'Individual secrets in piano learning' are… fake.

[musicrebel4u]

There are only 2 problems in music/piano learning:

1.   Lack of interactivity between a student and music sheet/piano keys
2.   Lack of focus in music reading

Musicrebel4you here, back from Europe. There I met many music teachers who adapted Soft Mozart – our method. Well, their students play sometimes better then mine and it's make me happy. System works!

Here is 2 videos of students playing 'Pink Panther' – mine and Ukrainian 8 year old girl. And you still stuck in 19 century and discussing 'method books'… Guys, isn't it a time to think as modern people?

 

[pianowolfi]

Well with whatever reading method these kids have learned ( I have students in their age playing the same piece without any specifical reading method), there are things that make me cringe when I watch these videos. In my book they have not been taught how to sit, both of them sit way to low on the bench, and it seems as if nobody took care to teach them about the touch, let alone phrasing and expression. They both look as if they need to make a huge effort to play and use a lot of (unnecessary) force to get the keys down. It just doesn't look relaxed and the tone they produce is rough and clumsy. Don't misunderstand me, they are for sure great students and very motivated. But music is not only about playing the right notes at any cost.... It's so important that you get a relation to the sound, to the quality of the sound and that you learn to listen to yourself.

[musicrebel4u]

Well with whatever reading method these kids have learned ( I have students in their age playing the same piece without any specifical reading method), there are things that make me cringe when I watch these videos. In my book they have not been taught how to sit, both of them sit way to low on the bench, and it seems as if nobody took care to teach them about the touch, let alone phrasing and expression. They both look as if they need to make a huge effort to play and use a lot of (unnecessary) force to get the keys down. It just doesn't look relaxed and the tone they produce is rough and clumsy. Don't misunderstand me, they are for sure great students and very motivated. But music is not only about playing the right notes at any cost.... It's so important that you get a relation to the sound, to the quality of the sound and that you learn to listen to yourself.

blah blah blah
we have to teach kids to learn reading with Bible
science of perception does not matter

[pianowolfi]

blah blah blah
we have to teach kids to learn reading with Bible
science of perception does not matter

Music and art do matter. And it does very much matter HOW you play and not only WHAT.

[m]

blah blah blah
we have to teach kids to learn reading with Bible
science of perception does not matter

Excuse me, I cannot help but notice what an obnoxious way to pimp your method!!

In any case, I agree with much what Wolfi said and would like to add, for a year and half of studying piano those kids are not very much advanced. By that time they already have to enjoy some Schumann, Tchaikowski, or at least Burgmuller, rather than struggle with notes in Pink Panther  .

[musicrebel4u]

Excuse me, I cannot help but notice what an obnoxious way to pimp your method!!

In any case, I agree with much what Wolfi said and would like to add, for a year and half of studying piano those kids are not very much advanced. By that time they already have to enjoy some Schumann, Tchaikowski, or at least Burgmuller, rather than struggle with notes in Pink Panther  .

Why do you think they STRUGGLE and do not enjoy Schuman or Tchaikowski?

[musicrebel4u]

Well with whatever reading method these kids have learned ( I have students in their age playing the same piece without any specifical reading method), there are things that make me cringe when I watch these videos. In my book they have not been taught how to sit, both of them sit way to low on the bench, and it seems as if nobody took care to teach them about the touch, let alone phrasing and expression. They both look as if they need to make a huge effort to play and use a lot of (unnecessary) force to get the keys down. It just doesn't look relaxed and the tone they produce is rough and clumsy. Don't misunderstand me, they are for sure great students and very motivated. But music is not only about playing the right notes at any cost.... It's so important that you get a relation to the sound, to the quality of the sound and that you learn to listen to yourself.

I have to ignore the part where you express your PERSONAL opinion about quality of performance of these kids, because kid on the first video already received 873 ratings on youtube and they are pretty high. The girl from Ukraine was chosen to perform on special concert for the most talanted kids of all music school of the region.

Maybe I wasn't clear enough: these kids are NOT PRODIGIES The metter or fact is: system works with anybody

[musicrebel4u]

Music and art do matter. And it does very much matter HOW you play and not only WHAT.

Of cause art matter! But there is a difference: with method books kids learn 1-2 pieces in semester and mastering them 'till they get sick of it (been there, done that!)
Soft Mozart students play 20-30 pieces, sightread alot and develop ART of playing naturally with no force

[m]

I have to ignore the part where you express your PERSONAL opinion about quality of performance of these kids, because kid on the first video already received 873 ratings on youtube and they are pretty high. The girl from Ukraine was chosen to perform on special concert for the most talanted kids of all music school of the region.

Sorry, but it does not look very professional from your side to ignore the opinion of a professional pianist, music teacher, and quite respected member of this board on a mere basis that the kid recieved the 873 rating. Let's see some of the comments just from the first page:

-i can play pink panther and family guy and icarly
-oh my good I got pwned by a 7 year old O_o
-awesomE!!!
-cool where can i get a sheet book with that song and other songs in it
-a couple notes sounded a little off, but that's damn good for 7. 
-OMG!!!!!!!!!!! Wow, I CANT EVEN PLAY A CLARINET THAT WELL AND I BEEN PLAYING FOR MORE THAN A YEAR!!!!!!!
-aw cute
-Omg. Awesome.
-I've tried playing that song.
-And i cant do it. Or maybe i just suck.

C'mon, you cannot be serious.

Maybe I wasn't clear enough: these kids are NOT PRODIGIES The metter or fact is: system works with anybody
 

Well, those kids indeed don't look as prodigies. As a side note, the "conventional" system also works with ANYBODY.

Of cause art matter! But there is a difference: with method books kids learn 1-2 pieces in semester and mastering them 'till they get sick of it (been there, done that!)
Soft Mozart students play 20-30 pieces, sightread alot and develop ART of playing naturally with no force

Sorry, it just seems you are getting little bit carried away by pushing your product way too hard and undermining "conventional" methods, by providing false information. As you might realize, there are quite a few professional here who will immediately catch the trick.
I'd suggest taking somewhat more subtle way if you want to make some business out of that, as in fact, all this looks very much like a SPAM.
I'd suggest to be much more carefull as I highly doubt it is allowed on this, or for that matter, on any other internet board.

