Curriculum choices for musicianship

[jeffreyclong]

I am about to begin teaching piano for the first time.  I have been a music aide in a high school for 8 years, and a 5th grade general music teacher for 2.  

one of my passions in teaching music is to teach from a quality, classical repetoire early and to emphasize musicianship and phrasing from the begining.  many of the teachers i've observed teach a block format, where they focus on notes first, and dynamics next, and phrasing, etc.  

what texts would you recommend to use for this.  the focus on most begining piano books seems to be on notes.  but i assume there must be texts out there that focus on simplified versions of classical songs to build a vocabulary of melody and emphasize the entire line rather the individiual notes.  

thank you for your help.  

jeffrey c. long

[DepravedPianist]

Well I don't know the practicality of my advice, seeing that I compose quite a bit.  But simply put, I would parouse the local music store, purchase a copy of the piano methods that look good to you, and compose your own teaching method based on them,as well as the methods you were personally taught.

To me music methods are all rather useless. Think of it this way. We all have studied the Piano for years, learned all of it's many faces, colours, tricks, and of course difficulties. Not only have we learned the piano soley from a individual stand point, we have; as well, learned of the difficulties others have faced. This coupled with a little creativity is more than enough to teach piano. (yes, I will acknowledge that many pedagogy students would disagree, as they probably were trained to do; I was.) Look inside of yourself, and unearth all of those internalized thoughts that you had while you yourself were taking lessons, and be free from the thousands of methods marketed by capitalist fat cats. Do you think Czerny taught Lizst from such and such's piano method; Hell no!

Dare to do things different!?

Other than that little outburst of opinions, I would say that the best book a teacher of the piano could have is written by Abby Whiteside. It is called "Indespensables of Piano Playing." This book is all about the importance of teaching the piano on the basis that a fundamental rythm is soley responsible for any good piano performance.

Go for it, just learn to love, and love to give.

DepravedPianist

[musikgeek]

Jeffrey,

Try taking a look at the Bon's Way Program.  It's base on the same methods used by the great masters of Europe and dates back to Chopin and Lizst

www.musikgeek.com/fastrak1.html