Today, however, marks the introduction of a new topic for discussion:

Many popular piano methods today include (as they should) arrangements of familiar tunes for students to learn.  This is great, because many students LOVE learning how to play tunes they are familiar with!  (Side note: click here to view a post regarding some thoughts on what makes a great piano method.)  However, these arrangements sometimes present a problem:

Oftentimes in arrangements, the rhythm of the tune is altered and “simplified” in order to accomodate the rhythmic values that the student has/hasn’t learned yet.  This is all fine and dandy, but as a teacher, what do you do when a student comes back the next week playing the rhythm “wrong”?

To give one example that frequently occurs with beginner students, I’ve heard many students return playing the rhythm of “Ode to Joy” with dotted-quarter-eighth rhythms instead of playing all quarter notes (despite the fact that we sightread it together with the rhythm as written).  How do you handle this situation: do you “fix” the student’s rhythm to match what is on the page even though it goes against their intuition, or do you “let it go?”

I’m sure many of us piano teachers have been in this situation before!  Share your experiences in the comments below.

Photo Credit: Rick Harris | CC 2.0

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[Visit Q&A Forum | Rhythmic “Simplification” in Arrangements of Familiar Tunes to view the original blog post at Color In My Piano.]

Your Thoughts

Allow me to summarize some of the main points that were made in the comments:

• Choose a piano method that will give students (especially beginners) a strong foundation for the future and ensure success.
• Choose a piano method that will suite each student’s interests and taste.
• Choose a piano method that has “good” and “real” music.  (A couple of you made such references….perhaps this could be a launching point for further discussion: what does “good” or “real” music entail?)
• Don’t necessarily use the same piano method for every student.
• Be sure to supplement the method with books outside of the method, so that they are experiencing different types of repertoire.

Read all the comments for yourself here.

Your Favorites

You also shared some of your favorite piano methods in the comments.  Here are the ones that were mentioned:

• “Play Piano Now!” from Alfred publishing – for adult beginners.
• “Music Tree” – for creative and bright students; strong in theory.
• Alfred Premier – for students ages 8-11; strong in theory.
• Alfred Prep and Alfred Basic – for young beginner students (ages 4-8).
• “Piano Adventures” by the Fabers – has imaginative pieces; encourages note-reading.

My Thoughts

My personal philosophy when it comes to piano methods is that there is no single piano method that is “the best” or that works for all students.  Every student learns differently and every student has various goals, interests, and tastes in music.  Therefore, the teacher must seek to find and use the piano method that will be best for each individual student.  It is important for teachers to become familiar with the various piano methods available so that they can choose the proper method for each student.

Questions to Ask Yourself When Evaluating Piano Methods:

• Reading Approach: What reading approach does this method use: the Middle C approach, the intervallic approach, the multi-key approach, or an eclectic approach?  Is this reading approach one that you generally have success with?  Do you think this reading approach is appropriate for the student with which you are planning to use this method book series?  Is this method based upon modern research in music education, or does it seem to be outdated?
• Illustrations: Are the illustrations appealing to kids?  Are they in color or are they black and white?  Is each illustration appropriate to the corresponding piece?  Do the illustrations take up too much or too little space on the page?
• Technique: Do you agree with the technique for piano playing used in this method?  How is technique taught — are there descriptions and/or illustrations?  Is it taught in a way that even young students can understand?  Is technique dealt with only in the Technique Book, or do the other books incorporate technique concepts as well?
• Theory: How is it incorporated?  How well is it incorporated?  It is dealt with only in the Theory Book, or do the other books tie in theory concepts as well?  Do the theory activities look both fun and practical?  Do the pieces in the other books relate to / make use of the concepts being taught in the theory book?
• Creative Activities: Does the method incorporate improvisation or composition activities?  Are there other ways that the method encourages creative activities for the student, or does the method seem to focus chiefly on reading music?
• Layout: Do the pages make good use of space?  Is the print too big or small?  Are the staves/notes too big or small?
• Value: How many pages are in each book?  Do the books seem like a good value for the price?
• Organization and Flow: Are the books organized into units or sections?  Are concepts introduced in a logical progression, building upon what the student has already learned?  Does the introduction of new material seem to happen gradually or sporadically?
• Supplemental Materials: Does the method provide supplemental books that you might find useful for your students, such as popular repertoire books, Christmas songs, hymn arrangements, duet books, etc.?
• Compositional Style(s): Do the pieces sound different from each other, or do they all seem to all sound the same?  Do you think it will be necessary with this method series to supplement using books outside of the method so that the student is exposed to other compositional styles of music?  Does the method provide a variety of styles of music?  Are there arrangements of classical pieces and other well-known works?  Are familiar folk tunes included?  Are there pieces in various styles from around the world?  Are there any jazzy, bluesy, or ragtime pieces?  Are the pieces in general imaginative, artistic, and appealing to the ear?