Best, M

[pianowolfi]

Having watched the other videos, I must say, a lot of them confirm what I said. Of course I was not talking about prodigies.


The way most of these kids play makes it obvious to me that the main and only focus in this method seems to get somehow the notes together. An exception in these is the one where it says Александрова Юля - 9 лет. this girl plays like a "normal", pretty musical student and lives the music.

[musicrebel4u]

Having watched the other videos, I must say, a lot of them confirm what I said. Of course I was not talking about prodigies.


The way most of these kids play makes it obvious to me that the main and only focus in this method seems to get somehow the notes together. An exception in these is the one where it says Александрова Юля - 9 лет. this girl plays like a "normal", pretty musical student and lives the music.

Well, I won't call it 'a methd' - just way to present music score in 6 different modifications. It mostly break through in visual support for students: some of them need more - some less. But what you said is mostly concerning teacher work. The system just helps to build coordination and reading skills and helps a teacher to deal with more artistic staff.

If with method books kids on their own in home practice, here they get support and always know, what's right or wrong and how to improve it.

[musicrebel4u]

Sorry, but it does not look very professional from your side to ignore the opinion of a professional pianist, music teacher, and quite respected member of this board on a mere basis that the kid recieved the 873 rating.

Well, you're right! I can't ignore opinion of professionals, but when they got familiar with the system. Such as

A soloist of Moscow State Academic Philharmonic Society
A full member of Russian National Academy of Natural Science
The president of Yuri Rozum International Charitable Foundation
A national artist of Russia

Yuri Rozum
https://www.yurirozum.com

September 15, 2006.
To whom it may concern:

First time I learned about 'Soft way to Mozart' was in April of 2006. I've always been interested in the latest inventions in the field of music education. I think that the primary music education needs reform. It is far from providing successful music learning for the majority of children by losing students in elementary classes of music schools. We are not only losing future musicians, but, above all, we are losing educated music listeners. In addition, what a loss for those people for whom the beautiful world of music remains unknown.

After I learned the key features of the 'Soft Mozart' computer system, I had a chance to see how this method worked with my 9-year-old daughter. Previously, she didn't want to hear about music lessons with the traditional approach. However, now she is learning piano successfully and with great pleasure using this system.

I want to say the following:


1. The program 'Soft Mozart' does not conflict with classical approaches of music learning. In fact, this program is a 'missing link' of traditional music education filling the lack of visual support during the first steps of acquaintance with the space of piano keys and musical notation.

2. The program 'Soft Mozart' brilliantly uses the computer for creating the interactive learning of music as a language. The student is able to play a musical composition with one hand while listening to the part of the other hand being played automatically. Then, the student is able not only to see one's own mistakes in the performance of a musical score, but make corrections without the teacher's help. Finally, the student is able to memorize easily a music piece without anybody's assistance while still controlling its correctness. The student starts fluent music reading from the first lessons. This is far from a full list of all advantages and benefits that the system can give to every beginner.
3. This program is a break-through approach because with its help any person, regardless of his or her talent, can learn how to read the music score and play the piano (or other keyboard instruments) with both hands and all ten fingers. This is important for development of music ear, memory, and for the sake of pleasure to learn music.
4. The turned sideways 'primary presentation' of a musical score with color-coded pictures allow students to cope with reading and coordination problems in balance. This is an original 'ABC book' of music.
5. The gradual transformation of a musical score from the 'primary presentation' to the traditional presentation allows any student to understand the musical notation easier and faster.

Any use of 'Soft Mozart' system can substantially relieve the work of music teachers during the classes of piano, theory, or solfeggio. Because the computer takes care of the routine development of basic skills, it spares the teacher's time and energy for more complicated professional and artistic tasks.

I recommend using this system not only for music institutions, but also in daycare centers, schools and any organizations that are related to the upbringing and cultural education of children. In addition, this system provides inestimable advantages for home music practice.

A soloist of Moscow State Academic Philharmonic Society
A full member of Russian National Academy of Natural Science
The president of Yuri Rozum International Charitable Foundation
A national artist of Russia

Yuri Rozum
https://www.yurirozum.com

[m]

Well, you're right! I can't ignore opinion of professionals, but when they got familiar with the system.

So doesn't it look logical in order to get familiar with the system it would make much more sense for you to explain how it works, rather than tastelessly pushing how freaking awsome it is and all we did before is just a fake crap?
It seems that you have some interest here and we all know from salesmen that viagra is also awsome, giving us that vitality we are all missing so much...

Best, M

[musicrebel4u]

So doesn't it look logical in order to get familiar with the system it would make much more sense for you to explain how it works, rather than tastelessly pushing how freaking awsome it is and all we did before is just a fake crap?
It seems that you have some interest here and we all know from salesmen that viagra is also awsome, giving us that vitality we are all missing so much...

Best, M

I am not new in this forum and placed already alot of materials. And - yes! - I am trying to sale this idea, because it works and I want you to succeed in teaching even more.

As for explenation about invention, please, find few minutes to view it on youtube:

[m]

I am not new in this forum and placed already alot of materials. And - yes! - I am trying to sale this idea, because it works and I want you to succeed in teaching even more.

Dear Musicrebel4u,

You are not quite honest here again, are you? Just a quick look at your online store reveals you in fact, don't seem to sell ideas, but rather actually sell software, unless I am missing something. Why wouldn't you be straight with people, to start with? Maybe then it would be much easier to earn their trust, which BTW, I am sure would be of great help for your business.

In any case, I took time and watched your youtube presentations. It is somewhat unclear how the software manages such things as fingering, dynamics, and also to which difficulty level it goes. Even though I don't quite agree with some of your deductions and assertions, which somehow to me sound like salesman tricks, in any case, with all your marketing flaws, I think your product is quite interesting and I am sure it might be useful for those who don't plan to get a teacher, but linterested in learning some "songs" on a digital keyboard just for sheer reason of having fun. The price also looks just about right for such specialized thing, and considering potentially quite relatively limited selling quantities on such product. I'd actually think Russia, with its computer raising, (which for many folks there still feels like a novelty) would be a good place for marketing. In this respect the letter from Mr. Rozum is not of a big of a surprise.

