Piano Method Books

This page is dedicated for those of you who are looking for piano method books that contain the best methods in the field. As a piano teacher I've been dealing with most of them and there's a lot to choose from.

I made a research and found out where you could find these books cheaply and be sure you're buying them from a reliable source.

These books I chose to describe here can help you in learning to play the piano whether you're studying alone, with a private piano teacher or in a music school.

Let's start with my top 10 choices.

1. The Alfred Basic Piano Method Books

I've chosen to start with the Alfred Piano Method Books since it had a few clear advantages concerning children methods. First of all this method includes the use of software, compact discs and/or cassettes which is quite attractive.

Second, this method uses lots of colored pictures and graphics which make the study process clearer and more pleasant to the eye. The pictures demonstrate some abstract ideas (like rhythm) in a creative way.

I love the way this method informs the students with the basics of piano teaching gradually, including important issues like expression, dynamics which are just as important as plain notes reading.

This method is based on hand position playing. That means that all the melodies contain five notes in the grasp of your hand. The big advantage of that is that the student will slowly learn to tell the difference between the different intervals and recognize the intervallic relationship between the notes.

The disadvantage is that music further than that. Once the student will encounter melodic ideas that reach beyond the five fingers the student might be lost.

In a later step the system combines chords and chord progressions. The intension is good but this is the point where I chose to quit this method since I find its system clumsy. Instead I turn to the auditive manner. Bottom line...use this method to learn how to read piano notes.

As for the musical material, it's actually pretty good. Some melodies (especially the vibrant ones enrich the imagination of the new player and since most of these melodies are quite familiar you'll realize that you're looking forward to play the next piece.

Yet, a few terribly slow and boring pieces are to be found. I skip some pages right away with my students or I begin to lose them.

One last detail, as a teacher I try to introduce my students to the classical material on as early as possible. These piano method books lack these kind of pieces and that's quite a shame.
All in all it's a great method. If you're starting to play the piano or you a new piano teacher I would lean on the Alfred Basic method until I feel safe to be standing on my feet.

P.S

The words which are written under the melodies are absolutely unnecessary...

2. Bastien Piano Method Book for Children

The Bastien piano method book encourages the student (and you as a teacher) to focus on technique.

One of the first subjects I like to teach is how to place your hand in the good posture and by that I mean that they have to keep the first knuckle of the finger round and the arch high when dropping to the key (Dropping not pushing!).

These principles are important not because I'm an annoying teacher but because I'd like the student to develop its playing skills right down from the beginning so that later counting on his round, loose movements he will be able to play more complicated pieces without suffering from pain and frustration.

The method focus on those principles in the beginning although later it abandon them just where I find it necessary to show some reminders but if you're student is younger in age I think Bastien is an enjoyable method.

Please ignore the ridiculous lyrics (I don't know what they were thinking!) and focus on the lovely graphics.

I'd like to mention a series called "A Line a day" which contains four levels that will help you with sight reading...It's good! Give it a chance.

If you hate using the metronome continue to the next method since this method uses it quite a lot. However if you're seriously wanting to learn to play the piano in a rhythmic manner you'd appreciate the excellent guide line which are mentioned through the method concerning rhythm.

As opposite to Alfred basic this method does not encourage the hand position playing and lack the important role of playing by ear.

Bastien is one of my favorites!

3. The Thompson Piano Method Book

When I was a child (I'm 28) everybody was learning to play the piano with the Thompson piano method books. In this method contain simplified arrangements of standard classical repertoire you'll be learning to play the piano thoroughly.

The disadvantage of this method is that I sometimes find it outdated and some of the pieces are really unmusical and you don't want to be bored right from the beginning.

However, being introduces with classic material is a blessing.

4. Clark Method (The Music Tree)

What some methods forget and the Clark method doesn't is the music is often being played in ensembles. The Clark method introduces ensemble playing right from the very beginning.

f you wanna earn a solid knowledge at the basic of music don't hesitate to turn to this method which will teach you the secrets of dynamics, counting, phrases and form.

This method find it important to inform you with the terminology of music, to help you with sight reading and get familiar with music forms so once you're done you're ready to play music written by the master (And it's a joy to quit playing these annoying beginner pieces and start playing real music!).

