How to Teach the Basics You Never Had?

[phil13]

I am considering teaching younger kids how to play. The problem is, I was self-taught for my first year and a half of playing, and consequently afterwards I had progressed far enough to not need to learn from the first fundamentals of piano playing- i.e. any exercise books or very basic pieces. I also do not know anything about teaching these basics to young kids, because I never went through that training myself.

Do I stand a chance? What can I do?

Phil

[pianowolfi]

I am considering teaching younger kids how to play. The problem is, I was self-taught for my first year and a half of playing, and consequently afterwards I had progressed far enough to not need to learn from the first fundamentals of piano playing- i.e. any exercise books or very basic pieces. I also do not know anything about teaching these basics to young kids, because I never went through that training myself.

Do I stand a chance? What can I do?

Phil

For me it was good to ask eperienced teachers if you could sit in in their lessons. That doesn't mean you have to copy them, but you will have a good insight in the process of teaching, the problems that come up, the subjects of teaching and so on.

[gonzalo]

I am considering teaching younger kids how to play. The problem is, I was self-taught for my first year and a half of playing, and consequently afterwards I had progressed far enough to not need to learn from the first fundamentals of piano playing- i.e. any exercise books or very basic pieces. I also do not know anything about teaching these basics to young kids, because I never went through that training myself.

Do I stand a chance? What can I do?

Phil

I guess you have a lot to read:

https://www.pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3466.msg30666.html#msg30666
(Role of a teacher)

https://www.pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2450.msg21250.html#msg21250
(Four levels of students)

https://www.pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2192.msg18542.html#msg18542
(What method do you use with very young students?)

https://www.pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2032.msg19339.html#msg19339
(Pitfalls and requirements)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2906.msg25591.html#msg25591
(Advice on a lesson syllabus)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2970.msg25991.html#msg25991
(Other areas to study to become a good teacher)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2450.msg21250.html#msg21250
(four levels of teaching: Toddler, beginner, intermediate and advanced)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2192.msg21823.html#msg21823
(How to teach very young students –  the historical method, the pragmatical  x logical method and total exposure as the best way for under-5s)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,587.msg14335.html#msg14335
(How to teach a 5-year old to read music – Candida Tobin)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,1884.msg14708.html#msg14708
(Motivating children – joining the child’s model and using other children’s accomplishments to motivate)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2047.msg16848.html#msg16848
(what to do with children crying)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2907.msg25589.html#msg25589
(how to teach chords to young children)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2994.msg26162.html#msg26162
(Teaching little brats – Bernhard’s recorder rules)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2972.msg26178.html#msg26178
(advantages and disadvantages of teaching by rote – good for the teacher)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3014.msg26427.html#msg26427
(How to deal with bad students – using the student for experiments)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3783.msg34200.html#msg34200
(how to teach super motivated students)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,143.msg35967.html#msg35967
(differences in learning/teaching children and adults)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3891.msg35968.html#msg35968
(Types of students. Good and bad attitudes displayed by students)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4020.msg36635.html#msg36635
(What to teach a 4-year old in his first lesson)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4002.msg46084.html#msg46084
(m1469 describes the philosophy of a Russian teacher – the pragmatic method and doing wrist locks on students)

Take care,
Gonzalo

[phil13]

Wow. You can say that again.

I'll have to set aside an hour or so to read all of that. At least.

Phil

[pianistimo]

the biggest thing is not to give a little one too long of a lesson.  it doesn't go over very well unless the child has been trained to sit for long periods of time.  most students at very young ages of 4-5 cannot sit more than a 15 minute lesson.  you can kind of tell when they are tuning out.

if you are really serious - i suppose several times a week lessons (as bernhard does) would be really great.  then, whatever they've forgotten can be reminded (as they probably can't take notes - and parents sometimes don't).

sometimes it's a sort of game.  to see what each child is most interested in.  some are visual learners, some auditory, some a combination - some kinesthetic, etc.  for me, the kodaly method is cool because it combines learning songs (which can be popular or modern ones) with piano method.  they sing and play and learn concepts.

other people like orff - with other instruments included.  in fact, kodaly does this with instruments too (and clapping).  maybe if you reach outside your comfort level - you will come up with a combo lesson (tuesday - songs/rhythms   thursday - piano ) where you learn to sing intervals and become accustomed to 'the joy' of music.

musicals and stuff is nice too because kids just don't like to sit and work mozart and bach over and over.  in fact, you can make instruments.  i have a couple of really great sites.  kids love crafts.  mail.  colors.  things that move.

