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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 21
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I found some neat little non-sticky vinyl key note labels for a piano and thought it seemed a really nifty idea. I looked around and cannot seem to find anything better than these.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290330433211&ssPageName=MERCOSI_VI_ROSI_PR4_PCN_BIX&refitem=290328717517&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&refwidgettype=osi_widget&_trksid=p284.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%252BC%252BP%252BS%252BIA%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D4%26ps%3D10
But I was just wondering what everyones opinions of these are and if anyone knows of anything better than that. I just thought it might help me learn. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!
If seeing is believing, then I'd prefer to remain ignorant.
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,163
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The topic comes up from time to time, including within the past few days in the Teachers' Forum. (What began as an inquiry about what type of stickers are best evolved quickly into a discussion of why stickers aren't a great idea.) If I'm not mistaken, the consensus here, too, is that they're not really a sound learning tool. There's really no way around getting familiar with recognizing note names by their appearance; the sooner it's dealt with, the better. I think it should be helpful to understand that because there are only seven letter names for notes, there are only seven key shapes to learn. Each of those seven white keys looks different, and yet they look the same in every octave (e.g., the white key between the pair of black keys is always a D anywhere on the keyboard). Don't be overwhelmed by 88 keys; every white key is one of only seven shapes, and every black key is named in relation to the adjacent white keys. It would really be a daunting task if it were necessary to learn the location of 88 keys, and yet even that could be possible. After all, most people learn to find the 26 letters of our alphabet on our computer keyboards without giving it any conscious thought. Before you know it, you'll be doing the same on your piano keyboard.
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Joined: Aug 2008
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Steven, theoretically there is nothing wrong with stickers except the fact that they tend not to want to come off.
I used a keyboard chart with all beginners. It's a crutch.
Stickers are crutches.
The only think that matters is GETTING RID of crutches. That means that if teacher A, using such a crutch, is able to "get the job done" quicker than teacher B, meaning get the concept across and phase out the crutch, then teacher A is doing a fine job.
However, my personal experience is that people usually have little trouble learning the letters to the keys. They have problems remembering which space or line of both clefs is linked to all keys. That's why I use a chart, my own, to accelerate the process. I tell every student that the reason for my chart is to get RID of it ASAP.
If I used stickers, my logic would be the same.
Last edited by Gary D.; 07/13/09 12:20 AM.
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Joined: Aug 2006
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I guess I should clarify that I didn't mean to imply there's anything "wrong" with stickers. I have no experience teaching, so I wouldn't be comfortable saying that. Anyway, as they say, all roads lead to Rome. My own logic (again, not as a teacher) was that it's useful, whenever possible, to break down a system that may seem incomprehensibly complex into manageable elements or its essential component parts. I wouldn't call it a revelation, but I hope my post is helpful for someone who hasn't yet pondered (1) that there are merely seven key shapes on a keyboard of 88 keys, and (2) the significance of such fundamental simplicity to one's learning curve and comfort level). Steven
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 166
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Stickers? I personally think they can deter learning. Although when my dd first started piano at 4 years old, she was given ONE sticker to put on middle C and I saw and still see no problem with that for the very youngest of piano players, but beyond that it is just a crutch that will make progressing more difficult in the long run. Just my .02
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 192
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I checked out the stickers on eBay and the most useful part was that they actually had the notations in addition to the letter name -- But I would actually make up a fake keyboard (cardboard)and put those stickers on the fake keyboard and practice reading music and memorizing the keys with the notations. One problem I see with putting the stickers on the actual piano is that then you'll have to be looking down all the time. So while the stickers will give you confidence at the beginning -- they'll create the habit of looking at your hands.
Adding to Sotto's analogy of the computer keyboard, it takes my students who have to look at the keyboard -- several hours to type up a three page paper. The students who don't have to look at the letters, finish up in about a half hour.
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Joined: Nov 2007
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I vote Bad Idea. You'll have to ween yourself off the stickers someday, and that will take longer than just learning the notes up front.
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 134
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I am in agreement with bluekeys - no stickers on the keyboard. Look at the patterns - white key in middle of two blacks = D for example. You'll find that discovering patterns of white/black keys will quickly make sense to you.
Happy practicing.
Dr. J - The More You Play the Better Your Day
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