There is a bit of a mini-revolution going on in the world of piano teachers. And it all has to do with teaching piano for beginners.
You see, there's the old way of teaching piano. This way focuses on learning notes, learning to site read music, and learning where each individual note is on the piano. This method also focuses on practicing scales day in and day out.
This classic method is what a lot of people think of when they think of piano for beginners. But it's not the only way to learn.
Many piano teachers have begun teaching in a new way that is exciting and enjoyable to their students. The students of these teachers learn to play music faster and have a better time doing it.
What is the name of this miracle method?
While it doesn't have a formal name, people refer to it as "learning chords." Piano for beginners is taught with an emphasis on learning chords, rather than individual notes.
This method is so popular because it makes learning piano exciting. After just a few short lessons, students can play real music. This is much more thrilling for students than practicing scales. After all, most people want to learn piano to play songs, not scales.
Chords are a natural lead into music making. It's the way people learn to play guitar, and it's the reason that guitar players often enjoy their lessons more.
When a beginning piano student learns chords, they can easily play a song within the first few lessons. This creates a sense of satisfaction of the student and encourages them to learn more. It builds confidence, in children and adult beginners alike. And that confidence can get the student excited about piano.
Piano for beginners taught through the chord based method is enjoyable for student and teacher alike. Could you imagine listening to nothing by scales for hours each day? A teacher that instructs their students to use chords can hear actual music as they teach their students to play.
Chords allow new students to speak the language of music, rather than just learning the "letters" of that language. With a chord-based method, students develop a real appreciation for music and an understanding for song composition much earlier. They can learn music, instead of just learning notes. This is satisfying for the student and the teacher alike.
Piano for beginners can be exciting and fun when the right method is used!