So far, I however, have some reservations for using your software for my purposes:

1) I believe our world is way too "electronized" and technological--television, cell phones, computers, games, cars, airplances, media, etc. etc. etc.
I still cannot comprehend that my grandmother (who regretfully passed away two years ago at the age of 95) was born when on the streets there were no central electricity, and people pressed their clothes with coal irons, and people sent not emails, but were communicating through mail carried by horse carriages. Just for a second, think of one single graduation of Moscow conservatory of that time (and yes, as some might realize, there were no computers then)--Scriabin, Rachmaninov, Presman, both Rosina and Joseph Lhevinnes, while around there still were such people as Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikowsky, Arensky, Taneev, Goldenweiser, Feinberg, etc. etc. etc.
To be honest, I am very much longing for those glorious times, and would gladly go somewhere to some Siberian or Himalayan forests, to get away from all our advances of life, and finally even for a little bit, at least day or two, to feel myself to be a human being as a part of nature.
In this respect, the last thing for my students I would want is in such a soulfull and spiritual activity as 'music making' to start communicating with a robot (called "computer").

Besides,

2) It seems your system is intended for digital piano, and since I am of 'old school', I prefer the actual touch of "alive" instrument.

3) I admit, your system might be a LITTLE bit faster than conventional methods, however in my experience, most of the kids by third or fourth lesson already not only read with ease the examples you provided in your presentation, but already easily write down melodies and songs they are familiar with.

and most of all

4) For me the main purpose of studying music and piano is not even ability to read it (which BTW, is the least of the problem), but express ideas through it. Sorry, but your program seems to miss this part of interaction, which in my mind is essential, if not the most important part of the art called 'piano playing' and 'music making', which alone by far supersede any need for computer intervention... at least for achieving my teaching goals.

Best regards, M

[musicrebel4u]

Dear Marik,
I find it worthless to argue about taste of oysters with those, who never tryed them.

Victoria Lopez Meseguer
Piano Teacher and Vicedean of the Conservatorio
Profesional de Musica Joaquín Turina de
Madrid
Calle Serrano 226 Duplicado
Madrid 28016
Spain
vlmeseguer@mac.com

To whom it may concern:

I write this letter to strongly recommend SoftMozart
as a wonderful method for teaching music. And I speak
of music and not only of piano because Softmozart
helps setting the foundations of not only piano
fundamentals but also ear training, internal rhythm,
harmony and music memory.

I find it my obligation to be alert of new
possibilities for my piano students. I teach all
levels but I am specially concerned about the
beginning of education. First, because I am convinced
that the younger the student, the better the teacher
should be. Not only in the psychological approach but
also because of the fact that one needs to have the
final goals so clearly as to not introduce anything
that could be a learning burden for a student in the
future.

After all, music learning is a spiral method.
We teach the same concepts again and again and the
only difference is the context, the music piece that
the student plays.

On the other hand, there are many methods that
captivate the student at the beginning but makes them
face a dessert after a year or two. I am thinking of
teaching methods that provide the student with no
reading grounds. Most of these students quit when they
find themselves having to read what they think they
can play by imitation.

I also find my obligation to dive into the real XXI
century, meaning that the students of today deserve
the possibilities that the rest of the curricula offer
to them: technology.

I was startled to know the results of the
investigations of Rauschen in 1997 where he compared
the results in spatial-temporal outcomes of a group of
children who had taken piano lessons, a group of
children that had taken computer lessons and a group
of children who had taken no special lessons appart
from traditional school subjects.The study found that
those receiving piano lessons indeed scored 34 percent
higher on tests measuring spatial-temporal ability.
Then followed the children who had received computer
training.

Well, SoftMozart combines these two trainings.
To start with, children just stick to the piano no
matter how young. I have seen three year old children
waving goodbye to their parents without even looking
at them as they left and begging for more after their
lesson. And this is a very good start for any teacher.
In respect to the advantages of the method I would
like to highlight:

 It doesn’t interfere at all with my traditional
teaching. The teacher has a reason to exist with
constant indications about fingering, hand position
and relating concepts from one piece to another.

The chosen pieces are also “traditional”. Bastien,
for example, is one of the most famous methods in
Spanish Conservatories.

Fruit Lines and Guess Note are two games that also
help train absolute ear.

After more than twenty years
of teaching I have found no better method for this.

The child constantly listens to the sound of a note
with no boring sensation because he thinks he is only
playing with a video console game when in fact he is
receiving constant listen-recognise feedback about
absolute pitch.

Some children just respond to sound.
To be able to recognise these children at so early
stages is an invaluable tool for a teacher. Any other
method to work these that I can think of would involve
an active respond from the child, and we all know that
the shiest children can be the best hidden artists.

[b]Note duration [/b] makes rhythm not only a mental
process from the mathematical point of view but also a
fast muscular responding process, as it should
eventually become in the future for any pianist. The
child thinks and feels the rhythm and it is hard to
tell what comes first.

Small children can spend years in music movement
lessons before starting piano in traditional teaching.
Now I see no reason why they should wait for so long
before playing piano, provided the piano keys weight
is appropiate for their muscles.

With respect to Gentle Piano these are the rest of
the advantages I see:

a. The vertical disposition of the staves compared to
the horizontal simply mean that what is on the right
is on the right and what is on the left is on the
left. This sounds absurd but the fact is that with
traditional teaching a piano students needs to face
orientation indications that contradict natural laws.
Some parents are concerned with this fact (so what
will happen when he faces a “normal score”?). I just
press a key on the computer and the students faces the
“normal score”. And the student just plays because he
also recognises his favourite toy if we turn it
around.

