The Piano Curriculum Series

The problem is:

"It's not what we're doing for the students, it's what we're NOT doing for the teachers!"
The solution is:  An interactive curriculum for teachers, students and their parents

This consumable series of books was designed with you, the teacher, your students and their parents in mind. It will assist you in a natural progression in disseminating information, parents will appreciate the format and students understand what is expected of them throughout the school year. No longer will you have to spend endless hours organizing material for the upcoming year. Everything you need is bound into each book, assignment sheets, scales, theory, vocabulary, music appreciation and some basic composition, consolidating what you used to supply in 5-6 separate books. This series gives you the freedom to choose your method book and repertoire. No longer are you locked into a single editor or composer's thoughts as to what to teach. These basic principles of musicianship are at the core of piano study. Students will be able to achieve their goals easily and effectively.

The terminology used should be accessible for young students to understand and any parent that has limited music knowledge to assist that student (if you so wish). Children as young as four or five can begin at the Primer Level. Level 1 would be considered for a first grader, but will also be accessible for the later beginner. The books graduate by levels, making it easier for the parents to understand their child's progress. With the exception of the Primer, each level should take about one year to complete. Each level should be completed before going to the next.

Student book contents contain:

•  Assignment Sheets

• Specifically designed for each level.
• This eliminates any unnecessary writing for the teacher and provides specific goals for the student.
• It gives the parent concise information week-to-week information of the student's progress and where they need to concentrate.
• Primer Level has 20 weeks with 5 "Extra Lessons", if needed.
• Books 1-5 have 36 weeks, with an additional 6 sheets to cover summer months.
  

•  Scales

• Levels Primer-4 are written on single staves, in order for students to concentrate on notes and fingering.
• Students are asked to write the fingering for all scales, chords, cadences and arpeggios. All fingerings are provided in "English" prior to the information presented on the staff.
• Levels P-5 scales were intentionally written without key signatures.
• In the lower levels the intent is to get the student to learn the notes and fingering as opposed to reading in keys.
  

•  Theory

• Contains worksheets that will be helpful throughout the year.
• It is not intended to be a complete theory program, but should reflect the minimal information necessary at each level.
  

•  Composition

• Levels 2-5 is very general.
• Will assist younger students who might wish to compose with some guidelines.
• Basic principles are discussed.  
  

•  Vocabulary

• Contains terms and definitions that are level appropriate.
• Students should make every effort to learn all of the terms to be successful.
  

•  Music Appreciation

• Covers a wide variety of information from composers, other instruments, styles of music and listening.
  

•  Year in Review

• An assessment of the progress made over the year.
• It is fun for the students to remember what they have done. It is also interesting to see what their handwriting was like, year-to-year and how they have developed.
• It will be of great assistance if the student has to transfer to another teacher or is coming to your studio.
  

• Each student will need to have his/her own copy of The Piano Lesson.

•  Repertoire is at the discretion of the teacher.