| If you are considering purchasing one of the standard, | | | | series, with frankly uninteresting pieces illustrating the |
| conventional piano methods for your child and want a | | | | basics of piano. But where they shine is in subsequent |
| basis for comparison, here are some facts and | | | | volumes, wherein most of the great piano teaching |
| interesting points that may help you make a choice. | | | | pieces (Fur Elise by Beethoven, for example) are laid |
| THE BASTIEN METHOD Of the conventional piano | | | | out in order of increasing difficulty. These pieces can |
| methods, this is my favorite. Published by kjos.com, | | | | be useful for older children who are refining the basics |
| they are the standard these days that most teachers | | | | but are not yet playing easier masterpieces. |
| use. | | | | Tried and true, but a little boring and the type seems |
| The virtue of the Bastien Series books are several. | | | | very small to most kids. |
| The type is large, like a BIG NOTE book, so kids aren't | | | | OTHER METHODS There were dozens of older |
| squinting, looking for tiny little musical symbols to | | | | methods from the heyday of the piano, ending around |
| decipher. In fact many of the usual symbols are | | | | the 1960's. Alfred, Schaum, Mel Bay, Faber all still exist |
| omitted in the interest of clarity. | | | | today. |
| There are finely done color pictures, which children find | | | | The main factor to remember is this: all these |
| interesting and comforting, and can lead to a relaxing | | | | conventional methods follow the same curriculum with |
| bit of conversation between teacher and student. | | | | minor variations. All conventional piano methods start |
| The sequence of exercises is in precisely correct | | | | out the same, learning the first five white keys in the |
| order in terms of piano pedagogy: each concept builds | | | | middle of the piano. It's like teaching the alphabet to |
| easily on the last, from piece to piece. That is why, in | | | | your child: you start with A and proceed upward. It's |
| fact, piano teachers love these books, because they | | | | the same with piano, and in all conventional piano |
| can go from page to page without much effort. But | | | | methods the methodology is the same: learn the first |
| that is bad for the children, that rote approach, and | | | | five white keys. |
| these colorful books are useful for much more than | | | | Many songs can, of course, be played using only these |
| that. | | | | five white keys. For example, Jingle Bells, or Mary Had |
| THE JOHN THOMPSON METHOD This is an older | | | | A Little Lamb, Alouette and a thousand other familiar |
| piano method that perhaps your parents or | | | | songs. |
| grandparents used, but it is still popular today, exactly | | | | Our suggestion is to examine the Bastien piano |
| for that reason. Similarly, methods such as Schaum | | | | method. I use them myself in my piano lessons, after I |
| use much the same old-fashioned approach. I'll bet you | | | | have prepared students to enjoy the piano using |
| that you have a copy of one of these piano methods | | | | PIANO BY NUMBER. You can find the Bastien Series |
| in your piano bench! | | | | at kjos. |
| Thompson is a little boring in the early books in the | | | | |