Teaching Technique

[keyofc]

How do you teach technique and when do you start making it a priority before you go to the next piece with a beginner?

[hyrst]

Hi,
Do you mean teaching how the hands are to be used rather than focusing on note reading? 

I work with the two aspects simultaneously now - from the first time a student touches the piano, showing them hand position (using the 3 black keys in the middle) and beginning finger independence (exercising different finger patterns) at the same time as teaching note reading.  So we do some exercises from memory from the very beginning, but I don't expect young students to concentrate on note reading and hand position at the same time - I usually give a few months here, and always give time to incorporate a new reading pattern and a new technique (one focus at a time until each is understood).  (I am learning and changing how I do things all the time.)

I also am experimenting with introducing exercises for chords, leaps, two note slurs / lifts, octaves, etc right from the very beginning - long before reading them.  It seems to be working with preparing students for the reading to come and they seem to find it fun.  Many start exploring the keyboard more when they know how to do things like this.

But, it varies for each student - how particular I am  and when I work with a certain skill.  For example, I have one girl (just turned 5) who is showing amazing potential.  I am very particular with all little details when I teach her becuase I think she could be a true performer - she is totaly gifted.  On the other hand, I have older students who play for fun and I let more things slip by - making comments every now and then.  I work with my own intuition about what they are ready for - I don't want to overwhelm but I don't want them to be slack either.

[keyofc]

Hyrst,
Yes, that's what I meant - how to use your hands as opposed to note reading, rhtym values, etc.
I have a new student only five years old - (it's been a while since I had such a new beginner) and I don't want to overload her.  At the same time - I've learned a lot about technique in the last few years and don't want her to miss out on learning technique early.
Thanks for your thoughts and sharing how you approach it.

[ramseytheii]

Hyrst,
Yes, that's what I meant - how to use your hands as opposed to note reading, rhtym values, etc.
I have a new student only five years old - (it's been a while since I had such a new beginner) and I don't want to overload her.  At the same time - I've learned a lot about technique in the last few years and don't want her to miss out on learning technique early.
Thanks for your thoughts and sharing how you approach it.

Some methods start by having the student play whatever on the keyboard, all over the place, to get a physical sense of the hands in motion.  I used to do this too until I found it just too aimless a way.  I really recommend finding a good method book and following the progression of elements, and along the way, be corrective.  It won't mean a lot for you to explain technique to a 5-year old in an abstract way, or to give her tools she can't use.  Only correct her where she does something improper, and the technique will be formed naturally.

Walter Ramsey

[pizno]

This is only from my 5 months of teaching - but right from the beginning I teach how to travel on the keyboard, by picking up from the wrist and letting the fingers hang, getting to the new place to play before actually playing.  I do exercises that just go 1-2-3-4-5 and let the wrist form a smile, I do two note slurs, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, etc,  with a down up action.  The pieces that I give reinforce this, too.  I teach wrist staccato pretty early, like bouncing a ball, and have them do exercises.  At the same time, we're doing a lot of flash cards and rhythm drills.  Then I try not to do too many things in the middle C position - so that they don't get stuck there.

Pizno

[pianowelsh]

Before they start their first piece!!! I go through the fundamentals of how we make sound (take the piano apart) everything we look at from then on is related to how we physically make the sound we NEED to make.