Episode Overview

In this episode of the Piano Pedagogy Podcast, host Jacqueline Beckoff sits down with Luisa Matthynssens, the founder of Cadenza Studios, to explore the innovative teaching tool: Sound Shapes. They discuss how these magnetic, 3D-printed musical symbols can transform music education, making abstract concepts like the staff and notation more concrete and engaging for learners of all ages.

Jacqueline and Luisa delve into the practical applications of Sound Shapes, demonstrating how they can be used for everything from basic note reading and rhythm exercises to advanced chord inversions and composition activities. They also touch on the challenges of teaching abstract musical concepts and the importance of incorporating tactile learning into piano lessons.

Additionally, they discuss the power of preparation stage learning, setting the stage for musical concepts before they formally appear in method books. Join Jacqueline and Luisa for an insightful conversation about a hands-on approach to music education that promises to enhance student understanding and engagement.

Listen on Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcasting app.

Episode Notes

During the episode, Jacqueline and Luisa referenced several resources. You can find them at these links. If you purchase products using links, Defined Music Teacher may receive a portion of the proceeds.

Cadenza Studios website
Sound Shapes
@CadenzaStudios on Instagram

About the Guest

Luisa Matthynssens is an accomplished pianist and educator with a passion for composing music for student pianists. Her compositions offer students the opportunity to experience harmonically rich, melodically interesting, and emotionally expressive music at all stages of musical development. Luisa is the visionary founder behind Cadenza Studios, a brand renowned for its distinctive collections of piano sheet music and thoughtfully curated selection of original piano merchandise. She is the composer, arranger, editor, and publisher of all the brand’s sheet music collections, and the creator of Sound Shapes.

Sound Shapes: A Hands-On Approach to Staff Notation

What are Sound Shapes?

• Magnetic, 3D-printed musical symbols, including notes, rests, clefs, accidentals, and more.
• Designed with a flat back for easy stacking and manipulation.
• Created in the exact font used by music engravers, ensuring familiarity for students.
• The Treble Clef is about the size of a hand (from middle finger to wrist) and the whole note is about an inch wide.

Addressing the Challenges of Abstract Concepts

• The musical staff is a non-intuitive system, often difficult for young learners to grasp.
• Sound Shapes provide a tactile, concrete way to interact with the staff and its symbols.
• The level of precision required in staff notation is unique compared to other early learning experiences.
• Sound Shapes help bridge the gap between the visual representation of music and its aural and physical execution.

Practical Applications in Lessons

Beginner Activities

• Placing clefs on the staff to understand their precise locations.
• Using the Middle C with the built-in ledger line as a landmark.
• Arranging notes in stepwise order to understand the relationship between staff position and pitch.
• Preparation stage activities such as replacing notes with quarter rests.

Intermediate Activities

• Isolating challenging measures from pieces for focused rhythm practice.
• Visualizing intervals and chord structures.
• Constructing and deconstructing rhythm patterns.

Advanced Activities

• Exploring chord inversions and their shapes.
• Working with complex rhythms, including 16th notes and beyond.
• Composition and arranging exercises.

Key Teaching Philosophies

• Preparation Stage Learning: Introducing concepts gradually before they formally appear in method books.
• Multisensory Learning: Engaging touch, sight, and hearing to enhance understanding.
• Breaking Down Complex Concepts: Separating musical elements (rhythm, pitch, notation) to isolate and master each one.
• The Importance of Touch. Sound shapes bring the missing tactile element to staff notation.

The Sound Shapes Advantage

• Sidesteps issues that arise when students are asked to draw the symbols.
• Allows for the physical manipulation of music.

Episode Recap

This episode of the Piano Pedagogy Podcast highlights the innovative potential of Sound Shapes to transform music education. Jacqueline and Luisa's conversation demonstrates how these tactile tools can make abstract concepts more accessible, engage students in a multisensory learning experience, and enhance understanding of musical notation and theory. By incorporating Sound Shapes into lessons, teachers can create a more interactive, engaging, and ultimately effective learning environment for students of all ages and skill levels.

Join Jacqueline next time for more valuable insights and expert advice on all things music education. Share your thoughts and experiences with teaching staff notation on the Defined Music Teacher Facebook page.