Bastien Piano Basics: Piano Primer

Product Information

The Music Tree implements an intervallic approach to teaching note reading. This differs from Alfred’s Basic Piano Course and Piano Adventures which both primarily use the “Middle C Method”. After the Primer is completed, the numbered levels slowly advance the student through increasingly challenging skills and repertoire. By the end of the series students have an advanced foundation that has covered key signatures, minor and major scales, intervals, cadences, transposition, and even shifting advanced time signatures! Accelerated Piano Adventures: Ages 11-17 The RCM method boasts a highly structured curriculum that covers technique, repertoire and aural skills. In this method there are assessments at the end of each level which need to be passed before moving on to the next. The complete system begins with a Prep course and ends with a Diploma upon the completion of Level 10.

Contains a wide variety of genres, exposing young beginners to multiple styles right out of the gate. Much like the approach to their children’s series, both the Basic and All-In-One Course contain the same information and many of the same pieces, the All-In-One simply moving at a faster pace. The All-In-One also goes into more detail with theoretical concepts. With a focus on creativity and expression as a pedagogical tool, the Leila Fletcher Piano Course utilizes listening games and improvisation activities. Both of these cornerstones are missing in most other beginner methods. Accelerated Piano Adventures covers the same concepts as Basic Piano Adventures does, but at an accelerated pace and with a tone more fitting to that of an older beginner. There are two levels to this course, each level containing 4 separate books, Lesson, Technique and Artistry, Theory, and Performance. Though it introduces new jazz specific concepts, they are not in depth and will require further explanation by a teacher.

The course is multi-level like the others, including a Prep series, followed by 4 levels that each include an A and B section. Each level requires two books, a Student Book for lessons and repertoire and an Activity Book for written exercises. Created for the young beginner, Alfred’s Basic Piano Prep Course takes into consideration the small hands and short attention spans of children. Illustrations and clear examples of new musical symbols and techniques keep students engaged and wanting to progress to see what appears next. Alfred’s Basic Piano Library is an educational series with a course for every age group. It has been the best selling piano educational method for over the last 2 decades! An innovative feature in this series is the accompanying Piano Adventures App which runs on iPad or iPhone. With it students can listen to the songs from the book while watching the sheet music and virtual keyboard move alongside. The tempo can also be slowed down and sections can be looped for further understanding.

Though the beginner books contain fun and accessible songs for kids, the focus is primarily on Western classical music. It would be nice to see a more varied repertoire from the beginning, and include storybook characters from other musical disciplines. The Music Tree also uses a “growing staff”, which expands from 2 to 3 to finally 5 lines. In this way students learn to read sheet music in a slower, more thorough and approachable way. Originally created for violin instruction by Japanese musician Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, the Suzuki Method takes a different approach to music education. Instead of a physical set of books and literature, a new philosophical mindset is required.Teachers (and students) can also access virtual versions of the workbooks by subscribing to the Faber Teacher Atlas. This series contains 3 books, A, B and C, which take students from an introduction to the instrument all the way up to reading two-handed pieces in the grand staff. Each lesson book has a related writing book which goes over theory and provides opportunities for drawing and tracing musical symbols and notes. Much of the artwork and lyrics are dated. Some lyrics would even qualify as racially insensitive by modern standards (e.g Ten Little Indians). Though these techniques differ greatly from traditional Western education, the Suzuki Method believes in music being an aural art first, with musicians relying on their ears before their eyes. While this does heighten the initial learning curve it bears impressive fruit in time, allowing for accelerated memorization skills and the ability to focus on self-expression and artistry rather than basic dictation.

Original music composed by the Bastiens themselves allows for a unique learning experience as well as solid examples of technical ideas.

Creativity is implemented by giving students their own choices within pieces, for example at times allowing them to decide the dynamics or the tempo. Focuses almost exclusively on European Classical music. While the program does provide a wide technical curriculum, it is narrow in genre and music from other cultures. The RCM method is much less guided by age than the other programs covered here are, rather, ability takes precedence. More advanced students can skip levels till the point where sufficient challenge is met, and newer students cannot move forward until their current levels requirements are met. This course is for the later beginner, or especially talented younger students. It moves at a more rapid pace, preparing the student for advanced repertoire. If the pace needs to be reduced, students can move between this and the Basic All-In-One Course. The focus on visual learning may instill a crutch of using the eyes for creating music rather than the ears.

The series does not continue further than musical foundations, and as such will require the student to transition to a totally different method upon completion.The underlying principle of the method is to treat learning an instrument the same way as learning a language. This series is a leader in jazz piano education. It is aimed at players who are already competent in basic technique and theory, and wish to begin learning how to improvise in a jazz style. Supplemental books in this course include extended studies in theory and repertoire. Alfred’s Basic Piano Course: Children 6-12 Alfred’s Basic Piano Course is the original and best selling Alfred’s course. It runs from Level 1 to 6. The series contains much of the same information as the Prep Course, but moves at a more rapid pace.