Essay on Teaching Piano

[ViCoNiA]

I teach Piano to a lot of students, but im doing my Diploma in Piano Teaching with the london college of music and i'm only 18 years old. Anywho, i was wondering if i could get some idea's from ye..

its a 4,000 worded essay on the following:
In the Current Market, There is much available to the Piano Teacher in the lighter and more "jazzy" styles. Give examples of this type of music for grades 1-6. Outline the Reasons for your Choice.

So what i'vecome up with so far is a decent enough intro duction in my  opinion, and im thinking of going through each student.,
eg: The Real young beginner, The Older, Serious Student, and then the Adult, and make them into their separate Paragraphs, speak of the Abilities and techniques those age groups can master, and then find music for it. Im literally going to go into music shops, see whats available, find pieces, and discuss them

Any advice? (i have no teacher for this because no one where i live can help me or is able to help me to the extent of knowing what the hell is expected of me)

HELP!

[bernhard]

This seems like a very good plan.

So what exactly is your question?

Whoever wrote the question is right: there is right now an enormous amount of pedagogical music available. The problem is to decide what is worthwhile and what is not. How much does it have to do with personal taste, and above all what are your purposes in using such material.

My own approach is twofold:

1. I am very interested in pieces that are good on their own right. Pieces that are note simply "pedagogical" pieces", but pieces that can become part of my repertory, pieces that I will not drop after learning. In other words: every piece must count. So I ask this question of myself and I ask it from my students as well: After you learn this piece, are you still going to keep playing it? Do you like it this much?

This will already get rid of an enormous amount of drivel.

2. My second criteria is: is this a piece that besides having a lot of merit on its own, will lead and prepare to the more advanced piano repertory?

A piece (or pieces) that fulfil both criteria are real discoveries, and I am always on the look out for them.

But I am afraid that at the end of the day, it is ultimatley my personal taste that will be the final arbitrer.

I hope this helps.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.