“The sine qua non of reading music is a quick recognition of the written sounds in relation to the keyboard; an unhesitating obedience of the finger to the eye; an obedience so unhesitating and complete that the action of the two is almost simultaneous.” Mrs. Curwen.
We’ll review how Mrs. Curwen shows us how to accomplish this with our students.
Throughout Mrs. Curwen’s book, you see “N.B.” in various places. This is Italian for Nota Bene. It means to take note. She is marking sometime as significant. She wants me, as a piano teacher, to stop for a moment and read carefully.
Here’s a growing list of notes I’m finding as I go.
Mrs. Curwen has specific instruction for how to start a beginner piano student. She lays out five lessons that she refers to as the Preliminary Course. The child needs to investigate and discover for himself the elementary facts of music.
“Mrs. Curwen’s Child Pianist method is worked out, with minute care, upon the same lines; that is, the child’s knowledge of the theory of music and his ear training keep pace with his power of execution, and seem to do away with the deadly dreariness of ‘practising.'” Charlotte Mason
Rote playing is simply playing by imitation and repetition. As a piano teacher, I’d sit by a student at the piano and play a simple tune. I would not use music in front of me. The child would listen and watch me play. After watching and listening, the child would repeat what I just played.
Mrs. Curwen is Annie Jessey Gregg Curwen. She is the daughter-in-law of John Curwen. John Curwen happens to be the man that made sol-fa famous (Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti, Do).
“Do tell me who taught you to build your nest,” entreated the thistle, half expecting to give offence, yet wishing to ask the question. But no offence was taken, and the rook, after an instant of grave consideration, replied, “Why, you see, I understand it all, for I am what is called a genius.”