Duets

Author: admin

6 Apr

I used to skip the teacher duets in my students’ method books because I thought there just wasn’t time. Recently, I’ve been making sure to play one duet per lesson. I think it is helping my newest beginners develop better rhythm.

How often do you play the teacher duets that are in most method books? Have you seen other benefits to playing duets with your students?

Filed under: Theory, Thoughts, Trial and Error Tips

5 Responses for "Duets"

Cristina April 6th, 2009 at 4:22 am 1
I try to play every duet in the books with my students (once they’ve mastered the song), for several reasons. For one thing, it’s fun. And I’ve also noticed that it helps my students with their rhythm. It also motivates some of my students to apply themselves more, since they can’t just stop in the middle of the song and fix a mistake, but have to try to keep playing. I have one student who can hardly get through a song by herself, but if I play the duet part, she can play the song perfectly!! I haven’t quite figured that one out yet…
Atara April 6th, 2009 at 6:59 am 2
Dennis Alexander said in a workshop that playing duets with beginners really helps them develop their musicality. I believe this 100% and do it all the time! Also, working with MIDI’s helps this as well.
Heidi April 6th, 2009 at 11:45 am 3
There aren’t any duets in the books I teach from. I usually, after introducing a new piece to a student, get them to try the right hand part on their own. Then I play the left hand while they play the right. Then we switch hands. I find this is a fun way to teach, and really helps with rhythm and dynamics.
Natalie Wickham April 6th, 2009 at 8:43 pm 4
I play pretty much every duet with my students once they’ve learned the piece. It’s a lot of fun and usually makes them feel like they’re playing bigger-sounding pieces!
Elaine April 14th, 2009 at 10:20 pm 5
I’ve been teaching piano for 18 years, and I always try to play the teacher duets, especially with new students. It helps them with counting, and as someone else mentioned,it’s fun(for me and the student.) I generally get my students working on duets with a parent, sibling, or with me for recitals. More than once I’ve had trios-three siblings playing parts on the same piano. Awesome–ALWAYS a crowd pleaser. Duets and trios teach the student to work together, develop listening skills, and to stay on rhythm.

BTW, I’ve visited your blog many times but this is the first time I’ve left a comment. It’s a fun site; I also like your “Thrilled by the Thought” site. I’m an interior design major who graduated from BYU and ended up teaching piano lessons as my career, so I feel we have something in common!