Tonal Discrimination Activities offer the opportunity to hear two tonalities “next to each other” in sound, so they can be compared. A child learns to distinguish one color from another by comparing them next to each other and discovering the unique characteristics of each. Similarly, a child will compare tonalities “next to each other” in sound and discover the unique characteristics of each. Tonal Syllables reflect, represent, and reinforce those differences in sound. Tonal Discrimination Activities are set up as a “game,” in which the sound itself, rather than verbalization, directs the child throughout the various examples. A child cannot compare sound examples through words used to instruct, as the task is an aural comparison. It is the sound of the tonalities, back to back, that will teach the child “how to play the game.” It is not important that the child learn the names of the tonalities or what makes them different. Rather, Tonal Discrimination Activities guide the child to hear that the tonalities are different from each other.
