If you are considering purchasing one of the standard, conventional piano methods for your child and want a basis for comparison, here are some facts and interesting points that may help you make a choice.

THE BASTIEN METHOD Of the conventional piano methods, this is my favorite. Published by kjos.com, they are the standard these days that most teachers use.

The virtue of the Bastien Series books are several.

The type is large, like a BIG NOTE book, so kids aren’t squinting, looking for tiny little musical symbols to decipher. In fact many of the usual symbols are omitted in the interest of clarity.

There are finely done color pictures, which children find interesting and comforting, and can lead to a relaxing bit of conversation between teacher and student.

The sequence of exercises is in precisely correct order in terms of piano pedagogy: each concept builds easily on the last, from piece to piece. That is why, in fact, piano teachers love these books, because they can go from page to page without much effort. But that is bad for the children, that rote approach, and these colorful books are useful for much more than that.

THE JOHN THOMPSON METHOD This is an older piano method that perhaps your parents or grandparents used, but it is still popular today, exactly for that reason. Similarly, methods such as Schaum use much the same old-fashioned approach. I’ll bet you that you have a copy of one of these piano methods in your piano bench!

Thompson is a little boring in the early books in the series, with frankly uninteresting pieces illustrating the basics of piano. But where they shine is in subsequent volumes, wherein most of the great piano teaching pieces (Fur Elise by Beethoven, for example) are laid out in order of increasing difficulty. These pieces can be useful for older children who are refining the basics but are not yet playing easier masterpieces.

Tried and true, but a little boring and the type seems very small to most kids.

OTHER METHODS There were dozens of older methods from the heyday of the piano, ending around the 1960’s. Alfred, Schaum, Mel Bay, Faber all still exist today.

The main factor to remember is this: all these conventional methods follow the same curriculum with minor variations. All conventional piano methods start out the same, learning the first five white keys in the middle of the piano. It’s like teaching the alphabet to your child: you start with A and proceed upward. It’s the same with piano, and in all conventional piano methods the methodology is the same: learn the first five white keys.

Many songs can, of course, be played using only these five white keys. For example, Jingle Bells, or Mary Had A Little Lamb, Alouette and a thousand other familiar songs.

Our suggestion is to examine the Bastien piano method. I use them myself in my piano lessons, after I have prepared students to enjoy the piano using PIANO BY NUMBER. You can find the Bastien Series at kjos.com

By John Aschenbrenner Copyright 2000 Walden Pond Press. Visit http://www.pianoiseasy.com to see the author’s fun PIANO BY NUMBER method.

John Aschenbrenner is a leading children’s music educator and book publisher, and the author of numerous piano method books in the series PIANO BY NUMBER.

Learn more about the best children piano book here: piano for children

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Piano Lesson Books Help Children in Piano Build Confidence
By Cynthia VanLandingham

Would you send your child to math class without their math book? Would you send your child to English class without their English book? Would you send your child to Science class without their Science book? Of course you wouldn’t. So help your child in piano lessons stay organized so they’ll have the proper materials with them at their piano lesson.

Contrary to the popular belief of piano students this will not happen by itself. Planning ahead is the only solution. You can help your child in piano get organized for their piano lesson, however, by establishing a piano routine the night before. Purchasing a piano bag is a great way to keep your child organized. You’ll need to teach your child to use their piano bag though. On the morning of piano lesson day there should be no piano lessons books on the piano, because all your child’s lesson books need to be in their piano bag. Then the piano bag needs to go into the car. This way your child will have their lesson books when you arrive at the piano studio.

The most common reason students give for not bringing their music is that they left it on the piano. Don’t just ask your child on the way to the car, “Do you have your piano bag?” Check to see if any books are left at the piano. It doesn’t do any good to take a piano bag to class if it doesn’t have any books in it, or the right books.

Sometimes children will leave a book at home with a song in it that they had trouble with. Avoiding the music is one way for child to deal with this, but of course a better way is to get more help from their piano teacher. Sometimes it takes a couple of lessons before students feel comfortable playing a piece at home. Not bringing their books, however, doesn’t provide children enough time to overcome challenges when learning new skills and music. Don’t let your child give up too easily by leaving their music on the piano.

Good habits take time to develop so be patient. Keep trying to get the Piano Lesson Book Habit. Over time it will serve your child in piano lessons well as they build confidence and achieve their musical goals.

To learn the best way to share the gift of music with children visit Amazon.com for my Piano Bears Musical Stories for Children The exciting Piano Bears Musical Stories for children ages 5 to 11 feature the loveable characters, Mrs. Treble Beary and her new piano student, Albeart Littlebud. Children love following along with Albeart to Mrs. Treble Beary’s piano studio in Musical Acres Forest. Here they learn what piano lessons are all about in a fun way that kids readily understand and appreciate! Piano students laugh and giggle while reading “Little Bear’s Musical Garden” and “Little Bear’s Piano Goals.”

For a wealth of free information and piano music online visit Piano Bears Music Education Resources Don’t Wait to Share the Gift of Music!

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