For Further Reading

• This chart at musicedmarket.com gives a detailed comparison of five popular methods.
• This site at pianoeducation.org provides a short review of a variety of popular methods.  May be slightly outdated.
• This post at The Teaching Studio contains some additional great thoughts concerning piano methods.

Still have more to share about piano methods?  It’s not too late!  Leave your comment in the comment section below.

Photo credit: littlefishyjes | CC 2.0

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[Visit SUMMARY | July Monthly Forum: Discussing Method Books to view the original blog post at Color In My Piano.]

What do you look for in a method book?  What features are most important to you?  Do you use the same method series for all your students, or do you use a variety?  If you use a variety of different method books in your studio, how do you decide which one is right for each student?  Do you use a method series all the way through the final level, or do you take them out at some point?

Post away!  =)

Photo credit: ragingtornado | CC 2.0

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[Visit The July Forum: Discussing Method Books to view the original blog post at Color In My Piano.]

Here is the description from the Hal Leonard site:

I just ordered a copy from SheetMusicPlus.com and I can’t wait for it to arrive so I can try out all the arrangements myself!  =)

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[Visit A New Adult Student Book on the Market: “Returning to the Piano” by Wendy Stevens to view the original blog post at Color In My Piano.]

Susan Paradis from the Piano Teacher Resources blog has written has excellent review of the The Perfect Start for Piano by Kevin & Julia Olson, a series of books intended for reinforcing note-reading on the staff for beginners and elementary level students.  They look great – I love that fact that they are designed to work with whatever method books you are using with your student!  To learn all about it, read her review here.  Thanks, Susan!

The Perfect Start for Piano also has a corresponding website, theperfectstartforpiano.com, which provides additional FREE resources for the teacher and student.  Check it out and you will find:

• a variety of printable flashcards
• note naming worksheets
• audio files which correspond with the book
• and other resources, including practice record sheets, keyboard stickers, and posters to post in the studio.

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[Visit Great Resources for Teachers with Beginner Staff-Readers to view the original blog post at Color In My Piano.]

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• New Piano Method: Piano Safari

[Visit Succeeding at the Piano | Method Books to view the original blog post at Color In My Piano.]

The element that I find most unique about this series (based on what I’ve heard/read so far) is the technique exercises (suitable for beginners) which are utilized across the Musicianship and Repertoire books, and into later repertoire.  Each exercise is named in accordance with the safari theme.  An example: if you ask the student to play the “Zechariah Zebra” exercise, they would play the rhythm: eighth-eighth-eighth-eighth-quarter-quarter (think “Zech-ar-i-ah Ze–bra–” ) on Middle C, then on D, working up to G, and then back down to C.  Check out the technique tutorials they have on their website to see a this and more exercises in action!  Other exercises include: “Kangaroo,” “Elephant Stomp,” and “Monkey Swinging,” and “Ancient Tortoise.”  Just think how exciting it could to learn piano while going on a safari!

As an alternative to using the Musicianship and Repertoire books of the Piano Safari method, teachers may instead purchase the Technical Exercises and Rote Pieces book, which is designed to supplement whatever current method the student is using.  It contains all the technical exercises and rote pieces from the both the Musicianship Book 1 and Repertoire Book 1.

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[Visit New Piano Method: Piano Safari to view the original blog post at Color In My Piano.]

• Alfred’s Basic Library
• Bastien Piano Basics
• The Music Tree
• Piano Adventures
• Hal Leonard Student Piano Library

Although this chart is probably somewhat outdated (for example, Alfred has recently introducted their new Premier series), there is still valuable information to be found.  The chart compares the reading approach, rhythm/counting approach, Technique sequence, format/layout, and more.  And the chart is available for download in both pdf and Microsoft Word document form. 

Also available at musicedmarket.com:

• Some great ideas for holding a summer Music History Camp – click here

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[Visit A Comparison of 5 different Piano Methods to view the original blog post at Color In My Piano.]

I’m a huge fan of the Piano Adventures series.  The pieces in their books are so imaginative.  Have you tried them?

Related Posts:

• Q&A Forum | Rhythmic “Simplification” in Arrangements of Familiar Tunes
• The July Forum: Discussing Method Books
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[Visit Famous piano students to view the original blog post at Color In My Piano.]