method books, etc

[jpianoflorida]

ok..i'm sure this has been covered over and over..but I'm new to the forum--I'm a fulltime teacher with 90 students..I use several learning methods and tailor the lessons to what I feel the student needs! With that in mind, I'm curious what methods everyone uses and why they feel what they use it best!

[pianowolfi]

90 students? good gracious!!! I use different books for every student. Some do Alfred's, some Piano Adventures, then i have a couple of different german books like Tastenabenteuer, Tastenträume, you may not know them. Some haven't got method books at all. I use to teach the first 1 or two lessons without any books, observe how the student is and the to decide what to use as method. In fact every student requires his/her own method. So you would be busy with your 90 methods . I'm not happy with most method books and I am actually unable to tell you what's the best. Sometimes dull pictures make me angry, sometimes idiotic complicated explications that are not undestandable even for adult students. Many method books have too much text written between the music that is never read by any student. i always plan to make my own method book but i didn't work it out yet. I try to find method books that don't force me to spent the half of a lesson with corrections of mistakes that are caused by the method books. One example: in Alfred's lesson book level 1A they compare legato playing with a see-saw! Who the world would play legato after having watched children swinging on a see-saw. That goes bong-boing-boom. Very smooth indeed!   So i find Bernhards Approach pretty interesting, he uses no method books at all. You may read his always very helpful comments.

Greetings

pianowolfi   

[jpianoflorida]

I like your way pianow.............   i use michael aaron, john thompson, alfred, some bastien and sometimes combine them all together ..i have had several transfer students lately that came to me from one of todays most popular methods..they were in all 4(lesson, technic,theory,peformance) and I just couldn't believe how unprepared they were to read music or approach anything other than what was in there method books.   I won't name the series but i had never used it and was surprised.

[amanfang]

90 students - just out of curiosity - are you teaching groups, or are these all private lessons?

[jpianoflorida]

all private lessons.....some are 4-5 yr olds which have 15 minute lessons after their siblings have full 1/2 hour lessons.

[keyofc]

I use Michaen l Aaron for the committed ones.  I think Michael Aaron is the best because it uses a variety of good repertoire while focusing on particular technical skills.

I use Alfred for someone I think is a slow learner.

I use Piano iAdventures for someone who loves music, and is analytical.  but whose parents do not help a lot in motivating them to practice.  I think Piano Adventures is good, but not as difficult as Michael Aaron.

I like to use the Music Tree activity book for everyone. and the Piano Adventure artistry book for them all too

I give them handouts at the first few lessons to determine which book I think would work the best for them.

If I feel like I've short changed anyone down the line,  I buy sheet music for them to use with their book.

Any thoughts?

[pizno]

I am new to teaching, but have found this universal problem among teachers that I know, who get transfer students who are clueless.  I have 2 right now, who have studied for 3 years and simply cannot read music.  WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?  They fake it, by figuring out what the melody is, and playing by ear.  I can relate- I did the same thing as a child. 

I am studying the Jane Tan, Well Prepared Pianist method - and find it to be a very complete approach.  Drills (which the kids love) are a centerpiece of this method, finding all the Ds, for instance, then all the Fs.  Eventually it will be intervals and chords.  Flashcards are a big focus, not just practicing them now and then, but making them a huge part of their assignments and lessons, so that they can actually learn to read music quickly.  I know there are many other ways out there - and I have  done a combination of WPP and suggestions from this forum.  I sometimes use other books as reinforcement.

The other part of this method is about learning to play with relaxation, and yet another is to develop the ear.  Faber and friends don't seem to touch on this. 

Pizno

[jpianoflorida]

I use Michaen l Aaron for the committed ones.  I think Michael Aaron is the best because it uses a variety of good repertoire while focusing on particular technical skills.

I use Alfred for someone I think is a slow learner.

I use Piano iAdventures for someone who loves music, and is analytical.  but whose parents do not help a lot in motivating them to practice.  I think Piano Adventures is good, but not as difficult as Michael Aaron.

I like to use the Music Tree activity book for everyone. and the Piano Adventure artistry book for them all too

I give them handouts at the first few lessons to determine which book I think would work the best for them.

If I feel like I've short changed anyone down the line,  I buy sheet music for them to use with their book.

Any thoughts?

I agree about Michael Aaron ..it may be old but it works and the students love the songs in book 2==-especially Tarantella, Movie thriller, central park, etc....   I have some students i move to John THompson book 2 if they seem to be on an advanced track, but generally i use aaron and then use alfred for older children and adults.  In fact, our school for performing arts uses the alfred adult method starting in 6th grade!

[b0mbtrack]

any thoughts on john w schaum piano course i have been learning from but not sure if these are good ones to learn from

[ingagroznaya]

One example: in Alfred's lesson book level 1A they compare legato playing with a see-saw! Who the world would play legato after having watched children swinging on a see-saw. That goes bong-boing-boom. Very smooth indeed!  

Very funny. I also "love" that page! There is a rocking chair too. My kids usually read the text while I'm explaining my own version of legato and then give me this look:" What do they/you want me to do?" I always have to give my speech twice, so "see-saw" is my favorite.

Primary Chords introduction on level 2 is insane. First primary chords and then inversions on same page. I calm my adult students: " Don't panic, it takes 5 weeks to settle ".

But what I find interesting is what sort of mistakes my students make... There is seems to be no obvious reason sometimes...Indians level 1 B. Those quarter notes with accents at the end of the first bar. You can bet your house on it. It never fails. Those are always firing as eights.