5. Pace Method

There Pace method provides many books for the youngest and the oldest beginners as well as somewhat more advanced students. Its biggest advantage is that it involves the classical repertoire on an early age.

You'll develop your intervallic and notes reading skills to a pretty high level and you'll be encouraged to stimulate you musical development.

Since it doesn't support the hand position playing it is sometimes miserable to play a few of its pieces so it's not my recommended method although with a bright teacher you can get somewhere with it.

6. Faber and Faber Piano Method Books

There's too much fuzz over this piano method if you ask me.

This method focuses on hand position playing as well although it is presented in a less convincing way then the Alfred Basic method.

The graphic are delightful and each page will lead you to other book in the series along the outer edge of the page (which is quite clumsy really...).

What I like in the series is that you're asked to count aloud and hold your hand in a rounded position on the piano which is quite hard for some students to do but is truly important for piano playing and for those who wanna hear music when the play and not a plain exercise.

It takes 8 books to cover a simple issue with this method when other methods cover the same issue in a book or two. Musically speaking the pieces are quite week. I miss some classical pieces. So it makes me think, why bother? I'd buy an other method instead.

So, as you can see I'm not a fan really but you should know that some people adore this method.

7. Robyn Piano Method Books

The Robyn method has a few clear advantages.

It teaches notes reading counting on two aspects: The intervallic and single note aspects.

More than half of my students hate singing but if they like it I'm going to take the Robyn method advice and let them sing the name of the notes aloud when they play the exercises in Keyboard Town.

Since the note are not organized in the position playing and the finger as well the student can't rely on the fingering to get the right note but he really has to read them instead and place the right finger on the note.

The Robyn Method takes technique into consideration right from the beginning in a consistent way so at the end you'll have an great independent fingers playing which will prepare you for playing scale arpeggios and more...

If you wish to use the damper pedal you'll learn to cope with irregular pedal patterns based on harmonic progressions of a piece. It is annoying to hear a student who uses the pedal in a tasteless manner. This method will reassure you use the pedal after the beat.

The lyrics are terrible once again and the pictures are really out of date.

If someone will ever update this method I'll consider putting it here in a higher location since it has some great advantages.

8. Suzuki Piano Method Books

Well , the student I know who has learn to play the piano with the Suzuki method which is originate in Japan seriously lack some playing skills such as note reading and ear training skills.

The technique is weak and they are often unfamiliar with many of the composers which is a shame since you lack your music knowledge.

However if you have a young student under the age of five or so and you're looking for a soft way to teach him music the Suzuki method has some good points since it is enjoyable.

Certified Suzuki teachers in America must have completed a course of study at the Steven's Point, Wisconsin Suzuki Teaching Workshops.

9. Hal Leonard's Easy Adult Piano Beginner's Course

This book has step-by-step instructions that begin with the very basic and progresses to teaching you how to play such popular favorites as "The Entertainer" and "Mozart's Theme".

10. Play Piano Now! (An Easy Beginning Piano Method Book For Busy Adults}

Created for the busy adults in mind without compromising quality. The lessons are presented in a nice, user-freindly pace. It has lots of exercises and a collection of beautiful repertoire for you to learn. Published by Alfred's Publishing.

Here's a list of other piano method books I like. Some are just as good as the one I've mentioned before

• Pianosounds, a new approach to the piano by Maggie Teggin
  
  
• Chester's piano book number one by Carol Barratt
  
  
• A dozen a dat (technical exercises to be done each day before practicing), mini book by Edna-Mae Burnam
  
  
• The John Brimhall piano method, book 1 (book 2, 3 and 4 are a good choice when continuing to furhter levels).
  
  
• Piano Primer for the early-age beginner by Aaron Michael
  
  
• Pianolessons, book one by Waterman, Fanny and Marion Harewood
  
  
• The ABC tutor by Harris Cuthbert
  
  
• Making Music by Blake, Jessie and Hilde Capp
  
  
• Better beginnings by James Ching (provides exercises for hearing, rhythm, compostition and prima vista)
  
  
• Music Makers by Joan Last
  
  
• Old favourites for yound fingers (folk songs with melody only devided on both hands)
  
  
• Starting Now! (a first book for adult beginners) by Philips Lois