Technique Secrets are the essential pianistic movements, gestures and touches — a scaffold of progressing skill development. We see wide variety in students in the type of music they wish to play, in the level of commitment they bring to practice, and in coordination and listening abilities. However, one thing we know for sure — […]
Level 2B, Lesson Book, Pg. 26 Watch as Nancy cultivates Philip’s musical artistry through affirming his expressive performance of The Skater’s Waltz. To the student, Piano Adventures® implies an exciting exploration. To the teacher, Piano Adventures® implies a mission and mindset which puts the student’s personal development in the fore. The Piano Adventures® Teacher refers to […]
Level 2B, Lesson Book, Pg. 30, Viva la France Viva la France gets a “face lift” as Philip transposes this piece with a “jazzed-up” rhythm in different keys. Many pieces at Levels 1 through 2B are written to allow the student to transpose, moving the hand between familiar positions. This movement between positions sharpens the […]
Primer Level, lesson Book, pp. 44, Dance Band In this video, Randall Faber describes and demonstrates the use of arm weight as an important technique to be taught from the early lessons at the Primer level. This piece titled, The Dance Band, strategically offers repetition and review as it corresponds directly to the Technique and Artistry […]
Written by Randall Faber and Mary Kathryn Archuleta If you are a piano teacher, you have likely considered opening your studio, and your heart, to the 1 in 150 children diagnosed with an autistic-spectrum disorder or other impairment. Music lessons provide the structural regularity that children with special needs require. And, within that structure, it is […]
3‑D Gesture and Precision Pattern Recognition Reveal a Unique Path to Musical Proficiency Ann Arbor, MI – July 12, 2016 – With the new Piano Adventures Scale and Chord Books 1 and 2, Nancy and Randall Faber directly address the obsolete tradition of mindless drilling and instead encourage a lucid grasp of scale and chord practice. […]
What is this world of the young beginner? It is fun, fantasy and exploration. Seriousness? Teacher-driven rules? Tight control? These close down a young learner’s intrinsic interest. Not only is this young beginner’s world substantially different than the adult world and qualitatively different than ages 7–8, the young beginner does not “meet us halfway.” 4–5 year […]
This is what the student has been waiting for—a chance to play fast. “Now I can really show off!” Then we tell the student, “The first lesson in playing fast is … slow practice.” We’ve just taken the wind out of their sails. Well … almost. There are secrets to playing fast. And if we […]
At Level 3B, we appealed to the student’s interest in fast playing. At Level 4 the student learns lyric playing—the ability to project and beautifully shape a melody. We positioned lyric playing after fast playing because it requires more mature expression. We like to discuss the excitement of speed and the expressive quality of lyric […]
As we read and create music, we weave through a I‑IV‑V tapestry of primary chords. At Piano Adventures® Level 5, we ensure that the student can see and feel this structural tapestry for each tonal piece. Scales “Why learn scales?” students ask. Our answer? A scale reduces 88 keys to seven. Five keys are eliminated in […]
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