At Portzline Music Academy we focus on the total musical experience in training your child.  In our approach to piano teaching, this means that the student does far more than simply learn to play the piano.  He or she is learning many diverse musical skills that apply to all musical activity that may be pursued in the future.  The emphasis is on developing total musicianship, which includes ear training, singing in tune, rhythmic development, tonal and rhythmic pattern recognition—both aural and visual– listening skills, and music appreciation.  Our graduates do not just “push buttons” when playing their instruments.  They hear, feel, experience, and understand the music!

In our children’s music classes students are taught not only to sing and to listen to music, but are taught many skills designed to prepare them for a lifetime of informed musical enjoyment.  Children begin by experiencing music through listening and singing.  Musical elements such as rhythmic and tonal music patterns are identified to develop tonal recognition and rhythmic feel and to prepare for the eventual reading of musical notation.  Concepts are reinforced through fun music games and playing simple classroom percussion instruments.

As the child progresses he or she becomes more and more prepared for future training with musical instruments, solo vocal and choir experiences, dancing to music, and enjoying the best quality music throughout their lives. To summarize, this musical foundation is indispensable for success in future music learning and other musical experiences!

Alan and Diana’s rich musical background has been indispensable to their teaching.  Their influences include many prominent music educators.  Several are listed below along with their particular influences:

• Zoltan Kodaly—A well-known classical composer, Kodaly is also known for his emphasis on the use of folk music and the use of proper singing skills in the music training of children.
• Shinichi Suzuki—Best known for his emphasis on the development of the ear in the training of young violinists, he has also advocated the use of folk music in his “mother tongue” approach.
• Carl Orff—Another well-known classical composer, Orff developed a training methodology focusing on basic musical elements, especially rhythm, through the use of percussion instruments.
• Jacques Dalcroze—His emphasis on the use of movement in the musical training of young children is indispensable to the teaching of young children.
• Edwin Gordon—Highly recognized music educator at Temple University, Gordon is known for his systematic approach to music training which begins with aural recognition, leading to aural reproduction, and finally to the notation of learned musical elements.

Alan and Diana have sought for many years to incorporate these ideas into their teaching of instruments and children’s music classes.  In 2001 Diana teamed up with Musikgarten, because of the excellent materials they have developed for children’s music learning, including beginning piano instruction, patterned after the above ideas.

Beginning instrumental music is ideally taught in small groups where the children can best develop many of the music skills that are so important for musicianship training.  Piano skills are practiced on an individual keyboard available with headphones to the student at class.  Private piano lessons are also available and are recommended upon graduation from the beginning keyboard classes.

Wind instruments are also best taught in small groups. Ideally, wind instruction begins with recorder where many of the technical difficulties of the other wind instruments are avoided until basic music skills are mastered, and then the student is ready to move on to many styles and genres of music including classical, popular, jazz, folk, & sacred.

At Portzline Music Academy we seek to develop the whole musician as well as focusing on a single skill, like piano or clarinet performance.  Come and visit one of our classes or contact us for more information.