The important fact is that he has understood
in a natural way the direction of the music on the
score and the direction of the same notes on the
piano.

b. Some traditional teachers say “ok, but art has
nothing to do with this”. My answer is always the same
one. Your first obligation is to teach the student how
to read and now the linguistics. Your second
obligation could be letting him read a best seller or
take his hand and dive him into Shakespeare. Well, I
don’t know of any Language teacher who wouldn’t
appreciate all this help in teaching their students
how to read. This can only result in having spare time
for the “artistic process”.

c. The evaluating process is an instantaneus thing.
The competition is not with the teacher. The teacher
doesn’t correct things as “not a do or a fa but a mi”.
The teacher can teach and correct other more important
things and doesn’t need to accompany with words every
sound of the piano. After all we keep telling our
students that music and silence go together. The fact
that the teacher is in your team and that the
competition is IN the computer, is another pedagogical
approach that I find invaluable.

d. Group individual teaching. That is another
advantage. I can switch from one to another many times
in a very short lapsus of time. This allows me to make
a correction without directing it to the child that
needs it. I speak aloud and all of them listen to it
but the one that needs it is the one that understands
it better.

e. The fact that the creators of this method keep
upgrading the software and are always ready to listen
to suggestions and keep in touch with the teachers who
use it is really important for me. I wish I could say
the same thing for other creators of software that I
use for only Solfegge training. I have found myself
using the songs of SoftMozart in the traditional
layout for solfegge singing. The child first reads and
sings the piece with the solfegge notes and then
learns it on the piano.

I can only recommend SoftMozart for any teacher
willing to have an invaluable aid in teaching what for
so many people is the reason to not have continued
with piano education: boring approaches or just the
intrinsic difficulty in beginning of the learning
process.

[m]

Dear Marik,
I find it worthless to argue about taste of oysters with those, who never tryed them.

Dear Musicrebel4u,

I find it strange that I raise some specific questions and concerns and instead of answering them in a straight manner you post yet another letter (from a person I have no idea who she is) about how awsome is your product.
Indeed, it is worthless to argue about taste of oysters with those who never tried them, but it seems in order to try how awsome they are I will need first invest $299 or $399 for the software, and then thousands for a digital piano (which I admit, I have no much use, otherwise). Doesn't it look little expensive, esp. if I find out if it is not what I want?
 
Do you have evaluation version?

Best, M

[musicrebel4u]

Dear Musicrebel4u,

I find it strange that I raise some specific questions and concerns and instead of answering them in a straight manner you post another letter (from a person I have no idea who she is) about how awsome is your product.
Indeed, it is worthless to argue about taste of oysters with those who never tried them, but it seems in order to try how awsome they are I will need first invest $299 or $399 for the software, and then thousands for a digital piano (which I admit, I have no much use, otherwise). Doesn't it look little expensive, esp. if I find out if it is not what I want?
 
Do you have evaluation version?

Best, M

Dear Marik,
The problem is: I am running some company and have less and less time for Internet communication. But, on another hand I find it important to let music teachers know about this invention.

Yes, of cause we have free Demos!

Soft Mozart is a system of different programs. Some of them you may check right away on your computer, some for computer+piano. Of cause, the best way is to try all of them and to read my articles. Teachers, who purchase our system are provided with lesson plan and in title of 25% from each package their students buy for home practice.

Here is the page with all programs.
-https://www.doremifasoft.com/dopr.html
 Click on each icon and find at the bottom FREE DOWNLOADS

You don't have to buy digital piano - you may start with keyboard under $100 (61 keys MIDI)
Digital keyboards and pianos are just TOOLS to learn how to play, that can provide interactivity.

Hope, it would help you

[m]

Dear Marik,
The problem is: I am running some company and have less and less time for Internet communication.

 
Wow!!!

So let's see, you come here and say that everything I have been doing before is fake, providing links to  rather weak, uninteresting, and not much advanced for a year and half of taking lessons performances.
When a respected and knowledgable member points it out you just shut him up, basically telling that he is to be ignored because some bunch of retards gave those performances a good rating.
I raised a few questions and you basically saying that you don't have time for us simple mortals.

Let me tell you Musicrebel4u, you came here not to help people with their problems (that is what the main goal of this board), and let them know about invention. Almost every single message of yours is a link to your product and it is so clear you came here just for one reason--pimp your software and sell... I must say, you do it in quite a pushy, unpleasant, and obnoxious way.

To name things their names, what you do, basically, you find a discussion board and then rip it off using its space and bandwidth as a place to advertise your goods for free. Something what called SHAMELESS SPAM, which BTW, is against of any internet rules or etiquette. Along the way you are not ashamed of providing false information and wrong statements.

What a "beautiful" PR for your company!!! What a "beautiful" way of doing business!!!

Sorry, even if your software is lifesaving, I am not interested to support that kind of business practice, especially, considering the fact the salesman cannot even find a few minutes for a potential client.

Best of luck, M

[musicrebel4u]

Wow!!!

So let's see, you come here and say that everything I have been doing before is fake, providing links to  rather weak, uninteresting, and not much advanced for a year and half of taking lessons performances.
When a respected and knowledgable member points it out you just shut him up, basically telling that he is to be ignored because some bunch of retards gave those performances a good rating.
I raised a few questions and you basically saying that you don't have time for us simple mortals.

Let me tell you Musicrebel4u, you came here not to help people with their problems (that is what the main goal of this board), and let them know about invention. Almost every single message of yours is a link to your product and it is so clear you came here just for one reason--pimp your software and sell... I must say, you do it in quite a pushy, unpleasant, and obnoxious way.

To name things their names, what you do, basically, you find a discussion board and then rip it off using its space and bandwidth as a place to advertise your goods for free. Something what called SHAMELESS SPAM, which BTW, is against of any internet rules or etiquette. Along the way you are not ashamed of providing false information and wrong statements.

What a "beautiful" PR for your company!!! What a "beautiful" way of doing business!!!

Sorry, even if your software is lifesaving, I am not interested to support that kind of business practice, especially, considering the fact the salesman cannot even find a few minutes for a potential client.

Best of luck, M

Thank you, my dear for wishing me luck! I already have some: several countries are starting to adapt our system in state's schools, including USA:
-https://www.doremifasoft.com/pipupiupskus.html,
but I want to see the system in every school and any household as TV or telephone. It is my dream and I am working on it for more then 30 years.

And you're right: I am not good at sales. Just because I happened to be a musicologyst and inventor. The system spread despite my bad promotional skills simply because it works!

