Beginner pianists may or may not be familiar with piano methods – this is generally your teacher’s area of expertise. But if you are teaching yourself, or if you are studying the art of teaching piano, this guide is for you. At the very least, researching this material may help you have an educated conversation with your prospective piano instructor.
If you would like to take piano lessons in Brooklyn, or online, please contact the Williamsburg Music Studio at your earliest convenience. Our instructors have earned advanced degrees and accrued years of experience, and we would enjoy helping you.
Introduction: Why Are There Different Piano Methods?
Since the middle of the 19th century, educators have been publishing numerous “piano methods,” or literature aimed at training beginners how to play the piano. Different educators have different philosophies and experiences, and each draws from his or her own expertise when creating a method.
Some teachers prefer training students by ear, some prefer intervallic teaching, and others rely on using landmark notes. Here is a brief synopsis of each:
Learning To Play the Piano By Ear
This technique devalues the ability to read notes, and prioritizes the ability to hear tunes and harmonies. Students will hear tunes and replicate them on the piano, learn how to improvise, and later apply that knowledge to notes on the staff or chord reading. It can help students play jazz, rock or other contemporary genres fluently.
Learning Piano Via Landmark Notes
Rather than blasting the student with all of the notes at once, a teaching using the landmark method will start by teaching Middle C, Treble G, and Bass F. These notes are easy to identify, and once the student learns the five finger pattern associated with each landmark, the student will be able to play every note on the piano. You will basically start with these three notes, then “fill in the gaps” with the other notes until you have learned the entire staff.
The Middle C Method
The Middle C approach does just what it says – it teaches Middle C first, and the student learns notes working outward. In short, the student will be able to play Middle C with both thumbs. Then, the method adds one note at a time working outwards (Treble D would be second in the right hand, and Bass B would be next in the left hand).
Intervallic Reading
In this approach, a teacher will start the student on a particular note, and the student will need to look at the score to know if they are playing a third, fourth, fifth, etc. next. This teaching relationships between notes and encourages directional reading rather than processing one note at a time. It can be very helpful when it comes time to sight read advanced music.
Is One Piano Method Better Than The Others?
No, there is no definitive “best” piano method. Like most disciplines, piano teaching evolves at a rapid pace. Using an older method, like the Bastien method or John Thompson middle C method, may not be ideal since other methods (based on more research) are now available. The Faber Piano Adventures method is so popular because it combines many of the best elements of traditional methods – it is generally considered a landmark method (with its prioritization of C, F, and G), but it also teaches intervals and ear playing.
That said, the best method for you will be:
- Well-rounded, and not limited to a specific dogma
- Understood intimately by your teacher, so he or she can “fill in the gaps” with other material
- Interesting for you
Do You Have to Learn The Piano With a Method Book?
Certainly not – many students become advanced pianists without a method. However, if you are teaching yourself, you will need the guidance of a piano method. Furthermore, if a teacher does not have a significant amount of experience, they may need to use a method to ensure they don’t leave any holes in your knowledge.
In fact, most competent piano teachers use a method book with beginner students so that the student can benefit from a defined progression, homework material, and more. A good teacher will supplement this with graded literature suitable for your skill level, technical exercises like Dozen a Day, and more.
Music lessons in Brooklyn should not follow a one-size-fits-all approach, and because of that, our teachers are not tied to any particular method. Whether you are taking voice lessons in Brooklyn, guitar lessons or violin lessons, you will enjoy a dynamic mix of exercises, method materials, and “real music” to practice at home.
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