2008 Woodie Awards
Children learn keys through 'Piano fun'
Sovit Karki
Issue date: 4/30/07 Section: Entertainment
The "Piano Fun" classes, started for children ages 4-7, provide learning skills and empowerment.
The program offered at Brookhaven College, among the Dallas County Community College District campuses, has attracted parents to bring their children. Arts Academy Director Gustavo Tolosa, who has a doctorate in piano, said the classes are offered for two age groups: 4 to 5 and 6 to 7.
Tolosa said he has taught 24 years and has taught traditional lessons privately. He said the younger children are not ready to learn in the traditional way so he offered the classes in groups. Parents were present in these groups.
Tolosa said the class helps the children gain basic knowledge and develop good habits to become experts in the future.
"Our main objective is to introduce children to piano and develop correct habits," Tolosa said.
He said they teach the children to use the keyboard in the correct way with positioning and techniques. He said this creates a mental pathway for the kids and helps them consider piano as a career.
The program was introduced in January and the first session ran from January to March.
"We are in the second session and have 12 students in two different levels," Tolosa said.
He said children completing two levels can perform publicly. The classes are taught in labs and the children taking the classes should own a keyboard or piano.
Tolosa said the classes are fruitful to both parents and children.
"The parents participate in class, take notes and help the child," he said. "In this way the parent is both the assistant and the teacher."
Tolosa said the children have also developed disciplines, coordination, reading capabilities and concentration.
"A 4-year-old child is a college student since he has a college ID number," Tolosa said.
He said children completing the school music classes can take this course. The course is designed such that the child learns quickly while remaining interested. The books are colorful and the classes short, he said.
Tolosa said he is surprised to see children pay more attention and show more interest than adults. He said children learn very fast and enjoy what they do.
"They follow what I say and never question me," Tolosa said. He said adults have less coordination and slower motion compared to the children.
Seeing the overall results, Tolosa said he is planning to offer the program in summer 2007.
The program offered at Brookhaven College, among the Dallas County Community College District campuses, has attracted parents to bring their children. Arts Academy Director Gustavo Tolosa, who has a doctorate in piano, said the classes are offered for two age groups: 4 to 5 and 6 to 7.
Tolosa said he has taught 24 years and has taught traditional lessons privately. He said the younger children are not ready to learn in the traditional way so he offered the classes in groups. Parents were present in these groups.
Tolosa said the class helps the children gain basic knowledge and develop good habits to become experts in the future.
"Our main objective is to introduce children to piano and develop correct habits," Tolosa said.
He said they teach the children to use the keyboard in the correct way with positioning and techniques. He said this creates a mental pathway for the kids and helps them consider piano as a career.
The program was introduced in January and the first session ran from January to March.
"We are in the second session and have 12 students in two different levels," Tolosa said.
He said children completing two levels can perform publicly. The classes are taught in labs and the children taking the classes should own a keyboard or piano.
Tolosa said the classes are fruitful to both parents and children.
"The parents participate in class, take notes and help the child," he said. "In this way the parent is both the assistant and the teacher."
Tolosa said the children have also developed disciplines, coordination, reading capabilities and concentration.
"A 4-year-old child is a college student since he has a college ID number," Tolosa said.
He said children completing the school music classes can take this course. The course is designed such that the child learns quickly while remaining interested. The books are colorful and the classes short, he said.
Tolosa said he is surprised to see children pay more attention and show more interest than adults. He said children learn very fast and enjoy what they do.
"They follow what I say and never question me," Tolosa said. He said adults have less coordination and slower motion compared to the children.
Seeing the overall results, Tolosa said he is planning to offer the program in summer 2007.
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