Yes, I was thinking about this today. In some way I actually think M4U is correct and in some ways if she really believes that to the bone, I think she is absolutely fooling herself (and apparently others). What is not a product, and what I believe her actual purpose is in developing the system, are the principles of learning that she claims to be the backbone of her mission. There are some good points in her approach to learning in general, and I think they are points that every teacher can be honestly considering and asking themselves if they agree and if they are achieving them should they agree. However, the software and the program is indeed a product, even if it is built to support the principles of learning which are not. Where she is very wrong about it is that it is not the only way to support nor build from the principles of learning that she is supposedly advocating, and what ends up happening is that she winds up pedalling a product, based on principles that every teacher "should" and probably already is considering.
What is dangerous, I think, in life, is to become fastened so tightly to one paritcular thing that it becomes a limitation rather than an aid to progress. No matter what, even if everybody in the world were hooked on this product, it would eventually be outgrown as society progressses. In that respect, I actually feel kind of badly for M4U since it seems all of her apples are in a basket that is sure to have a limited success.
I agree with her that working on one piece for months is not ultimately productive, and I agree that the "standard" lesson formats are in many, many cases, not effecient. I agree that learning should/can be cognitive (though I do not experience it as a straight line by any means), and I agree that maintaining a point of focus is important. I also agree that any performance can be picked apart, as a matter of fact, almost anything that any of us do and say can be picked apart, but what's the point if we don't find an alternative ? What I do not agree on is that her points should be ignored just because of her approach to "discussing" them, and I do not agree that softmozart is thee way to achieve all of the points she mentions as being the purpose of the product.
For me personally, I would like to be considering what are the points and how do we go about having alternatives to something we do not agree with. That is what is missing from these conversations, and in that respect, I would not blame M4U to keep pushing. In my opinion, how society is functioning and how music is being respected are indeed not good enough. At some point(s), somebody, some people do have to decide "okay, what are the alternatives" -- I just happen to think it should be an elastically fantastic solution, and not something that ends up binding a person to it for a certain amount of time.
I am a piano teacher. I love what I do. I love the
children, I love their parents and their families, I
love the relationships I build through teaching, and I
love being able to be a part of their lives teaching
what I believe to be the single most important thing I
could teach...the gift of music.
I have recently been looking for a different, possibly
better, way to teach piano. I consider myself an
excellent piano teacher, with years of experience and
?proof? of what I do best...teaching students how to
play piano. I have always been looking for a better
method in which to teach. I became frustrated with
the current methods, which, although they are good and
sometimes effective, were not always so. I had too
many experiences with students who had been playing
piano for 3 years, but still did not read music. They
were reading finger numbers through hand positions.
It was not for a lack of trying. These students
diligently practiced. They worked hard. It just
didn?t work for everyone, and some eventually burned
out and quit. I knew there had to be a better way,
and thus began my search.
While I was surfing the internet, I came across
Hellene Hiner?s website doremifasoft.com, introducing
the ?Soft Way to Mozart?. I became intrigued. I
phoned Ms. Hiner, who answered the phone personally,
and told her I was interested in learning more about
her software. Could I come to Houston? Emphatically
and enthusiastically she answered ?YES?.
I flew to Houston in the next couple of weeks. She
and her husband Valerie met me at the airport and
after checking me into the motel (which she had
arranged herself), took me into their home and their
studio to introduce me to this amazing software.
After observing several students that first day, from
2 year olds to 45 year olds, I was more interested
than ever. Sweet little what seemed to be no more
than babies were successfully playing ?Hot Cross Buns?
with both hands. A 14 year old boy was playing the
theme from ?Harry Potter?. He had taken piano for
three months. A 45 year old mother was learning how
to play because it was her dream to learn to play the
piano, and was thrilled to be playing a Bach Minuet.
She had been playing 7 months. They were all reading
music. Yes, it was on the computer screen, but it was
some form of music. All of these students were every
day students like I have taught my whole life, from
every day families. They were not geniuses. They
were real, and they loved what they were learning.
I had several concerns going into this training. My
first one being that I was not willing to give up the
one-on-one instruction I so loved doing. That fear
was alleviated quickly as I watched Ms. Hiner teach.
The software enhances her teaching, and actually makes
it easier and more fun. It replaces the method books,
and is a wonderful teaching tool.
Another big concern I had was the keyboard. I am a
classically trained pianist, and have taught
classically for 20 years. I have a lot of pride in
what I do, and love the acoustic piano for the lovely
instrument it is. I dislike the sound of electronic
keyboards, and do not want the children to exclusively
play on them, without experiencing the acoustic piano.
I was concerned that the keyboard would not properly
train the muscles in the hands, and that the children
would become mechanical and lazy in their playing. It
was at Ms. Hiner?s Winter Recital that I got to
witness every one of her students, with the exception
of a couple of 2 and 3 year olds, go straight to the
grand piano and play for memory some amazing
literature, and play them very well. They were
playing with free hands, and some of the more advanced
students were actually figuring out for themselves
correct hand placement and correct fingering. And,
they were smiling, even through the small errors they
were doing.
While I was with Ms. Hiner, I saw her dream...to give
every child an opportunity for true music education.
To teach them how to read music. To teach them how to
sit down at the keyboard and actually play real songs.
To teach them the joy and the magic of the great
composers. To give them an alternative way that
actually works better than the age-old methods which
keep them playing boring songs in a few hand position
for years, without truly teaching them how to read
music. I saw her dream, and became infected with her
passion.
I am eternally grateful to Ms. Hiner. I am grateful
that she and her gracious husband took me into their
home and studio and lives, spent four uninterrupted
days with me, patiently answering all my questions,
helping to alleviate all my fears about computers and
keyboards, offering me unending support, and being my
mentors and friends for life. They are both true
geniuses, and their passion for their work is
contagious.
If you are a classical piano teacher with doubts,
fears, and anxiety about this program, I implore you
to think ?outside the box? and open your minds to a
new way of teaching. Ms. Hiner is not out to destroy
piano teachers. She is here to help you, to help your
students, and to introduce you to a brand new,
incredible way to teach students how to read music.
She is not out to raise piano performers. She is not
here to teach perfection in performance. She is here
to teach students how to successfully read music and
to give them an appreciation for the classics and to
have fun while they are doing it. From there,
classical musicians will be raised, for if they find
they have a true gift and love for playing the piano,
the foundation is laid beautifully.
Luanne Harms
Topic: Technology as helping tool to be honest on this forum