Since February last year, Mr Barton has been teaching the music logic class for Seymour and District University of the Third Age (U3A) students.
Music logic challenges the way students think about reading and playing music.
“I’m not teaching ordinary music, I’m teaching something called music logic,” Mr Barton said.
“It’s particularly teaching piano music, which some people think is difficult to read, but in fact should be simple to read.
“I’ve been teaching it for 40 years and I’ve done big workshops that go all weekend and people that come who have had music experience before, and think that they can read music, their jaws just drop when they see this new way of teaching the language of music.”
Seymour resident Dave Palmer, who had little musical experience coming in to the class, has found Mr Barton’s method of teaching very helpful.
“We’re learning on the piano because, as John will say, the piano is the tool to learn on because it’s logical,” he said.
“Each time we start to learn a new thing, you tear your hair out — what little hair I’ve got left — because you think you’re not going to get it, and then, all of a sudden, it just clicks.”
Seymour and District U3A president Irene Telford began the class right at its beginning.
Ms Telford said that while she wasn’t a complete beginner beforehand, it was not exactly her area of expertise.
“I know a lot more about music and I understand more now and I’m more interested in music,” she said.
“It’s about reading music and learning to read music — that’s the thing that can be applied to all sorts of instruments.
“There’s a lot of enthusiasm for it and it’s a lot of fun.”
From Broadford, Kay Sutton comes to the class with a little bit of musical knowledge, having been a guitarist and singer “back in the day”.
Despite her previous experience, Ms Sutton said she had become much more aware of the language of music since starting Mr Barton’s classes.
“This is completely different because (Mr Barton) has his own method, which is very hands-on,” she said.
“It’s good for your brain and it gives you pleasure seeing yourself improved and doing something new ... I learn something new every time I go.”
The Telegraph’s visit to the class came just in time for Make Music Day, which falls on Saturday, June 21, a day on which the class is hoping to have a future concert.
On July 9 at 9am, Mr Barton’s new beginners class will begin at U3A’s space in the Chittick Place building at Chittick Park.
Those new to U3A are invited for a free first session. Anyone interested should visit u3aseymour.org.au or phone 0448 153 572 for more information.
“To me, music is an important part of life,” Mr Barton said.
“If you can understand music and write your own music, it just gives you so much pleasure.”
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