[general disarray]

Thank you, my dear for wishing me luck! I already have some: several countries are starting to adapt our system in state's schools, including USA:
--https://-https://www.doremifasoft.com/pipupiupskus.html,
but I want to see the system in every school and any household as TV or telephone. It is my dream and I am working on it for more then 30 years.

And you're right: I am not good at sales. Just because I happened to be a musicologyst and inventor. The system spread despite my bad promotional skills simply because it works!

Remember the Cold War?  Those ancient days when the former Soviet Union condemned the soulless Western nations for bloodless capitalist merchandising?

Thank God, those days are over and the New Russia has joined in the the Great Greed Fest!

Hooray for marketing and unashamed self-promotion! 

Ironic, isn't it, that Russia is surpassing the Western nations in the art of naked profiteering, is it not?   

[musicrebel4u]

Remember the Cold War?  Those ancient days when the former Soviet Union condemned the soulless Western nations for bloodless capitalist merchandising?

Thank God, those days are over and the New Russia has joined in the the Great Greed Fest!

Hooray for marketing and unashamed self-promotion! 

Ironic, isn't it, that Russia is surpassing the Western nations in the art of naked profiteering, is it not?   

Well, in former USSR government made a very huge and valuable investment: investment in arts and music. We still have a very strong and advanced system of music education.

If in other (capitalistic) countries private music instructions are not afordable for many people, we had music schools, where children had twice a week 45 minutes of private lessons, 1,5 hour of theory, 1,5 hour of Solfeggio, 1 hour of music history and choir.

We had to be selected to get to such school and had to graduate it with honor to enter into secondary school (4 more years of strict music training).

After secondary school we had to pass 11 tests and pass huge competition to get into conservatory!

We developed very strong curriculum and there were the most famouse musicians such as Tchaikovski and Rimski-Korsakov, who were laying foundation for the most advanced education in the world.

I think, Russia still deserve great respect for being first in the field of music education.

[m]

but I want to see the system in every school and any household as TV or telephone. It is my dream and I am working on it for more then 30 years.

Sure. Clearly, no moral or ethical issues will stop you on the way to fulfill your dream.

We developed very strong curriculum and there were the most famouse musicians such as Tchaikovski and Rimski-Korsakov, who were laying foundation for the most advanced education in the world.

Sorry Musicrebel4u, who are those "WE" you identify yourself with? Speaking about you personally, it seems you learned very little from honesty, nobility, and integrity both Tchaikowsky and Rimsky-Korsakov stood for.

Ironic, isn't it, that Russia is surpassing the Western nations in the art of naked profiteering, is it not?   

Oh yeah, for civilized world Russian modern way of doing business can be pretty shocking.

Best, M

[musicrebel4u]

Sure. Clearly, no moral or ethical issues will stop you on the way to fulfill your dream.

Well, my dream is to see the world musically literate, when kids do not shoot each other and can gather together to play music. World without wars, without hate. I don't know why is it not 'ethical'?

Sorry Musicrebel4u, who are those "WE" you identify yourself with? Speaking about you personally, it seems you learned very little from honesty, nobility, and integrity both Tchaikowsky and Rimsky-Korsakov stood for.

    -https://www.doremifasoft.com/pianoclasses.html

Oh yeah, for civilized world Russian modern way of doing business can be pretty shocking.

Best, M

For all your nationalistic remarcs I forgive you. Hope, moderator would forgive you as well.

[yuc4h]

There are only 2 problems in music/piano learning:

Musicrebel4you here, back from Europe. There I met many music teachers who adapted Soft Mozart – our method. Well, their students play sometimes better then mine and it's make me happy. System works!

Here is 2 videos of students playing 'Pink Panther' – mine and Ukrainian 8 year old girl. And you still stuck in 19 century and discussing 'method books'… Guys, isn't it a time to think as modern people?

 

The flaws of your "revolutionary" system immediately become obvious as those kids undoubtedly have no clue about dynamics or fingering. Also the way they move their hands give away the fact that their technique is awful (escpecially the boy)

It seems that your method indeed can teach anyone to play music, but it also prevents them from ever reaching a high level of performance due to technique that is faulty in fundamental level.

This kid (around the same age as your examples) learned to play using ancient method books that you mock. He seems to have something your students lack. I realize that not all kids are prodigies but I doubt you have had even a single great success while teaching with a method that completely ignores the very reasons some people want to play music.

Have a nice day.

PS. I forgot to mention that your students also apparently lack the ability to read sheet music at all, not to mention writing it.

[m]

Well, my dream is to see the world musically literate, when kids do not shoot each other and can gather together to play music. World without wars, without hate. I don't know why is it not 'ethical'?

It is not that your dream is not ethical, it is about the ways you take to fullfil it. I already posted about it in great details, but obviously, you chose to skip that part.

For all your nationalistic remarcs I forgive you. Hope, moderator would forgive you as well.

Nationalistic??? Indeed, you must be out of your mind.

All the best, M

[musicrebel4u]

The flaws of your "revolutionary" system immediately become obvious as those kids undoubtedly have no clue about dynamics or fingering. Also the way they move their hands give away the fact that their technique is awful (escpecially the boy)

It seems that your method indeed can teach anyone to play music, but it also prevents them from ever reaching a high level of performance due to technique that is faulty in fundamental level.

This kid (around the same age as your examples) learned to play using ancient method books that you mock. He seems to have something your students lack. I realize that not all kids are prodigies but I doubt you have had even a single great success while teaching with a method that completely ignores the very reasons some people want to play music.

Have a nice day.

PS. I forgot to mention that your students also apparently lack the ability to read sheet music at all, not to mention writing it.

Well, I don't think that modification of music notation has something to do with technique of playing.
It is the same to say that ABC books spoil technique of reading in future.
When we taught people to read with ABC like this in 16th century, we also had some few people who managed to read beautifuly.

[musicrebel4u]

It is not that your dream is not ethical, it is about the ways you take to fullfil it. I already posted about it in great details, but obviously, you chose to skip that part.

Nationalistic??? Indeed, you must be out of your mind.