[pianistimo]

i think i'd like to get a felt board, too - because you can teach repeated concepts to many children without having to hand over individual stuff to each one at every lesson.  and, you can make cartoon characters to help remember stuff, if you want.

workbooks?  you can make your own by just sitting down and getting creative.  a workpage of mine might have a quarter note one one page and a quarter rest on another.  since younger children can't read yet - using the number 1 to write underneath is probably better than having them write out the word 'quarter.' 

some kind of drum to drum the beat 'quarter/quarter/quarter'  and echo of student 'quarter/quarter/quarter'    this type of rhythm work and piano work in steady repetition can get a lot accomplished in a short amount of time.  they are not allowed to diverge, but must repeat what the teacher does.  a sort of 'simon says' game.

[pianistimo]

finger puppets are something else i want to try.

www.gardenofpraise.com  has some good stuff, too.  type 'piano lessons' into the search box.  it's not printing like it used to.  but, click on 'teachers' if you want - and maybe you can get some stuff by scrolling down to 'music' something or other.  i used to get exercises and flashcards here.

i can speak from experience, that parents will love it if you make them write at least their first name on their workpages.  any repetition of writing their name is good for them at this point.  tracing their hands is one project.  writing letters (dotted lines) and corresponding place on treble staff.  putting stickers of letters on the correct notes on the piano from bass to treble (starting with low A in bass).  some teachers don't like stickers.  i don't care as long as they can come off later without a lot of effort.  there must be some good kinds of 'laminate type' stickers that peel off easily. 

there was another thread about things to do to keep kids excited about music.  my daughter is most excited about getting mail.  send your students postcards of composers?  you can make lots of crafts one day /too.  maybe the song day can be a 'letter' or 'color' day as well. 

'dancing shoes' is another concept that i havent' gotten off the ground yet - but would involve something like the game of 'twister.'  in fact, you could use the twister idea floormat - but make it a long long (2-3 octaves with mid-C in the middle) keyboard (paper) and large keys with feet placements walking up and down the keyboard.  then, you could play and say a note ('A'  - play note) and then have them run to the key.  and stop on it.  later on, try to see if you can play a note and have them guess what key to stop on.

at these ages - kids love prizes, too.  even for good behavior.  one choir teacher i knew used 'good behavior bucks.'  if they were quiet the entire lesson and were able to answer questions (even if wrong answer) they got some 'behavior bucks' which were tradable on fridays (or last lesson) for pencils and erasers and little stuff.  sometimes there were big ticket items (such as a free ticket to a concert - etc).

[pianowolfi]

I guess you have a lot to read:

https://www.pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3466.msg30666.html#msg30666
(Role of a teacher)

https://www.pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2450.msg21250.html#msg21250
(Four levels of students)

https://www.pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2192.msg18542.html#msg18542
(What method do you use with very young students?)

https://www.pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2032.msg19339.html#msg19339
(Pitfalls and requirements)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2906.msg25591.html#msg25591
(Advice on a lesson syllabus)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2970.msg25991.html#msg25991
(Other areas to study to become a good teacher)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2450.msg21250.html#msg21250
(four levels of teaching: Toddler, beginner, intermediate and advanced)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2192.msg21823.html#msg21823
(How to teach very young students –  the historical method, the pragmatical  x logical method and total exposure as the best way for under-5s)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,587.msg14335.html#msg14335
(How to teach a 5-year old to read music – Candida Tobin)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,1884.msg14708.html#msg14708
(Motivating children – joining the child’s model and using other children’s accomplishments to motivate)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2047.msg16848.html#msg16848
(what to do with children crying)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2907.msg25589.html#msg25589
(how to teach chords to young children)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2994.msg26162.html#msg26162
(Teaching little brats – Bernhard’s recorder rules)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2972.msg26178.html#msg26178
(advantages and disadvantages of teaching by rote – good for the teacher)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3014.msg26427.html#msg26427
(How to deal with bad students – using the student for experiments)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3783.msg34200.html#msg34200
(how to teach super motivated students)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,143.msg35967.html#msg35967
(differences in learning/teaching children and adults)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3891.msg35968.html#msg35968
(Types of students. Good and bad attitudes displayed by students)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4020.msg36635.html#msg36635
(What to teach a 4-year old in his first lesson)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4002.msg46084.html#msg46084
(m1469 describes the philosophy of a Russian teacher – the pragmatic method and doing wrist locks on students)

