WHY THE PIANO?

 The piano was invented in Italy in 1709 by

Bartolomeo di Francesco Cristofori.
 The word piano is the shortened version of the
word pianoforte, which means soft (piano) and loud
Do you know? (forte).
 A new piano should be tuned four times a year to
adjust to its new environment and changing seasons 
 Pianos have a total of 88 black and white keys.
 The piano has over 12,000 parts, 10,000 of which are
moving.
 There are 18 million non-professional piano players
in the USA alone.
 The piano can be considered both a string and
percussion instrument (Most categorize it as a
percussion instrument because hammers strike the
strings inside to produce sound)
 Up until the 1950s, piano keys were made from
elephant tusks. Today, in order to protect and
preserve elephants, most piano keys are made from
plastic.
 Pedals on pianos are called – from left to right – una
corda, sostenuto, and the sustain pedal.
  Cognitive skills
 Musical skills
BENEFITS  Social skills
 Emotional skills
 Health
  Teaches children to learn how to notice patterns
visually (through notes) and aurally (by listening)
 Children are exposed to different signs and symbols
that will eventually make them more aware and
observant as their lessons progress
Cognitive skills  Teaches child to think and analyze musical pieces
and will make them independent learners in
learning music
 Children will acquire hand- eye coordination, sense
of rhythm, critical thinking skills, sensitivity to
sound, and so much more
  The piano is the “king of all instruments”. Children
will be able to produce “complete” music
 Hand coordination is trained, as well as balance the
Musical skills balance of left hand and right hand
 Collaboration with other musicians is learned
  Relationship between the student, teacher and
parents are strengthened
 Constant communication is being developed.
Social skills Children will learn to be more open to listening and
responding to social cues outside the music room
 Confidence is being built up
  The piano is a miraculous outlet for children to
express themselves and let their emotions run free
Emotional skills  Playing the piano increases happiness and removes
negative emotions.
  Children’s neural connections will be enhanced.
They improve body’s natural defense against
memory loss and cognitive decline
 Improve memory
Health
 Piano lessons for children can result to lower anxiety
and depression levels
PIANO - method books that we use -
CURRICULUM
Piano Adventures
Michael Aaron
John Thompson
Leila
Fletcher
Edna-Mae
Burnam
Eckstein
Hanon
Books are assigned according to how the teacher
assesses the student

Each method books are suitable to a certain age,

as deemed by the teacher

Method books are not limited to the ones viewed

in this presentation. Teacher may give other
method books, especially to advanced students
Children will also experience playing popular music
aside from being classically trained. Chords will
also be taught aside from note reading.

A show piece will be assigned to each student in

preparation for recitals and performances.

The school holds events such as mini recitals,

grand recitals, and concerts to showcase talents
and progress of students at the end of each
season.
LESSON PROPER
Sequence of Activities
  1. Beginner (4-6 years old)
 2. Early Intermediate (7-9)
Levels  3. Intermediate (10-12)
 4. Advanced
 5. Adult Beginner
  Method Book: Faber - My First Piano Adventure Book A
 Lesson Duration: 30 mins
 Begin with warmup exercises (simple stretching, hand rotation,
fix posture while doing the activity)
Beginner (4-6  Introduce the piano through exploration (let the student
years old) discover the patterns in the black keys first)
 Teach music through patterns in color (assign one colored
sticker to one white key)
 At this level, rhythm is the most important element of music.
The student’s inner pulse is trained by following the beat
through tapping, clapping, counting out loud etc.
 Faber’s My First Piano Adventure offers a creative and
interactive way of learning piano. Go page by page with this
book, while using the CD when doing activities or playing
pieces.
  Method Book: Faber - My First Piano Adventure Book B until
Piano Adventures Level 1; Schaum - Piano Book Pre-A to Book
Early 1; Ella Mae Burnam - A Dozen A Day
 Lesson Duration: 45 mins
Intermediate  Warmup exercises must now be done through playing finger
(7-9 scales. The teacher must let the student observe his/her fingers
while playing, and let the student be aware of the
strength/weakness of each finger.
 Focus more on note reading. Solidify the student’s knowledge
on notes by giving note reading drills and exercises.
 In order to make pieces interesting, interact with the student
regarding the piece’s story. In this way, the student creatively
memorizes the piece through imaginative scenery.
  Method Book: Faber - Piano Adventures Level 2A, Michael
Aaron - Piano Book Grade One, John Thompson - Piano Book
Grade One, Eckstein - Finger Exercises
Intermediate  Lesson Duration: 1 hour
(10-12)  Introduce complete scales (the turning of the fingers is
important). Student must recognize how scales and key
signatures form the backbone of music.
 Speed is the most important technique to be trained at this
level. The student is exposed to faster pieces, and is expected
to finish homework faster.
 At this level, technique and artistry is honed by analyzing the
intricate details in the score. The student begins to learn and
memorize articulations (legato, staccato, slurs, ties, grace
notes etc.).
  Method Book: Faber - Piano Adventures Level 3A, Michael
Aaron - Piano Book Grade Two, John Thompson - Piano Book
Grade Two, Czerny - Etudes Op. 599
Advanced  Lesson Duration: 1 hour
 The student is expected to be almost independent—the
teacher will no longer teach basic note reading skills.
 In this level, the lesson is focused on getting the “perfect
sound”. The student is expected to be more aware of his/her
own playing my diligently listening to himself/herself.
 The student can easily transition from classical to pop music.
Syncopations can be explored more as pop and jazz music has
more interesting rhythms and beats.
  Method Book: Faber - Adult Piano Adventures to Level 2B,
Michael Aaron - Piano Book Grade One, John Thompson - Piano
Book Grade One, Eckstein - Finger Exercises
 Lesson Duration: 1 hour
Adult  Contrary to popular belief, adult beginners are much more
Beginner malleable than younger ones.
 Focus on theory before the piano. Learn note reading on the
staff first, followed by finger numbers, note rhythms, and
articulation.
 The lesson proper can be customized depending on how fast
the student catches up.
 Take time to interact with the student and know his/her goals.
If it is to learn pop music, focus on keys, scales, chords, and
finger memory. If it is to learn the classical method, orient them
on the difficulty and patience needed to master the craft.
Famous Pianists in
the Philippines
Cecile Licad
Raul
Sunico
Ingrid
Santamaria
Ryan
Cayabyab
Gerard
Salonga
Thank
you!