Working on the Variations with Your Little One

So you've been working on labeling finger numbers, and you've been playing the copy game.  You've been practicing clapping the Twinkle Variation rhythms, and you've been working on finding C.  Your son or daughter is finally comfortable with "ready-play" and springs from the note instead of hammering into it.  Congratulations!

Let's move on from one note now to starting the A section (first part) of the Twinkle Variations.  This video shows how one might go about practicing with a child at this level at home:



This child is able to keep a rhythm in his head for the entirety of the exercise.  If he were to play an incorrect rhythm (or go back to Variation A, which often happens), I would simply demonstrate for him on the note we're on and continue in the same manner.

You notice we're finding his finger number by turning our hands over - this keeps his hand position relaxed for playing.  This is the A section of the Twinkle pattern.  You probably have the finger numbers and keys notated in your notebook in the following manner:

We'll use this same pattern over and over again and your child will pick it up through the repetition and reinforcement of the sound through the CD, your playing, and his practice with you every day.