Kiddie Ear-Training

Last night, Ethan put a new ear-training exercise to the test with Julia.  After explaining what an octave means, he played a pitch on the piano.  He wanted her to match the pitch and sing it back for him; however, the instructions seemed to initially confuse Julia.

ETHAN: (playing a pitch) Okay.  So.  What did I just play?
JULIA: Uh...um...a C??
ETHAN: No, no, you don't have to try and figure out what note I played.  Just sing me the pitch.
JULIA: (looking lost, as if she had no idea how to make the same sound as a piano out of her mouth)
ME: You can sing any word you want.  Just show Daddy what pitch he just played.
JULIA: (gazing around the room nervously)
ME: Just sing "la" or something.
ETHAN: Yeah.  You can just sing "da" or "doh."
JULIA: (matching the pitch perfectly) Ginge.

We all burst into laughter.  Of all the syllables Julia could sustain a pitch on, I'm pretty sure "ginge" wasn't one we had imagined.

JULIA: What??  I didn't know what word to sing and I was looking at the Christmas tree and I saw the gingerbread ornament!!

From that point on, Julia stuck hard and fast to "ginge" as the octave ear-training continued.

ETHAN: So you matched the pitch correctly.  Now can you sing an octave above that?
JULIA: (correctly singing the higher octave) Ginge!
ETHAN: Good job!  Okay. How about this note? (playing a different tone on the piano)
JULIA: Giiiinge!
ETHAN: Good.  Now how about an octave down from there?
JULIA: Giiiinge!
ETHAN: Great job!

Before I knew it, Madeleine wanted in on the game as well.

ETHAN: (playing a pitch)
MADELEINE: (in total earnestness) Giiiinge!
JULIA: Giiiiinge!

The good news: both kids were able to match pitch and sing the octave above or below a pitch without aid from the piano.

The weird news: "ginge" remained the word of choice for both kids when identifying a pitch. 

So, all you singers, voice teachers, and choral directors: looking for a new, exciting warm-up?  Try singing scales, arpeggios, and various other melodies on the word "ginge!"  Trust us, there's no turning back!


In other news, Madeleine seems to have confused herself as to what holiday is approaching, as she drew me the following picture today:

On the other hand, she seems to have realized what Jesus has to do with Christmas, as she insisted on including her stuffed Jesus in several events today, including going to the bathroom, because it's his early birthday.  Check it out; Madeleine even ate snack with Jesus today:

I guess Madeleine decided that on Jesus' early birthday, He ought to be allowed to eat WITH her rather than be eaten BY her, as He usually is at Church Communion. 

Happy Early Birthday, Jesus!