Take care,
Gonzalo

HAHA, the next step in Bernhardinisation of the forum

New forumers as well as old stagers: get bernhardised NOW and you will be forgiven all your useless hanon jingling!

[bernhard]

I am considering teaching younger kids how to play. The problem is, I was self-taught for my first year and a half of playing, and consequently afterwards I had progressed far enough to not need to learn from the first fundamentals of piano playing- i.e. any exercise books or very basic pieces. I also do not know anything about teaching these basics to young kids, because I never went through that training myself.

Do I stand a chance? What can I do?

Phil

So, maybe the so-called fundamentals are not that important...

Of course you stand a chance.

Find a piece your student would love to play (this will take care of motivations and practice), and then squeeze about of this piece all musical knowledge you can (from reading music to scales to analysis). Then move on to the next piece and repeat.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[bernhard]

HAHA, the next step in Bernhardinisation of the forum

New forumers as well as old stagers: get bernhardised NOW and you will be forgiven all your useless hanon jingling!

Nah, you are just trying to christianise Bernhardism.

It is not about forgiveness.

It is much closer to Buddhism.

It is about release from suffering.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[pianowolfi]

Nah, you are just trying to christianise Bernhardism.

Forgive m... ohh!

It is not about forgiveness.

Yeah then.. ahemm...

It is much closer to Buddhism.

It is about release from suffering.

ok then let's release or st like that 

[pianistimo]

so bernhard admits to making his students suffer?  does he have a gong near the door or something?  (actually, i kind of can see it now.  the gong doorbell).

[bernhard]

so bernhard admits to making his students suffer?  does he have a gong near the door or something?  (actually, i kind of can see it now.  the gong doorbell).

Read it again.

I release them from suffering.

BW
B.

[chocolatedog]

Read it again.

I release them from suffering.

BW
B.

 

[mephisto]

What job does Bernhard have?

[pianistimo]

mephisto, do you or have you taught piano lessons?  if so, what do you think?  you must add to conversation and not just question people back and forth.  how do you teach the basics?  everyone of us comes from a different perspective.  from my point of view - i think the 'whole child' is a concept that i wish more teachers had.  including a lot of stuff that one would put under 'music teacher' and not just 'piano teacher.' 

some of my college profs. even had the courage and distinction to put elements of style into their students heads.  there is a 'proper' way that you can encourage that also allows flexibility of personality - but doesn't allow for sloppiness.  going step by step encourages the child or adult to not 'miss' anything that would be important to their progress.  of course, with adults - they read a lot.  something that a young child is not doing yet as much.  but you can encourage them to read by giving stuff that is at their level. 

[kriskicksass]

I see two ways of approaching this:

1. Teach them the fundamentals you used. Obviously you know something, especially if you weren't made to move backwards when you finally got a teacher.

2. Go back and learn the fundamentals you wish to learn, whatever they may be.

I've always seen teaching as passing on your knowledge, not necessarily giving someone everything they need to know. If what you know is enough for you, then it's probably enough for a beginning student.

[keyofc]

Phil13,
 Why not consider taking a pianio pedagogy class?  If you do, you will meet teachers at all levels seeking to improve their piano teaching.  It's a very practical class.
That is one of the best  classes I've ever had - and the best spent one.  They will cover all the basics hopefully for the first 2 years of teaching.