All the best, M

Well, you ask me questions and do not read answers.
As for ethics and great names... They are all behind our invention.
Moscow Conservatory recently issued a book for educators 'How to teach music in 21st century' featuring 'Soft Way to Mozart' system created by Houston musicologist Hellene Hiner. One of the most prestigious Russian publishers called 'Classics of 21st century' printed a 22-pages article dedicated to the 'Soft Way to Mozart' system with 12 colorful illustrations that explain an invention of universal importance.

'Soft Way to Mozart' is an interactive computerized system that adds visual explanation for traditional Grand Staff and develops music eyesight of any music learner from elementary to advanced level. It was created in 2002 in Houston, USA. The system was called
'ABC of music education' and the 'missing visual link in teaching to read music' by world famous classic pianists and educators. Currently, 'Soft Way to Mozart' is used in music schools and studios in USA, Canada, Spain, UK, Mexico, Costa Rica and Russia.

Moscow Conservatory highly endorses 'Soft Mozart' system, was founded in 1866 and named after Peter Tchaikovsky, composer of
'Nutcracker' taught there for many years. Many famous musicians were Moscow Conservatory graduates and teachers, such as, Rachmaninov, Stravinski, Prokofiev, Shostakovich and other luminaries. Moscow Conservatory has achieved its outstanding results in recognizing and promoting the best and the most
effective ways in music education.

   -https://www.softmozart.com/Site/discussion.php?discussion=112

I am just having curtesy to share the ideas that already published in text books for educators

[m]

It is not about the product, it is about marketing.

Many famous musicians were Moscow Conservatory graduates and teachers, such as, Rachmaninov, Stravinski, Prokofiev, Shostakovich and other luminaries. Moscow Conservatory has achieved its outstanding results in recognizing and promoting the best and the most
effective ways in music education.

Thank you for taking time to let me know all that interesting information. Being a Moscow Concervatory graduate myself (I studied with L. Naumov, who happened to be Y. Rozum's teacher, you cited before, as well), I however know those facts perfectly well. In this respect, you might realize beside other disciplines I received exhaustive training in psychology and pedagogy, where my mentors include such people as Artobolevskaya, E. Richter, among others, whose lessons with little kids I used to attend for years on a weekly basis.

That time I learnt that it takes about three to four lessons for kids not only to learn to read with ease the examples you provided in your presentation (with perfectly right fingering and rhythm, BTW), but already easily write down melodies and songs they are familiar with. After half a year of studies normal kids should be able to read music by far more complicated than year and half Pink Panther you provided, as an example. After a year and half piano studies there would be not unusual for kids to play such pieces as Mozart Fantasy in d-minor Scarlatti Sonatas, or Debussy some Preludes (BTW, on a very high artistic level).
This is the part which I have already mentioned, but it seems you deliberetly skipping it, at your convinience distorting facts and turning things the way it suites your agenda and comfortable for achieving your goal.

Best, M

[musicrebel4u]

It is not about the product, it is about marketing.

Thank you for taking time to let me know all that interesting information. Being a Moscow Concervatory graduate myself (I studied with L. Naumov, who happened to be Y. Rozum's teacher, you cited before, as well), I however know those facts perfectly well. In this respect, you might realize beside other disciplines I received exhaustive training in psychology and pedagogy, where my mentors include such people as b, E. Richter, among others, whose lessons with little kids I used to attend for years on a weekly basis.

That time I learnt that it takes about three to four lessons for kids not only to learn to read with ease the examples you provided in your presentation (with perfectly right fingering and rhythm, BTW), but already easily write down melodies and songs they are familiar with. After half a year of studies normal kids should be able to read music by far more complicated than year and half Pink Panther you provided, as an example.
This is the part which I have already mentioned, but it seems you deliberetly skipping it, at your convinience distorting facts and turning things the way it suites your agenda and comfortable for achieving your goal.

Best, M

During my 7 hours presentation in Moscow they called me Artobolevskaya's follower, because she was in big favor of turning Grand Staff sideways. When in 2006 presentation some director of Yuri Rozum's school raised the same question as you did about technique etc, he answered for me:
what presenrtation of notation has to do with technique?

The matter or fact is: we created a system that teaches students routine and training eyesite to read notation. The rest is in hands of teachers.

[musicrebel4u]

It is not about the product, it is about marketing.

Soft Mozart is not a 'product' - it is rather ABC, Picture book and chapter book format for traditional notation.
If yiu're Russian, I think, it would be interesting for you to view Russin TV stories about the invention:

Also you may read my book about the system:
https://www.kurdyumov.ru/esse/music/music00.php

[mephisto]

After a year and half piano studies there would be not unusual for kids to play such pieces as Mozart Fantasy in d-minor Scarlatti Sonatas, or Debussy some Preludes (BTW, on a very high artistic level).

Best, M

I think that is very impressive.

[musicrebel4u]

I think that is very impressive.

Wish to SEE that...

[m]

I think that is very impressive.

I have a policy in my studio (BTW, the same as in Central Special Music School in Moscow), all parents sit at the lessons and then supervise kids with home work.

Wish to SEE that...

I have already posted that in completely different topic, but since it is appropriate I will cut and paste here:

Before I moved to another state I had a studio of 13 students (besides my University load).
Here are just a few competition programs of some of my students:

age 8: Debussy La cathédrale engloutie and Golliwogg's Cake - Walk, Mozart Phantasy in D minor

age 10: Haydn Sonata in F Major, Liszt Gnomenreigen

age 13 (one of very few students who never needed to play Czerny, or any other excersises):
Bach French suite no5, Chopin Etude op.10/1, , Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody no.12.
 the same student next semester:
Beethoven Sonata Op2. no3 1st mvmnt, Ravel Scarbo. Concerto division: Prokofiev, Concerto no.3
Next year his program included Balakirev Islamey, Feux Follets, Chopin Scherzo no1, etc.

Another student at age 13:
Bach English suite no.2, Chopin Ballade No.3, Concerto division: Rachmaninov Concerto No.1 
Next year her Concerto was Chopin 2nd complete.

Another student at age 12:
Beethoven Sonata No.5 complete, Liszt Etude Un Sospiro, Concerto division: Saint Saens Concerto No.2 1st mvmnt.

All of them were "normal" kids, i.e. neither was a prodigy. All of them played absolutely professionally--both, technically and artistically.

