Music, Methods, and Me

The notes of music are wonders in themselves. These little, round, circles, sometimes with stems and flags, are the symbols of the metaphysical scales of tones that surround us. We must realize the infinitude of these note symbols. Like numbers they live and work forever. They can be grasped out of thin air to be used for our imagination, creativity, and compositions. They are infinite, never to die. They have lived forever before, and will live forever after. It is a marvelous way to capture what we otherwise could not see, but only hear, and probably ignorantly or carelessly keep tuned out.

Someone once said that the train whistles in England tooted in B flat. She was obviously keen on the music of the world. And what notes can be used for the many other sounds that surround us? How can the waves washing the shore, or crashing over cragged rocks be expressed with note symbols on a music score? What notes does the wind's whistle use, or its rush as it bursts through all trees? And do the leaves answer with yet another stream of melodies? Has their voices been inked on paper using the symbols, named notes? Our four methods of easy composing found in this book, can meaningfully promote the capability to do so.

Nature sings to us through bird songs, thunder clashes, lightning flashes, roaring lions, barking dogs, meowing kittens, all with different tones and pitches. Do we hear them, and their music? Let's find how to catch and understand their music. In a unique way we try with the E-Z "Notation Through Rhythm" Methods of Music. And so we have included eight sets of the same puppet-doll incentive to music awareness. Familiarity with the colorful individuals who have journeyed from the Music Rainbow means familiarity with music notation in a fun, yet effective method for motivation and learning retention. Puppets are recognized teaching tools. Sesame Street proves that, and alphabet puppets have been useful. Why not have Music Puppets each with the letter names of a food, and each portraying an individual personality characteristic. We believe them to be so important we have included three sets.

B. Nelson