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Learning Piano
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We were gifted a piano and my kids (10,9 and 6) are interested in learning… however piano lessons at this point in time are just out of the budget. I would love to be able to find something simple and fun they can use on their own here at home… with the hope that we can afford lessons in the future for the kid(s) who want to pursue it further. I was looking at Simply Music… any opinions? Both DH and I have zero music ability, but my mother in law was an elementary music school teacher/piano teacher, she lives out of state but does visit a few times a year… and has given the kids some informal “lessons” during her last visit. I was thinking I could have them do Simply Music and supplement with some informal lessons in music theory, since as I understand SM is more of sight playing not music theory? She brought with her some Bastien piano books with her during her visit and we do have those here… but I have NOT A CLUE what to do with the book lol. Would this be a good plan? Does anyone have any other suggestions?
We are using the “Piano Adventures” series. My DD9 and DS7 are using it almost completely independently. I just sit in a few minutes every once in a while and make sure they have read all the instructions, ask them questions to make sure they know what they are supposed to be doing, and then let them go. I do have music background, which helps because there are ‘Teacher plays this: ” sections, but mostly of the time they just ignore those anyway. My DS7 in particular is really moving through the books, all on his own. They are only on level 1, so I don’t know how far they will get before I have to get more involved, but so far it’s working.
They also have a series targeted at adults. Here is a quote from the website:
“This series includes lessons, technique, and theory together in each volume for ease of use. Each unit includes a “3-Minute Technique” page to develop finger dexterity and a “Music Theory” page to develop understanding of rhythm and harmony. Though study with an experienced piano teacher is recommended, adults interested in beginning on their own will also find these books invaluable. “
We used Simply Music in exactly the way you are considering and it worked brilliantly. Got my boys to tap into “their musical side” without the stress of theory and formal lessons. We’ve done SM the past year – used the online program and then did 6 months with a licensed teacher – and now my boys are ready (and motivated!) to do the “hard work” of theory, the discipline required to master scales, etc., and the concentration required for music reading. Getting into piano this way has been perhaps a bit “backwards” but has worked wonderfully nonetheless. I say “backwards” because they essentially learn the piece FIRST (through the finger patterns/memory) and only AFTER they know the piece as though they could do it in their sleep do they study it alongside the sheet music. It was amazing to see them playing from memory, enjoying it, loving it, singing to their own playing and having fun – and THEN seeing “their” piece as on sheet music – and making the connection in their own minds as to why the notes were going up and down on the grand staff. (I studied piano for 14 years, ending at Royal Conversatory grade nine – and even I was a bit envious at my kids being able to get started in this new and different way). We are moving to traditional lessons next year (in my mind, Piano Adventure by Faber, Alfred or Bastien are all about the same…most user friendly is probably Piano Adventure) but I’m way more supportive of going to traditional since we’ve now had the year of SM under our belts. A lot of children give up piano lessons (traditional) lessons because they get impatient and/or frustrated that they aren’t playing material that is fun and toe-tapping in a timely manner. Doing SM for your first year solves this problem completely. Every single lesson has something fun, sophisticated, toe-tapping or sing-able.
I don’t know anything about Simply Music, but Homeschool Buyer’s Coop has a free trial subscription (through 7/31) to eMedia Music Academy which offers online piano lessons. I’ve signed up for it but haven’t looked at the lessons yet. Then if you like that they offer a 6 month membership for $77.80…which would certainly be a lot cheaper than paying for piano lessons for three kids.
I was looking up reviews for that Simply Music, and found an old coupon code that still works to buy the program from their site for $39. I just bought it for my 6 YO and 9 YO to use. HTH!
I have a used copy of Simply Music to sell if you are interested. I believe it is vol 1 and 2. I’m not home until later this week but if you are interested let me know. You can email me at basura (at domain name) lobuglio . org.
Best,
Shannon
We use a simply music piano teacher, my older girls have been playing with her for three years and the younger one for almost a year and they all play beautifully – the older ones compose songs, can accompany simple praise music and hymns as well as improvise – I never learned those things in the 7 years of classical instruction I had. I think you could use the program quite successfully without a teacher until you can determine whether or not investing in lessons is worthwhile.
Our piano teachers have used the Faber Piano Adventures series. Very good! A friend of mine used then without a piano teacher and bought CDs so they could also hear the songs.
Shannon, if no one else is interested, I would potentially be interested in buying your copy. If already taken, no worries, just thought I would check.
Thanks,
Stacy
We LOVE our piano program and it’s free!
Hoffman Academy (www.hoffmanacademy.com) is a fabulous online resource – every lesson is free. The way they make money is to sell complementary materials – so it’s like buying a book. You download them for about $20 a unit (I forget how many lessons in a unit, but quite a few) but you certainly do not need the materials to do the lessons. We have a Wii so we run YouTube through the TV so the lessons are easier to see.Shannon, as I’m not 100% decided yet, Stacey is more than welcome to your copy of Simply Music. 🙂
Cindy- do you think someone with zero musical training could use Hoffman?
Caedmyn- do you happen to still have that code?
Sorry lettucepatchkids, all of a sudden I realized how rude it was of me to ask that on your post! I’m still checking around as well, so if you decide to purchase it, please don’t worry about me. Again sorry. I didn’t think about that fact that I was just jumping in there…
Stacy
oh please don’t worry about it at ALL… i really just wanted to make sure I passed on the offer to you because thing are crazy here right now and I’m not ready to buy anything right now.
really no worries, I didn’t think it was rude!! 🙂
Oh good, thanks for understanding! I have an 8 and a 7 yr old who both SAY that they are interested in piano, but when it comes down to actually doing it, they are a little bit harder to work with.
I’m very interested in the Hoffman Academy for now because I wouldn’t have to spend anything and I can see if they will actually stick to it before I invest in a program.
Thanks for asking this question! I’ve been wondering what to do about it for a while and it’s given me some good ideas 🙂
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