Right now I  have a kid who has been taking lessons for a year and 8 months (with about 3 months break, when I was concertising). He is quite a slow learner and not extremely advanced. At the moment, there are no ready to perform pieces, but if you are interested I can audio record his next lesson--C# Major in tempo, 4 octaves, including contrary motion (BTW, this is his last sharp scale-next minor and flats), and couple pieces--Burgmuller The Chase, and Tchaikowski Polka (the rest of the pieces are way to fresh). No idea if and how he will be prepared for the lesson, but even with all mistakes it is possible to get a sense.

Best, M

[m]

Soft Mozart is not a 'product' - it is rather ABC, Picture book and chapter book format for traditional notation.
If yiu're Russian, I think, it would be interesting for you to view Russin TV stories about the invention:

Also you may read my book about the system:
https://www.kurdyumov.ru/esse/music/music00.php

I am sorry, but I am not interested to know what others say (esp. media and TV--I have been around for awhile and know their worth), and unfortunately at the moment I don't have much time to read your book.
All I am interested in is the FINAL RESULT. You come here to say whatever we do is fake and you want to help us to succeed. You are talking about how awsome your system is, but on the other hand, NONE of your youtube examples look and sound terribly impressive.
Could you in your own words, without citing anybody else give me at least one good reason why should I as a teacher pay around $500 to switch to your system if excuse me, with my system I get BY FAR better results?

Best, M

[musicrebel4u]

I have a policy in my studio (BTW, the same as in Central Special Music School in Moscow), all parents sit at the lessons and then supervise kids with home work.


I have already posted that in completely different topic, but since it is appropriate I will cut and paste here:

Before I moved to another state I had a studio of 13 students (besides my University load).
Here are just a few competition programs of some of my students:

age 8: Debussy La cathédrale engloutie and Golliwogg's Cake - Walk, Mozart Phantasy in D minor

age 10: Haydn Sonata in F Major, Liszt Gnomenreigen

age 13 (one of very few students who never needed to play Czerny, or any other excersises):
Bach French suite no5, Chopin Etude op.10/1, , Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody no.12.
 the same student next semester:
Beethoven Sonata Op2. no3 1st mvmnt, Ravel Scarbo. Concerto division: Prokofiev, Concerto no.3
Next year his program included Balakirev Islamey, Feux Follets, Chopin Scherzo no1, etc.

Another student at age 13:
Bach English suite no.2, Chopin Ballade No.3, Concerto division: Rachmaninov Concerto No.1 
Next year her Concerto was Chopin 2nd complete.

Another student at age 12:
Beethoven Sonata No.5 complete, Liszt Etude Un Sospiro, Concerto division: Saint Saens Concerto No.2 1st mvmnt.

All of them were "normal" kids, i.e. neither was a prodigy. All of them played absolutely professionally--both, technically and artistically.

Right now I  have a kid who has been taking lessons for a year and 8 months (with about 3 months break, when I was concertising). He is quite a slow learner and not extremely advanced. At the moment, there are no ready to perform pieces, but if you are interested I can audio record his next lesson--C# Major in tempo, 4 octaves, including contrary motion (BTW, this is his last sharp scale-next minor and flats), and couple pieces--Burgmuller The Chase, and Tchaikowski Polka (the rest of the pieces are way to fresh). No idea if and how he will be prepared for the lesson, but even with all mistakes it is possible to get a sense.

Best, M

Marik,

We are talking about completely different subjects!

Recently I met with my former classmates from Music College and conservatory. Many of us were winners of different piano competitions, some of us were extremely  promising pianists, playing wonderfully. Only few now stayed in music, even less then few performing. They try to survive by doing different things: selling real estate, becoming programmers, and playing in restaurants.

In order to keep trade flourishing there has to be 2 notions put together:
I CAN and I WANT. 

Today we mastered skills how to work with those who 'CAN', but society does not give the motivation to be 'I WANT'. Kids, who learned piano skills are not popular among their musically illiterate friends: they can't value such skills, because have no idea how to appreciate that.

Yes, I believe you: you can take some students and teach them how to play 4 octaves in contrary motion, but… With all the glory about your teaching skills what is going to happen next? Empty concert halls? Surviving on donations from rich people?

I think, today is just a time to work with masses on spreading true music literacy, when EVERY child would be able to read simple music and piano would become STARTING POINT OF MUSIC EDUCATION.

We already learned how to create winners of competitions through centuries. It is time to create musically literate armatures and listeners.

This is why I value today teachers, who can teach thousands of kids, kids with ADD, dyslexia, autism, Down syndrome, kids with poor coordination development, kids with undeveloped ear and music memory to READ and play music notation.

When music literacy would be part of everyone's life, we would reach the goal:
Students who CAN would WANT TO
Students who WANT TO but CAN'T would be able to

Enough already about personal achievements of teaching 13 students even though beautifully. Let's look outside the box and face the reality.

Best, Musicrebel4u

[jlh]

Wow!  After only 10 (TEN!) months of lessons that 3 year old can read music on a pentascale?

In only 5 minutes time I was able to teach my 4 yr old niece "Mary had a little lamb" with simultaneous 3-note chords for I and V in the LH... she had never had any music lessons prior to that and she played it flawlessly.   

[musicrebel4u]

Wow!  After only 10 (TEN!) months of lessons that 3 year old can read music on a pentascale?

In only 5 minutes time I was able to teach my 4 yr old niece "Mary had a little lamb" with simultaneous 3-note chords for I and V in the LH... she had never had any music lessons prior to that and she played it flawlessly.   

https://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=2538155&nav=3dg9StYX Click inside the box OUT ON THE PORCH

[pianowolfi]

Tue music literacy doesn't mean to play only notes. I am doubting your system because it distracts from the music imho. Mind you I say "doubting" not "judging"

[musicrebel4u]

Tue music literacy doesn't mean to play only notes. I am doubting your system because it distracts from the music imho. Mind you I say "doubting" not "judging"

When child just learning how to read and to put letters together, he/she doesn't hear what he/she reading.

When I was just learning how to drive a car and didn't know at what mirror to look, when to push gaz or break, I couldn't enjoy the veiw outside the window.

