Michael Aaron Piano Method

[rgh55]

Has anyone used this method for teaching? What are your thoughts?  thanks!

[nanabush]

Primer book (red book):

This book is all hands separate (interchanging hands in later pieces), and focuses heavily on a few 'hand positions'.  I've found that it doesn't do much as a stand alone book, even for 4-5 year olds, because half way through they start sight reading everything.  It would make a good 'on the side' book if they had a different method book, or even a theory book.  One thing that I'll give it, though, is that I've never had a student be discouraged from the difficulty with anything from this book.  DON'T use it for anyone older than 6-7, they'll think you're treating them like a 3 year old.

Grade 1 (blue book):

This one is good, other than a few songs that seem out of place difficulty-wise (sandman's lullaby is hands together in an open C position, and freaks a lot of kids out).  It's got some little note naming theory, scales in the back, and shows a lot of little details such as accidentals, staccatos/accents, phrasing, etc.  A lot of method books skim over these, but in this book, because it comes up enough, it's easy to reinforce these details.  Some of the songs have a lot of repetition, so kids stop reading the music; what I do here is add my own dynamics so that they still have to look at the music.  This one is MUCH more useful than the primer book I find, and is often the FIRST book you can use for anyone from age 7-8 until around 10-12.

Grade 2 (orange book):

Don't use this one.  I think they got lazy, because this is the exact same (other than minor things) as the adult book 1.  I had one kid try this book out a few years back (he was 9, and had finished the blue book), and he hated it and found all the songs too tough.  

Even as an adult book 1, this book is TOUGH.  It introduces compound time in only a few weeks, and at that point the students are still getting used to note values.  If you trust your student will practice during the week, they'll probably be able to handle it.  If they always look like they're sight reading on the spot, grab the Alfred adult book - it's MUCH easier, and gets them playing stuff they recognize while reinforcing fundamentals.



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So, the red book is pretty good as easy-ish, sight reading style material; it would be best to pair it with another book.

The blue book is quite useful, but some pieces you might have to come back to later; also at the VERY end, the kid might run out of steam, and will be sick of the book altogether.

The orange book is bad.  The adult method is also equally as bad UNLESS the adult is very dedicated (not a lot of adults have the time to really grind these pieces out).  It doesn't really stick with many hand positions, and the student will have to become good at scales VERY quickly in order to be comfortable with 90% of the stuff in this one.




Anyways, there you go!  Blue book for the win!


*** one thing I'd like to add.  The later adult books have some standard classical pieces, and wouldn't be a bad choice to pick up for a more experienced student.  You'll see a lot of Heller, easier Beethoven, Burgmuller, easier Chopin, Czerny, and other stuff like that.  The problem is that these books escalate too quickly for a brand new beginner to appreciate.  My grandparents had the level 3 and 4 of these, and when I was younger, and had been taking lessons for a few years, I liked poking through them and finding some different stuff to play.

[rgh55]

Thanks very much!

[arensky]

I use the primer for beginners age 7-8 and younger. Nanabush correctly points out that it's almost too easy, but it gives the kids a feeling of accomplishment. Most of them finish the book in a couple of months being able to read music and learn the last few pieces on their own while starting the Alfred method Book I about halfway in. In contrast I find that the succeeding volumes in the method move too quickly for most young people today (I think the kids of the 1940's probably had longer attention spans and learning capabilities). I've had the most success with this primer than with any other.