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Teaching Piano at home – what do you use?
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I took piano for over 10 years when I was younger and can play fairly well and have a fine understanding of music – however I am not so confident in my ability to teach it. We live in a rural area so taking my children to lessons would be quite an ordeal right now (I also have two 2 year olds which make outings quite a hassle). All that to say I’d like to try getting my son started myself and if it is something he is interested in and does well with we may look into lessons somewhere else later. SO… for those of you that teach or have taught your children piano yourselves, what did you use, what did you like or dislike and why. I need some direction! Thanks!
I’m extremly interested in this answer as well! I know I looked into Simply Music, since I do not have a good background in music, and can’t read notes – but can play by ear. I thought it would be a good start for us. But I haven’t used it – so I cna’t say for sure. Thanks for asking this question~
We use Simply Music’s Learn at Home program and LOVE it!
http://www.simplymusic.com/LearnathomeDVDProgram
We’re also considering Piano Wizard. Though we’re not big into computer games, this looks like a lot of fun, effective, and has excellent reviews by other homeschoolers.
http://www.musicwizard.com/includes/css/video.html
Your children are very blessed to have a musical mama! Enjoy!
~ Heather
Hi. I was a piano major in college, and I am using Faber’s Piano Adventures with my daughter. All of the technique and theory is well explained in the books, so if you have piano experience, I think it would work out well. One thing I like about it is the duets — a majority of the pieces have simple duets for the teacher to play with the child. This really helps the child with concentration, counting, playing the right notes, playing musically, etc.
Take care,
Suzanne
I had seven years of piano lessons and I just started my oldest daughter on the same lesson books that I used: Bastien Piano Basics by James Bastien. My Mom always liked these more than the ones my sisters used because I started out using both hands right away. My daughter has just had her third lesson tonight but she is doing well!
They are easy to use and follow even for some one who doesn’t play and they are inexpensive.
Hope this helps!
I used Alfred’s Basic Piano Course to teach my girls. I liked the completeness of the course with the theory, technique, solos, ear-training and all spelled out in the teacher book. It also has a computer program for theory that is nice.
(Though I must admit that when I took lessons, I used Thompson’s at the beginning levels and still have those books.
Anybody else remember Teaching Little Fingers to Play with the long skinny red book?)I really like Pianimals. It comes with Cd’s of accompaniments which the children play along to, and introduces notation gradually as they become familiar with playing, beat, note names etc.
It can be found here… http://www.pianimals.com/
HTH
Linda
Hi!
I second Suzanne’s recommendation of the Faber Piano Adventures. Having taught piano for over 15 years, I’ve used many of the different methods with my students. I have found the pieces in the Faber books to be the most “musical” for beginning pieces. The tunes are enjoyable and fun to play AND listen to. I am using Faber with my own daughter now and she loves it.
~Anna
I also have a question, especially for those who have been piano teachers. My daughters are both taking lessons right now. My oldest is in her second year, and her sister in her first. BUT, we have two more children coming up, and it’s already getting to be really expensive!
We’ve considered moving the oldest to every other week next year, and getting her books to work on at home. Then the NEXT year, pulling her out altogether and letting her work on her own at it (as her other sister will be coming up…).
Is that feasible? Is it realistic to think she can progress well on her own w/out an instructor? She really loves it and catches on quickly, so I don’t want to take it away from her. From either of them. But there are the financial aspects to consider, as well.
I guess my problem is that I do want her to excel at this (her desire – I just wanted them to learn to read music), but I don’t know if it’s realistic for us to keep her in formal lessons the next however-many-years at $60/month!
In such case as we do bring her home for lessons, would the Faber books be our best bet?
Thanks so much!
This is a great topic. What about those of us who have never had piano and want to conitue to have there kids learn? Right now we are very blessed to have a homeschool girl who has won a lot of things here in MN to come into our home and teach the kids at a very reasonable rate of $9 (each a 1/2 hour).
But as someone said .. when you do that weekly x # of kids it adds up. So I am wondering what you would suggest for those of us who don’t have the previous knowledge? What program is REALLY a self taught program? And how much time do they need to spend on it and how many times a week?
Thanks Misty
The Faber books are great, our teacher uses them. Just wanted to add that a homeschool friend of mine uses these plus their cd’s—so the kids can hear if they are playing correctly. Blessings:) Gina
In regards to the question by mama2four:
I think it depends on why your children are taking piano lessons. If it is just to learn the basics of music, then I think that being self-taught is a fine way to go. A basic knowledge of the piano is a great springboard for all sorts of musical endeavors in a person’s life. Many of the piano courses make it easy for the child to learn on their own once they can read well. If your daughter is musically inclined, then she will probably make it quite far through her books by herself.
However, if your daughter wants to become a good pianist, then I believe that she will benefit from taking lessons from a competent teacher who is musical. There are many, many piano teachers out there who can teach your child to play the piano, but that do not really inspire children to be excellent pianists and musicians. If your teacher is not doing this, then in my opinion, the expense for the lessons is not worth it to you.
If you think that you have found an excellent teacher, perhaps you could continue your older daughter’s lessons, switching to twice month, especially if your teacher will allow your daughters to share a month’s tuition. A bright student can learn quite a bit from one lesson every 2 weeks or even once a month. As the younger children grow, you could have the older daughter teach them the basics of music and the piano. (This would help to solidify her own piano skills as well. You could even pay her a small fee for her services if you think that is appropriate.) If they show a real interest and proclivity to the piano after a few years of the basics, then I would consider formal lessons for them on some sort of a rotating basis.
Piano teachers in general love teaching students who love to learn and who are talented musically. Some of the teachers that I’ve known, including myself, have made special payment arrangements for families who are very dedicated to lessons. You may be able to find a teacher like this in your area.
It’s great that you are making such an effort to include music in your children’s lives! 🙂
oh boy – do you all have me reeling in piano mode now! I have now entered compare/contrast mode on these different programs. I like the look of the Faber books as well as Alfred’s. Sonya, I remember the long skinny red book and it is still in my piano bench 🙂 I grew up on the Bastian books myself. And just to add one more to the mix – anyone have experience with Suzuki? I have some friends that rave about it.
Here is what I am trying to decipher right now:which one???? I can read music very well, technique is okay, but I feel like my ear training is pitiful. I can play several other instruments as well as piano, but feel that my lacking in this area always held me back no matter what the instrument. I would like to use something with my children that works on that as well. For those of you who have experience with these programs what do you see as the strengths/weaknesses of them and why would you pick one over the other (if you don’t mind me interviewing/picking your brain a bit more)? The Alfred books seem very thorough, but it is a lot of books to juggle – then again with the Faber program only having two books, do they cover as much as well? Also with any of these, how well do they give instruction as to how to teach these concepts. Again, this is an area where I feel I can DO better than I can explain – I remember my piano teachers being fountainheads of little tricks and tips to help me get over different walls, but I am not sure I will be able to remember all that when it comes to teaching my son. I’m not the biggest fan of scripted programs, but I might need a little help here 🙂
Thanks for the help – I am really appreciating all of you sharing!
Lesley
Anybody else remember Teaching Little Fingers to Play with the long skinny red book?)
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