Supporting Your Piano Pathway
Written by Andrew Eales
To become a three-dimensional pianist we need to focus on developing our musical mind: that is, our understanding, literacy, historical awareness, and theoretical analysis of the music we play.
These qualities are nurtured through the use of notation, by academic learning, research, and reflection. They are often assessed through discussion, writing, music theory, and in a practical context through sight-reading. These all help us become better musicians, and gain more satisfaction at the piano.
Pianodao includes a number of articles reflecting on these crucial areas of our musical development, and reviews of several educational resources which will help in our quest to develop better musical understanding…
START HERE!
These in-depth articles explore the foundation and value of developing music literacy, understanding, and the broader presence of mind that is needed for successfully mastering the piano, and enjoying a sustained, varied musical journey.
Sound before symbol: lessons from history
If we commit to an approach rooted in aural transmission and musicality, while equally insisting on the importance of fluent notation reading, we can preserve and build upon the great traditions of classical music education…
The Importance of Notation
The current fashion for denigrating the importance of musical literacy is an educationally corrosive fad which, for the sake of all our students, we must seriously challenge and urgently resist…
Should we still teach students to hand-write music?
It is important both to embrace new technologies for music creation and score writing while still retaining the theoretical understanding and traditional skills which underpin and enrich their use. This is why…
MUSIC NOTATION AND THEORY
Pianodao regularly receives and reviews music theory resources, suitable for piano players of all ages and abilities. Here are the best ones:
Music Theory • Online Courses
Keen to find out more about learning music theory online?
I have spoken to four leading course providers about the benefits and joys of their approach. Read on to find out more!
Trinity’s Digital Theory Grades
Trinity College London recently announced new Digital Theory exams which, in their words, “retain the integrity of the musical approach”.
I was delighted to have the opportunity for an in-depth interview with Trinity’s Director of Music Francesca Christmas to find out more…
Piano Star Theory
I can certainly imagine children aged about seven and upwards becoming truly absorbed in Piano Star Theory…
Improve your Music Theory!
At last, a series which realises the true purpose of teaching music theory by making it interesting, useful and above all genuinely relevant to a player’s musical learning!
David Hall: ‘There’s More to Playing the Piano’
I believe that taken as a whole package, this resource provides an excellent solution to the vexed question of how best to fit sufficient music theory content into students’ learning when lesson time is rather short.
There’s Even More to Playing the Piano
Building on the success of his previous music theory primer, David Hall’s has been written for those who would like to understand repertoire better, learn to improvise, compose, and appreciate the skills and techniques of the great composers…
Paul Harris’s Musical Doodles
Musical Doodles is a wonderful little book, and I can see it being helpful not only to younger learners, but to anyone who wants a fresh perspective on creating music, and is ready to have fun in the process…
Decoding Music Theory
The Melodic Decoder books, covering ABRSM Music Theory grades 1-4 (2020 syllabus) seem to me a brilliant antidote to the dry-as-dust workbooks sometimes inflicted on children…
How to Blitz ABRSM Theory
Samantha Coates dishes up a satisfying and enjoyable feast of activities which I believe will ensure effective learning and exam success.
SIGHT READING
The ability to play music at sight, without first hearing it, is a useful skill for all pianists to develop from the very start of their journey, and is essential for all who accompany instrumentalists, singers, or choirs, as well as anyone keen to play in ensembles, shows, or recording sessions.
Pianodao has reviewed the leading resources by sight-reading guru Paul Harris, and he has also provided a special webinar for the site:
Paul Harris • How to Sight Read
Paul Harris’ sight-reading resources have played an important role in my teaching for years. How wonderful to now have this book, which brings us a deeper understanding of this important aspect of musical learning.
Paul Harris Webinar: A Piece a Week
In this special webinar for Pianodao Music Club members, Paul Harris explains the ethos behind his acclaimed ‘Piece a Week’ series, and introduces the final volume.
Pianodao also has an exclusive free piece for you to download…
Paul Harris: A Piece A Week
Paul Harris’s series of A Piece a Week books have been appearing at regular intervals over the last three years.
As Faber Music now bring us the Grade 6 book, it seems appropriate to consolidate my thoughts into a single review.
A Piece a Week: “Initial Grade”
Harris has just added a new book to this series, A Piece A Week: Initial Grade, which merits a separate review to the rest of the series for a variety of reasons…
Improve your sight-reading!
With the addition of a new Teacher’s book, “Improve your sight-reading” offers an unbeatable range of resources…
Pianodao also recommends the following resources, and includes rhythm flash cards as a free download:
Who really needs mnemonics?
Are note-naming rhymes useful, and if so for whom? Many piano teachers suggest they aren’t, but multiple studies say otherwise. Perhaps a balanced reassessment of the topic, grounded in neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and academic research, is overdue…
Piano Sight Reading: A Progressive Method
Having looked at more than a few sight reading resources over recent years, I find this series especially appealing. Regardless of exams and boards, these are no-fuss publications which can be used as straight-forward course materials with pretty much any student.
More Piano Sight-Reading from ABRSM
ABRSM’s new sight-reading books include several tweaks and changes to the format which together make them a step-improvement on the older ones.
Rhythm Games
A gift to Pianodao readers, this set of 37 full-sized cards are mostly in Common time, with a handful in Compound time. PLUS: a few ideas of games you can play with students which will put these flash cards to creative use…
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Musical understanding goes far beyond literacy to include all aspects of our cultural awareness, understanding of historical context, interpreting and performing traditions.
You can find out more about this in the Exploring Repertoire section, as well as by reading the following superb books for further background:
The Piano: A History in 100 Pieces
Susan Tomes’ latest book, “The Piano: A History in 100 Pieces” is quite simply an essential purchase for any piano enthusiast, offering as it does a veritable feast of salient information and insight into the instrument and music which we love so much.
The Classical Piano Sonata
Michael Davidson has provided an indispensable guide for every serious pianist and music-lover…
Women and the Piano
In her latest book, Susan Tomes delivers an impassioned exposition of the impact that gender has had, and continues to have, on the development of professional pianism and the wider piano community…
The Symphony: From Mannheim to Mahler
With impeccable timing at the start of a new academic year, Faber Music have just released The Symphony: From Mannheim to Mahler, an accessible new guide written by Christopher Tarrant and Natalie Wild, which hopes (and deserves) to become a standard text for A’ level and undergraduate students.
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