may pull them on; to any length-across
three or four tables. IL we like. and fas-
ten them al the end TO another block pro-
yided with hooks. After constructing our
house. we may add any number OF extra
stories by means Of some nice little wood
en- bars ueiGer iines) which we shall ind
in the box. Then follows q variety OF
merry and interesting games in which the
doiies and soldiers are located In their
respective houses ard rooms. IN the box
Of wooden toys every sign and character
made use OF in the entire repertoire OF
music are represented. forte piano, cres-
cendo staccato. slur. etc. and the charm
ing little games introduced bring out
their significance while really amusing
the child. When later. therefore. he looks
into a music book he sees nothing that
he has no; played with and handled
Before he has had time 20 become tired
OF this set OF materials. he Is given an
entirely new set and introduced to the
pasting game. Large sheets % paper
containing all the characters with which
he II familiar notes, Guavers. rests and
hars-are put into his hands. and he cuts
them out and rasfes them on 20 large
staff They are his paper dolls or sol-
disre. a,' while apparently playing, he
learns the name II the eoii, It's appear
ance. position and voice-sn reality. the
sound. position and name % the note
Although large. the characters are some
what reduced in size from ~. blocks
The next process Il Swing on cardboard
with bright coiorei wcrstsds cIsrs notes.
= st. ta.n s.fxy
prscked trs-an adaptation 90 kindergarten
methods Again the characters have been
reduced Ia size py this time however
she children have become familiar with
tho dots, curves. hooks aai tires thar
they rec0gui.e them instantly under al
most any gsisse or in any size. and are
ready for the blackboard work which fol-
lows
After these four presentations with
their unique games the child - 50 "a
natl.sr with everything pertaining 10 uois-
ton thar he can name note. no matter
what It's position. wi.hon, any process Of
rcuussTx 81 er down. To no class fs
;his readiness more amazing than 20 .nu-
slcsans nsre ogt NJ ten 81 them after
years 81 experience. are obliged 70 make
mental calculation when n note Is much
above or hsscw the staff. la some ssabsie
way the children have hssn taught posi-
lively Snstsa, q relatively Al reeen,
demonstration OF ghs work for instance.
Tire teacher would roin, 10 a note per-
hars four space below tse bass cleft In
startly. with no pause for counting. wcsld
come the response. 'Ts SeIax" Frern
Gaa, sh~ would pas. 30 three or four lines
above the treble et.~ ard almost slnsas-
sansousiy with the rolss Of the yscan.e-
wogs5 conss the earrxct name the psrsie-
Gisr octave being frequently densifed by
some curious eEpsliaslon taken from their
games" snrnAie-6ewn a. for example.
fine ard rhyf-ts are taught IN an
equally simple. PRACTICAL ard Delighted
'aanHss. The child - gwen ferples whsca
fosa ur BY means Of hinges SO TIA. re
can divide thsfn into different measures
Then ne has boxes - blocks Of All sizes
each marked with the aote or rest watch
T. represe E:s. With these be builds many
sor,s cS things ana plsyS numeexisss