The Tobin Music System
“All children could be musically literate by the age of 8”

Sadly the vast majority of children in the UK are musically illiterate when they leave school. Anyone who knows about the Tobin Music System realises that this could be overcome so easily by implementing the system as part of the national curriculum for music. This ingenious system has been designed, trialled and perfected over many years to empower all teachers to deliver high quality classroom music lessons for little expense. Teachers do not have to be instrumentalists and the whole system can be delivered with the use of classroom percussion instruments. Each concept is presented in a way which allows even the youngest children to read and write music with a true understanding.

More and more people are learning about the system and the recent production of a DVD has received the endorsements from high profile musicians like Dame Evelyn Glennie and Trinity College London. Music literacy is regarded as something that is only accessible through private or small group tuition yet there is a home grown British invention that challenges that belief and successfully banishes the elitism in music education. Many people ask ‘Why on earth is this brilliant system not in all of our schools?’ The answer is that one woman has tried to raise awareness and although her dedication and commitment are remarkable she needs the support and backing on a national level. Some teachers and lecturers simply can not believe that music literacy for all is possible and will not even look at the system because it presents seemingly difficult concepts in a totally different way.

It is a common misconception that the Tobin Music System uses colour purely as an aid to read notation. Upon seeing a Tobin Music class teachers and parents realise the system is very well structured and develops all aspects of musicianship. The effects are far reaching and colour is only a part of this logical and innovative system.

There is a great deal of research claiming that music helps to improve numeracy and literacy skills. This is evidently true when you see children learning about rhythm the Tobin way. They learn about note lengths in the very first few classes and readily understand and manipulate duration whilst learning all about fractions. The advantages of colour, shape and pattern are vast; the young child enjoys the visual stimulation and interactive possibilities; even the first lessons encourage children to develop key literacy skills. For the teacher it is easy to present a new concept and to show the many patterns through coloured mnemonics which constantly nurture musicianship and cognitive thinking in equal measure. Children are soon able to compose their own meaningful pieces.

These are concepts that the majority of secondary age children do not understand so people find it staggering to see infants reading and writing music so confidently, equal to that of music GCSE students. Music literacy is a wonderful gift to give a child and if it can be part of their lives in early years the benefits are infinite.

www.tobinmusic.co.uk
TEL: 01279 726625
Email: Candida@tobinmusic.co.uk

Benefits of the Tobin Music System

Truly progressive and thorough - The Tobin system allows children to practise a skill many times but always in an interesting way so the child is absorbed and on task. The method has been planned and documented to cover all aspects of music making; reading, writing, listening, composing, performing, singing, harmony and so much more.

Promotes literacy and numeracy skills – The rhythmic and cognitive thinking skills developed through the system help to accelerate a child’s ability in maths, reading and writing. Primary children can compose music that GCSE music students would be proud of whilst the holistic approach makes music relevant throughout the curriculum.

Compliments Wider Opportunities – Once children have developed music literacy skills they can go on to learn any instrument as part of a whole class or individually; the system includes a recorder, piano and guitar method. Being musically literate puts children at a significant advantage when embarking upon instrumental lessons.

It is not expensive - It is not necessary to buy expensive orchestral instruments to implement the system; classroom percussion, shapes and colours will enable every child to understand music. This means that all children can be musically literate rather than the privileged few.

Enjoyable - Children of all ages love learning music this way because the lessons are appealing and promote confidence. It is suitable for 4 year olds all the way up to A level students. The method is child friendly because it is attractive to the eye and completely logical but also covers advanced concepts that people of all ages can enjoy.

Suitable for the non specialist - Most primary school teachers have little or no musical training and lack confidence in teaching it. The system has been designed so that the non specialist can deliver music to the highest level using simple and cross curricular resources. Many people think that reading music is complicated and difficult; the use of colour means that the patterns in music can be instantly seen. The system makes music easy and enjoyable to teach.

Composing with awareness - When teaching composition it is wonderful to see the children’s reactions; they can see and hear that what they are doing sounds GOOD! Many teachers think that passing notes and auxiliary notes should be left for advanced theory grade or A level studies; in reality infants can use them perfectly in their own compositions.

Children can internalise sounds - At every stage of the system children are able to develop their ‘thinking voice’. This is a crucial skill for any musician and helps with composing, sight reading, sight singing and score reading. As children progress through the system they can happily sit and compose and know how it sounds before hearing it played.

Builds confidence - The learning process has been designed so that children do not ever feel that something is too tricky or that the new work seems unconnected to what they have previously learned. They will happily sing individually and with good clear tone.