Method Series "Piano Town" from Keith Snell/Kjos

[ptmidwest]

Any opinions? 

[penguinlover]

I just got a sales brochure in the mail on this, and I was wondering about it too.  It looked interesting, but I don't have all that money to just try it.  I went to the web site, and it wasn't much help.  Has anyone used it out there? 

[jpianoflorida]

can you give us the link to the website?

[penguinlover]

Here it is:   www.kjos.com  have fun!

[ptmidwest]

I have used the primer, first, and now second level books (lessons book and performance only)with just three beginners.

As the teacher, I enjoyed something new for a change, and it seems quite sound. 

All three kids are still attracted to their books, and all three are doing exceptionally well, but of course, they also happen to be three very good practicers.  (I do supplement quite a bit, so these books comprise less than 50% of their materials.)

[amanfang]

I haven't done much out of it - I think good training depends more on the teacher than the method.  I had a transfer student who began in this method.  He could not play anything out of a "C position" or "G position."  If something was, for example, in an e minor 5 finger pattern, he could use "C position" (because finger 3 ALWAYS goes on E) and just extend 5 to get the A and B.  I "fixed" (although we're still working on it) it by having him learn 5 finger patterns in every key, and of course by this point, reading has extended out of 5 finger patterns.  Anyway, I could see that being a pitfall of the method. 

[ako]

I have been using the method for 4 of my students. One started out with the method and others transitioned into it (transfer students). They are all doing quite well. I noticed that the student who started with Piano Town did ask "what position is it in?" often when reading a new piece. However as soon as I asked her to tell me instead, she quickly found her notes. Also, she reads much much better than the other students who started out with a different method (I started her older sister with the Alfred Older Beginner series).  So I do not think "position" should be a problem with the proper guidance. I do know the writers of the series and I trust their pedagogy methods as I have very positive first hand experience with them.

[ptmidwest]

Thank you, Penguinlover, jpianoflorida, amanfang, and ako, for your helpful responses.   Two teachers here are pretty revved up about the series, but they are newer than the books are. It's helpful to have another teacher's viewpoint.