Singing often feels like an extra skill in music lessons, especially for budding pianists. But in reality, it’s a powerful foundation for all musical development, especially for those learning piano. At Mountain Melody Music Studio, we incorporate singing into our curriculum not only because it brings joy but also because it fosters essential skills needed for musicianship. Drawing from Edwin E. Gordon’s Music Learning Theory (MLT) and the principles behind the Music Moves for Piano curriculum, we’ve seen firsthand how singing nurtures an instinctive, deep-rooted understanding of music.
Just like we need to learn to speak and understand language before we can read or write, we need to sing before we can read music. We are not teaching voice, and it doesn't matter how the singing voice sounds. It doesn't even matter if the student can sing on pitch—eventually, they will learn to sing more on pitch and sing the building blocks of music to develop an internal understanding of music.
1. Building Audiation: Hearing Music from Within
In his groundbreaking work, Music Learning Theory, Edwin E. Gordon introduced the concept of “audiation,” which is the ability to hear and understand music in the mind without any physical sound. Think of it as “inner hearing.” Singing is one of the most direct paths to develop audiation. When children sing, they’re not simply reproducing sounds—they’re engaging in the thought process that brings those sounds to life.
For young pianists, developing this inner hearing is a game-changer. Music becomes something they can hear inside long before they even touch a piano key. At Mountain Melody Music Studio, we encourage our students to sing during lessons, using their voices to connect deeply with melodies, rhythms, and harmonies. It helps them grasp not only what they’re playing but also how and why the notes fit together.
2. Instilling Rhythm and Flow
One of the key concepts of the Music Moves for Piano curriculum is the emphasis on rhythm and movement. Through singing, children experience the natural flow of rhythm in their bodies. Songs introduce them to meters, accents, and phrasing in a way that feels natural. And because rhythm is something we feel deeply, singing connects them to music physically as well as mentally.
Singing also helps children feel pulse and tempo, two essentials for rhythmic accuracy on the piano. Instead of focusing solely on finger movements and technique, singing allows them to feel the pace and timing in a relaxed, organic way. When it’s time to apply those skills to the piano, they already have a sense of rhythm that feels second nature.
3. Developing a Musical Ear
For a child learning the piano, distinguishing between pitches and intervals is crucial for success. Singing promotes ear training by teaching children to match pitch, recognize intervals, and follow harmonic progressions. In the Music Moves for Piano method, we use singing to engage children in musical conversation. They hear and imitate melodies, then build the confidence to create their own responses, which hones their ability to think musically.
When they later sit at the piano, their ear has already internalized the sounds of scales, chords, and intervals. They’re not just following notes on a page—they’re responding to the music they hear and feel.
4. Building Confidence and Expression
Singing also opens up an expressive part of music-making that’s so important for young learners. While playing the piano can feel technical at times, singing is personal and often more natural for children. It gives them a chance to express themselves freely, bringing their personality and emotions into music.
When children experience music as a language they “speak” through their voices, they bring that confidence to the piano. They’re more willing to improvise, explore, and take musical risks. This joy in expression aligns beautifully with Music Moves for Piano’s focus on exploration and play. Every musical phrase they sing is a step toward becoming a more expressive and confident musician at the keyboard.
5. Breaking the Code: How Singing Supports Music Reading
For young pianists, learning to read music can be intimidating. But in an audiation-based curriculum like ours, we don’t approach reading music as just a technical skill. Instead, we use singing as a bridge. Children sing familiar tunes and patterns, which they later recognize on the staff. Singing gives them the tools to “decode” sheet music into something meaningful rather than a string of abstract symbols.
In this way, reading becomes another form of understanding music—not just with their eyes, but with their ears and voices. This approach gives students a richer, more connected experience with music reading that feels natural rather than overwhelming.
In Conclusion: The Music Within
As Edwin Gordon showed us, music learning goes beyond replicating notes. It’s about feeling, hearing, and understanding music at a profound level. At Mountain Melody Music Studio, our use of singing in piano lessons isn’t just an add-on; it’s essential to helping students become true musicians who play from the heart. The Music Moves for Piano curriculum helps us guide young pianists to sing and audiation first, giving them the tools to express themselves on the piano confidently.
So if you hear singing in a piano lesson, know it’s a vital step in shaping a well-rounded, musically rich future for each student. Through singing, they’re not just learning to play the piano—they’re discovering the music within themselves.
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