LearnJazzPiano.com archives: Tips on teaching beginner piano to a 2nd grader

LarryC -- 03/14/2005, 17:36:30 -- #11928

OK, so I'm going to try to "teach" my first student this Thursday.  I don't what it's like from an 8 year old perspective since I didn't have my first piano lesson until I was a college freshman (and I was a trumpet player at the time). The good doctor (Dr. Whack) has already given me some advice on some method books.  Curious how others on this great forum have approached it to.  The student already purchased one beginners book on note identification and such, so I'm thinking about going through those with her first since she's already familiar with them. I asked her mom today what her favorite Disney song is so I can print out a simple, "big note" lead sheet that she can learn to play with one hand (even if it's only with one finger to start out with). I suggested a half hour every other week to start off with and will encourage 5-10 minutes of practice a day. At what point in a typical beginner's development do you introduce two handed laying? What's more important at that age...to play a melody knowing the note names (even if the fingering is wrong) or teaching proper finger and finger skills knowing that she's probably never used her 4th and 5th finger on a key yet....or is it a combination working off a 30 minute schedule (i.e. 5 minutes on x, 10 minutes on y, etc.). Any and all suggestions welcomed!  I know the most important thing at this age is to keep it fun.   Off to Google-land to see what I can find out on the web (should have started prepping for this weeks ago!!!). Larry

LarryC -- 03/14/2005, 17:56:18 -- #11930

fyi...the book she has is the Faber and Faber method.... http://pianoeducation.org/pnofaber.html

Dr. Whack -- 03/14/2005, 18:42:45 -- #11931

I know you didn't ask, but is't been my experience that the every other week thing doesn't work too well.  The students usually slack off knowing that they have two weeks between lessons, and for a young child this is really a problem.  They need reinforcement more often than adults. I've had good success with that Faber & Faber book...It's important that they can play something sooner than later, so how you get there isn't that important as long as you don't stray too far from  actually learning to read notes.  You have to keep a positive flow.   ~groove on!

Dr. Whack -- 03/14/2005, 18:46:08 -- #11932

I usually follow the books, but supplement them with learning fun tunes by ear (sometimes just showing them on the piano) or lead sheets... My dad started me on lead sheets when I was about 5, it has really paid off

Bavarder -- 03/30/2005, 18:16:53 -- #12328

I know what its like to learn piano quikly. I am mostly a composer though. I am largely self taught, so I might have a few ideas (am 13 you know): 1. For me I went about with both C major (which I thought was a bit boring) and dorian mode. Both have advantage of being easy to play; The minor sound was particularly iteresting. Go about C major scale by learning notes. If I may suggest, Create the first few practice sheets yourself. 2. Notes are more important than fingering earlier on. Start with the left hand, as it (for me) needs the MOST work. 3. Do not allow slacking off. NONE!

marksdg -- 03/30/2005, 18:30:53 -- #12329

I only insist on proper fingering when it is necessary to play something faster.  In other words, only when it is needed.  My son has been playing for two years, and is now 8 and doing two handed playing.  My son hated any songs in beginner books that seemed cutesy, so I mostly just wrote out songs for him to play. For jazz, I have been doing it as a duet, where he sometimes does the right hand and sometimes does the left hand.  That way, it is a little less frustrating but he gets  a good feel for what both hands should be doing.

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