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Define
Your Goal
Before you undertake the task
of looking for a teacher, you must first think about setting
the goal for your child. Once you've decided the level you want
your child to reach, you can better prepare yourself to commit
the time and energy necessary to get there. This will also prepare
you to find a teacher that would match your criteria.
I have divided piano achievement
(goal) into two major stages - Musical
Foundation (MF) and Total
Musicianship (TM). Children who complete Musical
Foundation will acquire a substantial amount of knowledge in
piano playing, music theory and music appreciation. Children
who reach Total Musicianship will build a solid understanding
of piano playing, music theory and music appreciation. You will
find a complete description of both achievement stages in Setting
Your Goal. I have further divided each achievement
area into two phases - MF I & II, TM I & II. These are
defined in Reaching Your Goal
where you will find specific skills your child needs to fulfill
that level of study.
This guide is not based on any
educational study nor referenced from any publications. The
ideas were created based on my personal experience. When I realized
the need to educate parents about piano education, and knowing
the difficulties many parents with no musical background are
facing, I thought a step-by-step guide would give parents a
better grasp on what piano education encompasses. I hope this
guide will steer you in the right direction and help you make
an informed decision.
I. Musical
Foundation
I cannot emphasize enough how
important it is to establish a solid foundation in any kind
of musical study that your child pursues. This requires a teacher
who knows the importance of acquiring good habits from day one.
Once this foundation is set, your child will not only play the
piano beautifully, but will also able to start a different instrument
with ease. This process may seem frustrating and time consuming
at first, but you should never rush your child through this
critical phase. It will take more time to correct bad habits
later than to get it right from the start.
There are two phases in Musical
Foundation - Musical Foundation I and Musical Foundation II.
The initial phase is for children who are first time learners
and plan to reach phase II or even Total Musicianship. It
is also ideal for students who intend to switch to another instrument
in the near future or for those who thrive under minimum pressure
and enjoy playing the piano 'just for fun'. Whatever your final
goal may be, I believe the following areas of learning are the
minimum requirements you need to obtain a quality piano education.
The following chart illustrates
the importance of each area of learning at this level:
Musical Foundation should include
but not be limited to:
Physical
Placement: |
25%
|
Excellent
posture at the piano |
Excellent
hand position on the keyboard |
Piano
Skills: |
40%
|
The ability
to read music |
Solid
technical skills |
Strong
sight reading skills |
Good aural
skills |
Good practice
regimen |
Music Appreciation: |
10%
|
Music
appreciation |
Composition |
Good understanding
of musical styles |
Good sense
of music |
Music Theory 25% |
Students should be actively involved
in programs
outside regular piano lessons (i.e. auditions). I also highly
recommend supplementing your regular repertoire with the The Associated Board of Royal Schools
of Music (ABRSM) for its rigorous program
in Music Theory and Piano Examinations.
II. Total
Musicianship
This stage is for students who
have already established a solid foundation and are ready for
a more intense level of training with a serious commitment to
daily practice. There are two phases in total Musicianship -
Total Musicianship I and Total Musicianship II. Both phases
are considered great achievements and children who reach this
far will always enjoy playing the piano their entire life. Total
Musicianship II is meant for the exceptional few who love the
competitive edge and extra challenge, or perhaps for those who
consider a college degree in Music.
The following chart illustrates
the importance of each area of learning:
Total Musicianship should include
but not be limited to:
Physical
Placement: |
10%
|
Excellent
posture at the piano |
Excellent
hand position on the keyboard |
Piano
Skills: |
60%
|
The ability
to read music |
Strong
technical skills |
Strong
sight reading skills |
Excellent
aural skills |
Excellent
practice regimen |
Music Appreciation: |
15%
|
Music
appreciation |
Composition |
Strong
understanding of musical styles |
Strong
sense of music |
Music
Theory 15% |
Students should be actively involved
in programs
that offer auditions and competitions. I also highly recommend
supplementing your regular repertoire with the ABRSM for its rigorous program in Music Theory
and Piano Examinations.