Thank you! For starters it's not a white lie nor a lie in any sense of the word. I have no need to prove I'm friends with her (and surely not to the likes of this clown), or anyone else, nor will I drag her name into this.

Gotta love google!! I can't help it if you use your real name for everyone to see.

What kind of personal life can be googled? Surely that means it's public?

hey Kenny, if Angela really is your friend I'd be worried about her. Who writes that kind of stuff to a "real" friend?! You sound more like an obsessed fan, asking to go on tour with her!!

As for your original claims, let's get back to the topic at hand. Explain to me why sight-reading is more important than playing by ear.

I'm still waiting to hear you play a jazz standard... pick one, it can't be that hard.

You're a complete moron. I think we ALL should be more worried about idiots like you after what I found in my inbox from you which was....so everyone knows......a note from Wizard with my name, address and phone number and a note asking for a piano lesson. Gee, who's the stalker??? I'm removing myself from this site altogether, since I've seen nothing here but drivel and b.s. from the likes of this clown and a few others.

Hahahaha, man you crack me up!!! Hey, you yourself had to post your name, address and phone # online for people to read it. I just happen to find it.

You brought this upon yourself, attacking and questioning my musical background and then not being able to back up a word you said.

Sir, I'll be laughing at your clown face as I close the door. That post on Angela Hewitt was hilarious!! Such devotion. If you need her number, don't be afraid to ask! So, can I still have that piano lesson?

You seem to think that competent musicians can't just look at a score and hear it in their heads. I certainly can, but perhaps you can't and that's where your confusion is coming from.

I never said that, I can read a score and hum the melody, but I much prefer to actually hear the music. You get more feedback than notes on a page, like the texture, mood, emotion, phrasing.

Jazz musicians transcribe all the time, where they listen to a song and write it down. That's just the reverse process.

Depends what you mean by "actually hear", doesn't it. A trained musician may hear more in his/her head reading from a score than another person might on listening to a live performance.

But regardless of that, I wonder why you feel the need to turn this thread into a jazz vs classical sort of rant, an ear vs reading rant. Most (but not all!) the teachers posting on this board teach classical piano, for which reading music is essential, sooner or later. But to assume that therefore they don't play by ear, that they don't teach playing by ear, that they can't improvise ... etc etc ... is just silly. How would you know what we can do?

I can't believe the direction this topic has taken.

I would close it right now except that it's a great topic.

The instigator has been sent a warning in a PM. It's up to him if he wants a vacation from the forum or not.

We now return you to your topic.

Ken

Yes guys I may have gone too far. When some stranger attacks my musical credentials and experience, and "laughs in my direction" and calls my remarks "asinine", then I will take the offensive. I'm sure many of you would as well.

Consider the matter with Kennywood closed. We can keep talking about playing by ear vs reading music.

I believe that there exists an institute for teaching to haighly gifted children, attached to the Tchaikovsky Conservatory at Moscow.

It is likely that there are professors who have worked there present today in the US. You may be able to track someone down, or contact the conservatory directly by email, to discuss the case of your student.

Perhaps there exists a similar school in the US.

The point is that there are people with a significant experience with children who show, or seem to show, exceptional capacities for learning music. You needn't be limited to the well-meaning conjectures on the forum.

Thanks for continuing on topic Carol (and Rob with the flag too). Of course you're right that reading can't ruin a student's ear and musicality, in fact reading ends up enhancing the aural imagination skills. As others have refered to, the combination of an excellent ear and excellent reading allows someone to hear a score in their head by looking at it, and also to transcribe a piece directly from the sound (without having to peck at a keyboard at all). Of course you dont have to have these skills to be a good musician, but it's interesting to realise that Carol's and rob's students mentioned are becoming that sort of musician. I would find that pretty exciting, and it's what I most try to develop in my own teaching.


I'm interested this part. What kind of resistance to reading do teachers find, and what kind of plans and books do you use, how do you get them excited and inspired to read? And do you continue to specifically put time into ear development during the new push towards reading?

Just another thought, I find the Piano Adventures theory books excellent in the way that they combine theory ear and sight reading development so well. Great for transfer students who arrive frustrated that they can't read at all, and eager to fill this gap. Are there any other series like this?

PS good nudge Ken.

And what is the Spinning Song mentioned in the OP? I don't know it. thanx in advance.

Well I don't think that's really the issue at all. We're really talking about how we can teach and incorporate both, aren't we?

Maybe others would have been offended by someone questioning their credentials and experience (which I still do, since many of your remarks have, indeed, in my opinion been asinine), but the difference between yourself and others is that others seem to comprehend the idea of opinion and one's right to it (whether they like it or not). You certainly have the right of rebuttal and by all means take the offensive, but when you cross the line and begin to incorporate invasive behavior as part of your offensive then you no longer have that right. You were completely out of line and any site/forum, etc. that you are part of I will certainly not associate myself with as I will not allow myself to be treated in this manner. Thank you to those who assisted me after they'd witnessed the childish behavior exhibited here by he whom I quote above.

We'll just call it quits here.

Ken