How to Choose a Method Book

Author: admin

3 Aug

I am discovering that in addition to teaching from a really great method book, one of the most important things to teaching piano is a FAITH in the method books from which you teach.

All method books have something good to offer. No method book is perfect. Because of this, I think a good teacher must always include other resources and other ways of teaching concepts than depending solely on a method book.

But in order to be an effective teacher using method books, you must agree with what you are teaching. You must understand the way concepts are presented. You must enjoy what you teach.

I teach mostly from Piano Adventures by Nancy and Randall Faber. I am sure this series is not perfect for everyone, but I have not yet found a student who doesn’t benefit from Piano Adventures. I honestly can say nothing bad about this series. The series seems to teach concepts in a very appropriate time frame and order. It teaches in a way that is so easy for children to understand (and teachers to teach!). The series returns to important concepts in such a way as they are not forgotten, but also not done to death. It also prepares my students for outside repertoire rather quickly.

That being said, I am sure the series is not perfect. No series could be. But I believe in it. That belief helps me stay motivated to be a good teacher. I love the pieces in the series. I love the simple way of teaching concepts. I believe the series is good for my students.

In contrast, I once taught group lessons for another teacher using a series she preferred. I will not mention the name of the series because I don’t want to bash anybody, but I truly hated that series. I thought it taught concepts in the worst possible way. I felt it skipped incredibly important concepts and introduced difficult-to-understand concepts way too soon. In addition, the pieces were horribly boring and the pictures were weird.

I soon came to dread teaching those lessons. I am certain that those students did not receive the best education they could have received from me. It was because I didn’t believe in the method! I’m sure that I could have found some positive things about the series if I had taken the time. But I didn’t even want to take the time. Merely opening the book sent me into a coma.

Believing in my chosen method books helps me to be a happy teacher. A happy teacher is an observant teacher. An observant teacher notices when a child misses something important, and then knows how to help that child understand. When I taught from the other series, I knew my students were missing things, but I was so frustrated, I didn’t even know where to begin to help fill in the pieces.

Do you teach from one series or do you vary from student to student? What is your preferred series?

Filed under: Trial and Error Tips

6 Responses for "How to Choose a Method Book"

Kristi August 3rd, 2009 at 9:24 pm 1
I’m a fan (and believer in!) the Piano Adventures Series as well. I’ve only been teaching for just under a year now, and with my first students I just continued teaching with whatever method book they were currently using. Now I start all of my students in Piano Adventures.
Dana August 4th, 2009 at 10:29 am 2
I agree with you — it doesn’t do the student any good to hear you muttering under your breath, “Well, they could have figured out a better way to teach THIS concept!”

The Faber series is my preferred method, too; when I get transfer students who come in with another series, I gradually work them out of it. Part of the justification for this is that I know the Faber series so well that I know what the objectives are for each piece, and how important — or unimportant — each piece is in the overall plan. Some we spend a lot of time with — others we pass quickly through.

Dana
Laura August 4th, 2009 at 4:12 pm 3
I like the Faber series very much, but it’s not the only one I use. I also like the Alfred Premiere, and Keith Snell’s Piano Town. I also sometimes use the Noona Comprehensive Piano Library. It depends on the student. I’m probably ADD or something, but I begin to get bored if I have to listen to the same pieces from everyone!
Faye August 4th, 2009 at 4:36 pm 4
I am another big fan of the Faber series. I’ve been teaching for well over 20 years and have found nothing better. But, I love to supplement. Sheet music, Halloween pieces, Christmas pieces, Classical Repertoire, Pop, Jazz, Duets, Duos, etc. – different pieces for each student. All of the extra material motivates the student (& it is fun for the teacher too!)
Dan the Music Master August 6th, 2009 at 7:30 am 5
I vary my method books, depending on whom and where I’m teaching. I think the teacher’s disposition is quite a bit more important then the method book of choice.
Will Hay August 23rd, 2009 at 4:04 pm 6
I tend to vary my method books with each student though I tend to have preference for Pauline Hall’s Tunes for Ten and Piano Time. Whilst Tunes for Ten moves at a slower pace than John Thompson, this tends to be beneficial to the younger students at which it is aimed.

The extra online resources for the Piano Time series are useful particularly if a student is struggling with one particular concept and you should start a new piece based on that concept rather than labouring the current piece or moving swiftly on!