I love this chart – it reminds me why playing/learning the piano is a uniquely challenging and rewarding experience – it really challenges your brain to work in an integrated way in a way that few other activities do. And every student is different – that’s why I like to observe their natural learning style and work with both their habitual brain patterns AND gently challenge them to do new things that expand the way they think/play/problem-solve/make music!
I currently have two 13-year olds studying with me. They are both working with the Bartok Mikrokosmos. I love these pieces – a set of piano pieces that start with things a total beginner can play, introduce new elements of piano-playing one by one, and gradually become full, interesting musical compositions. But even the first pieces – because Bartok was a great composer – are musically rewarding.
One student at his first lesson told me that he had played some guitar, and liked it. “I liked the sound of the guitar, and that it was kind of easy,” he said. I felt that he would enjoy a very structured approach, learning the pieces as they are written, step by step, and would enjoy the success of mastering each Mikrokosmos piece. And he does! The other student is completely different – although he also wants to learn to read and play written music, he lit up when he told me he wants to improvise and compose. So, while we still work on playing the Mikrokosmos as Bartok put them on the page, I gave him a homework assignment – to write his own Mikrokosmos! He came back the next week with two great compositions of his own, which we are working on developing further.
I love connecting with students and finding the approach that gives them a living, exciting relationship with music and the piano. I feel very grateful to be working with these two boys and am excited to see how their musical lives will develop.
