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Introducing Real Music As mentioned in the list of SUGGESTED MUSIC BOOKS, it is good to introduce "real music," that is, music from sources besides Learning to Play Mountain Ocarinas^®, as soon as possible. Although adults or adolescents may complete the entire curriculum before playing from other sources, younger children benefit greatly from playing lots of simpler songs at each level before moving on to more complex rhythms. In general, the younger the child, the more time and practice that is required to acquire new skills. In addition, letting children pick their own songs from outside sources is both fun and motivating. The Wee Sing series, Christmas carols, and easier hymns or folksongs are all good sources of music. If they encounter a new note while attempting a song outside the curriculum, help them to use the fingering chart to figure out how to play it. Don’t be afraid to leave the curriculum for a while in order to pursue your child’s musical interests. For example, maybe your kids only want to learn Christmas carols during the holiday season in preparation for playing at a local nursing home. Enjoy the extended detour and come back to the curriculum when they are ready to move on to the next level.