The mother of one of my pupils wants to begin piano with me.
She already has some knowledge but not a lot.
She bought a book for herself a few months ago, but it is one of those fast tracking methods, where you start with all 7 notes (A-C) with the letters actually written on the note heads so you can`t go wrong! Then, within a month or so you are expected to play chords and dotted rhythms etc.
It`s all too much too soon.
But she wants to play tunes quickly and may not have the patience or the will to go back to basics.
She`s an intelligent educated woman who`s highly motivated.
What do you advise?
We are going to start the G1 theory as I`m sure that will help her and she`ll be fine with that. It`s a primer I`m concerned about!
thanks in advance.
Full Version: Adult Piano Learners
QUOTE(just helen @ Aug 20 2009, 01:31 PM) 
The mother of one of my pupils wants to begin piano with me.
She already has some knowledge but not a lot.
She bought a book for herself a few months ago, but it is one of those fast tracking methods, where you start with all 7 notes (A-C) with the letters actually written on the note heads so you can`t go wrong! Then, within a month or so you are expected to play chords and dotted rhythms etc.
It`s all too much too soon.
But she wants to play tunes quickly and may not have the patience or the will to go back to basics.
She`s an intelligent educated woman who`s highly motivated.
What do you advise?
We are going to start the G1 theory as I`m sure that will help her and she`ll be fine with that. It`s a primer I`m concerned about!
thanks in advance.
Try 'Pianoworks Book 1 : A tutor for the older beginner' by Janet and Alan Bullard. It is designed for the adult beginner and published by Oxford University Press with an accompanying CD. I have used it with adult beginners and find it thorough, positive, clear and appealing.
I've used Pam Wedgwood's 'It's never too late to learn piano' - it has lots of short pieces to start with which gradually introduce new things - 44 to 34, single hands, alternating hands, hands together building up to the 2 octaves C below middle C up to the C above. You would probably want to supplement with some other pieces as well after the initial lessons but it moves at a reasonable pace - it has worked with two adults I've used it with. They have both been very motivated and practiced well so were able to move quite quickly. Some of the arrangements are not that great but you can pick/choose what is appropriate for the pupil.
Louise
Michael Aaron's Adult Beginner Piano Course.....???
thanks guys - I`ll look into those books.
BTW sorry for typo - it should have been A-G not A-C!
BTW sorry for typo - it should have been A-G not A-C!
John Thompson does an adult piano book. It's a bit slow at the start but the pieces get harder and more interesting. I think there is also a Schaum adult piano book that has well known tunes in it. I have used the Complete Piano Player book 1 for adults but start it in the middle as it's a bit too easy from the start.
QUOTE(Louise H @ Aug 20 2009, 02:36 PM)
I've used Pam Wedgwood's 'It's never too late to learn piano'
Louise
This has never quite done it for my adults - and I have a fair few. Many of them work through some books called "Beautiful Etudes" - anyone else know these? Adults like them because they sound like - are! - real music in a range of classical styles. They are not tutor books as such but valuable repertoire and give pointers to constructive ways to think about the piece, exercises in transposition, ideas to vary performance and good practice advice.
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