This article is based on thoughts gained from observing Japanese children, and children in countries with different living environments and learning content may show different tendencies.
Children develop at different rates, and there are individual differences in how quickly they become proficient with musical instruments. The same applies to reading musical notes and converting them into instrumental performance.
However, I’ve observed that on average, around the third grade of elementary school, or around 9 years old, children develop the ability to read musical notation and play instruments accordingly. They naturally acquire these skills as they develop, without the need for forced practice.
Therefore, for preschool children and younger, we don’t make them read musical notes. Instead, we have them learn by listening and imitating, or by watching hand movements.
After the Kitamae Festival ended, as we began moving toward the next step with new material, some children who previously relied on finger numbers suddenly started playing just by reading the notes. Sure enough, these were third-grade students.
We emphasize letting them develop naturally without putting too much pressure on them, focusing on making the learning process as effortless as possible.
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