Self-paced Theory

[fleetfingers]

Hello Piano Street.

I am considering having my students come 15 minutes earlier than their scheduled lesson time to sit in my studio and work on theory. They often do not get it done at home, and I dislike trying to enforce written homework with my students.

The idea is that they would come in quietly and work on their own self-paced theory books at a nearby desk while I am teaching the student before them.

I want to use the full 30 minutes to work on the piano . . . but I feel strongly about them doing written work. If they have any questions as they're working, we would address them at the beginning of their 30 minutes. Of course, we would periodically discuss what they've been doing and I'd check their work.

Does anyone do this or something similar? How is it going? Can anyone recommend some quality theory books that allow a student to work through them on their own?

[fleetfingers]

Something interactive on the computer would be great. Let me know if you have any recommendations for software.