'My system' - is just ABC in music reading: I didn't change anything in music notation, but color coded it for beginner's eye to instantly catch a note, a key and to se their relation. I developed gradual way from ABC to 'picture book' format, after that to 'chapter book' format and to develop eyesight of learner to see music notation the way it originally written.

While building coordination and ability to read students go through many music pieces and it drastically develops their music ear, music memory and technique. From quantity to quality.

If to learn music pieces bar by bar and inforce 'perfection' without collected in cortex music material we may train a student to play one piece at a time  may be beautifully, even maybe perfectly, but many students burn out after such training and lose interest to learn more.

Many of you confuse our invention with style of teaching. We just made process of understanding notation faster and more enjoyable, like ABC or picture books

[pianowolfi]

Many of you confuse our invention with style of teaching. We just made process of understanding notation faster and more enjoyable, like ABC or picture books

That's exactly what I'm doubting. You can't separate learning notation/reading from teaching- style/ teaching music. It's the same with the often criticised separation between "technique" and "music". If you focus only on reading/notation you ARE already teaching in a certain style. And it will have an influence on HOW your students play.

[musicrebel4u]

That's exactly what I'm doubting. You can't separate learning notation/reading from teaching style/ teaching music. It's the same with the often criticised separation between "technique" and "music". If you focus only on reading/notation you ARE already teaching in a certain style.

There is no separation indeed, because when my students learn difficult for coordination piece, I give them more elementary notation that doesn't take their mind off coordination development. When they deal with pieces that is not hard for their coordination, I give them original notation.

The difference is: I have tool to provide a healthy balance between coordination and reading development.

In 16th century, when we taught kids to read with Bibles, we also had to do everything perfect from scratch, because they learned upon their muscle memory and if they learn something wrong way, it would stay forever. Now we see that when kids read a lot of text, they are not developing any 'wrong habits'.

Look at the video of the guy who never took piano lessons and taught himself to play from reading. Isn't it a proof that technique could be developed from fluent reading as well as understanding music as art?

After all, students come to us with desire to be able to be free in exploring any music notation by their choice - not to become consert pianists for the sake of their teacher's glory

[thierry13]

Music rebel, your system sucks, your students suck, all their videos suck, your attitude sucks... you suck. Stop bothering, you won't sell your product to anybody who has decent talent. Go teach hopeless people and stop bothering serious musicians.

[musicrebel4u]

Music rebel, your system sucks, your students suck, all their videos suck, your attitude sucks... you suck. Stop bothering, you won't sell your product to anybody who has decent talent. Go teach hopeless people and stop bothering serious musicians.

Take it easy 
Let serious musicians communicate!
In case you would have another urge to insult someone on the Internet, there is a nice exercise:
lay down on the floor, screem and bang your head against the concrete. It helps, I think 

[Petter]

your attitude sucks...

And he jumps on the bandwagon....I must agree your attitude is slightly better, yes.

[thierry13]

And he jumps on the bandwagon....I must agree your attitude is slightly better, yes.

Hey, I'm not the one trying to sell something here. Also, particularly this post infuriated me :

blah blah blah
we have to teach kids to learn reading with Bible
science of perception does not matter

What a b*tch!! He's telling her an honest opinion, wich is not far from being objective truth, and she just says "bla bla bla"! She reminds me of pianovlog and Richard Kastle. Trying to sell their crap and then insulting people who tell them what their product actually is. Get down to earth and keep your ego to what it should be.

[m]

Yes, I believe you: you can take some students and teach them how to play 4 octaves in contrary motion, but… With all the glory about your teaching skills what is going to happen next? Empty concert halls? Surviving on donations from rich people?

My teaching has nothing to do with concert halls. I don't teach my students to become concert pianists. All I want them is to become educated people, who can express themselves through a  certain media, in our case--piano.

I think, today is just a time to work with masses on spreading true music literacy, when EVERY child would be able to read simple music and piano would become STARTING POINT OF MUSIC EDUCATION.

We already learned how to create winners of competitions through centuries. It is time to create musically literate armatures and listeners.

Here I have the same reservations as Pianowolfi, but on the other hand:

This is why I value today teachers, who can teach thousands of kids, kids with ADD, dyslexia, autism, Down syndrome, kids with poor coordination development, kids with undeveloped ear and music memory to READ and play music notation.

Indeed, I cannot teach thousands of kids--even after 20 a week I am completely pooped--for me teaching takes way too much of mental and physical energy.

On the other hand, I understand your point here and believe if you started with this part, instead of accusations of us doing wrong; posting NUMEROUS examples, which as I said do not look particularly exciting, and which after awhile started being quite annoying; posting reviews from the people nobody knows here; pushing hard your "oysters", ignoring perfectly legitimate questions and concerns, shutting people up and providing very doubtful reasonings... if you would've been straight from the beginning, then there would be quite a good chance you would not have met such resistance and distrust.

That said, as funny as it might sound, I actually might be interested.
I am on the board of directors of a non-profit project, which involves providing music education to minorities and kids from poor families, which includes scholarships and donating pianos to those kids. We also organize workshops and multi-discipline concerts.
I have no idea yet how it might work, what is our budget, and definitely will need to review a few other softwares on the market, but I might contact you in a future, if I may.

Best, M

[popdog]

Music rebel, your system sucks, your students suck, all their videos suck, your attitude sucks... you suck. Stop bothering, you won't sell your product to anybody who has decent talent. Go teach hopeless people and stop bothering serious musicians.

Couldn't agree more.  Exactly my thoughts...

[musicrebel4u]

That said, as funny as it might sound, I actually might be interested.
I am on the board of directors of a non-profit project, which involves providing music education to minorities and kids from poor families, which includes scholarships and donating pianos to those kids. We also organize workshops and multi-discipline concerts.
I have no idea yet how it might work, what is our budget, and definitely will need to review a few other softwares on the market, but I might contact you in a future, if I may.

Best, M

Marik, if these children are in schools, we would donate the software for such schools and I would provide training of teachers with no cost ( I always do).

[general disarray]

I must say that is most generous of you. 

(Now, these are world-class marketing skills.  Good work!)