I use Piano Adventures, Music Tree, or sometimes Piano Town. I have Piano Safari books, but haven't studied them enough yet to be confident teaching with them. Thanks for bringing them to my attention again! Also have had really good success with the Canadian "Celebrate Piano". The Hal Leonard Adult Piano Method works great with kids, even just as a supplement. It has, by far, the best duets I've ever heard, and the kids want to play them repeatedly. Thanks for your comparison video!
Thank you so much for sharing all these ideas. You are such a delight to hear... I am learning so much from you.... and I have been teaching forever....
Those methods I am more familiar with (not including the European technical studies, etc.): #1: Personalized Music Instruction #2: Faber #3: Lang Lang #4: Alfred's Preparatory Piano Course #5: Alfred's Premier Piano #6: Alfred #7: Bastien #8: John Thompson #9: Hal Leonard #10: Any method that the kid LOATHES
I do love my first piano adventures, the Alfred’s premier piano course. I tried Piano Safari and felt incompetent, but I need to change my feelings and try it again😊
I don’t have enough experience to say. The books on their own wouldn’t be a good representation, the teacher needs specialised training to teach Suzuki.
I liked the Thompson method. I know many very fine pianist who have done very well with it. I think you need to incorporate other teaching material and not be too dependent on one book.
I have a question. I just bought a piano for our family to learn together. I have an 8 and 11 year old. We can all read music (though we are slow). We can identify to keys (though we are slow here too). I need a recommendation for a curriculum we can work through as a family without paying teaching. Any recommendations?
Hi where do you get your Piano Pronto books from? I can see you’re in Ireland, I’m in Wales but am having a hard time finding ones that aren’t silly money. Thanks for the video anyway, I’m looking to move away from Piano Adventures which I have been using for years, it’s good but I could do with a change and something which allows a bit of a quicker pacing for students learning within a 1/2hr a week frame work. Best wishes Alex
Have you ever seen Music Pathways by Lynn Freeman Olson? It's definitely dated in terms of the art. I desperately want to update it, and I even reached out to the publisher about doing it, and got no response. I do love it, though. I'm just starting out trying Piano Safari.
I haven't used it personally but when I've looked through it feels too position-based to me. But this is just from looking so I could be wrong about that.
@kyle - I'll just comment as another teacher that Alfred Premier is very similar to Piano Adventures. If you like PA, you might enjoy this. The music is fantastic - the composers include Martha Mier and Dennis Alexander, who are two of my favorites for students. There's quite a lot of good rhythmic work and focus on styles that require good rhythm such as jazz, blues, and rock.
@@JannaWilliamson I find Alfred Premier a bit better for relative reading whereas Faber is slightly more positional. I also like how eighth notes are introduced in Alfred Premier much better than Faber. The first couple of songs after eighth notes are terrible in Faber. Bach’s minuet and the Brahm’s lullaby split the eighths between the hands and have the stemming going back and forth in a way that is far too confusing for a student just learning eighth notes. Luckily the performance book songs are great as a substitute. My main gripe with Alfred Premier is some insensitive song choices and questionable art. turkey in the straw, a caricatured Asian man, etc.
What do you think about the Piano Town curriculum? I rarely (if ever) hear teacher tubers mention it, always in favor of Piano Adventures and the like. Piano Town has a nice mix of positional and intervalic teaching. By level 2 students are already practicing stretching their hands by way of intervallic reading. The lesson book covered concepts like “sonatina” form, introducing ideas like structure. Besides lesson books, they also have theory and technique books which run concurrent to the lessons. Personally, I think they have a very clean layout/look to them, with lesson tabs so you can easily see what is covered throughout each book. I will look into Piano Safari. Thanks!
It depends what way you want to talk about levels? There are many different terms used. Piano Safari 1 takes students to the end of level 1 of most methods which is still beginner level. I would recommend continuing unless you have some reason to change.
I thought Piano Safari was the worst piano method I've ever tried. It leaves students very confused as to where notes are and what the note names are. They cannot remember the "by rote" pieces either. That's my experience with transfers who used Piano Safari. I tried continuing with it, and finally had to start them on other methods.
Brilliant! I totally hear you wr to eighth notes! I find people struggle more with quarters. I find counting in eighths first makes it easier to understand most rhythms!
I agree John Thompson is boring and don't like the books for the same reasons. I agree with your analysis of Jibbidy F and ACE. I much prefer an intervalic approach. The music needs to be interesting and the visual aspect attractive.
I love Faber Piano Adventures
love piano adventures, i used it a lot together with other books for scales, arpeggios and songs(duvernoy, czerny etc)
I use Piano Adventures, Music Tree, or sometimes Piano Town. I have Piano Safari books, but haven't studied them enough yet to be confident teaching with them. Thanks for bringing them to my attention again! Also have had really good success with the Canadian "Celebrate Piano". The Hal Leonard Adult Piano Method works great with kids, even just as a supplement. It has, by far, the best duets I've ever heard, and the kids want to play them repeatedly. Thanks for your comparison video!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Thank you so much for sharing all these ideas. You are such a delight to hear... I am learning so much from you.... and I have been teaching forever....
Aw thanks Regina! Glad you’re enjoying the videos :)
Thank you so much for this. Got so many insights and love the way you’ve shared what you like and dislike.
Glad it was helpful!
Loving your presentation your clearly passionate and a lovely smile
Thank you so much!
I’d be curious to know your thoughts on the Wunderkeys method.
Great Tutorial
Thanks!
Great points! I use both pronto and Faber for some levels. My new goal is to learn and use Piano safari this Fall.
You can do it!
I love your channel. Thanks for all your reviews books ❤
You are so welcome!
What do you think of Irina Gorin’s "Tales of a Musical Journey" and Irina Mints’ "Hello! Piano"? Have you tried them?
I have used Tales and found it didn't quite suit me but it's a fantastic way to teach technique. I haven't used Irina Mints.
Those methods I am more familiar with (not including the European technical studies, etc.):
#1: Personalized Music Instruction
#2: Faber
#3: Lang Lang
#4: Alfred's Preparatory Piano Course
#5: Alfred's Premier Piano
#6: Alfred
#7: Bastien
#8: John Thompson
#9: Hal Leonard
#10: Any method that the kid LOATHES
I do love my first piano adventures, the Alfred’s premier piano course. I tried Piano Safari and felt incompetent, but I need to change my feelings and try it again😊
Curious on your opinion on Suzuki method!
I don’t have enough experience to say. The books on their own wouldn’t be a good representation, the teacher needs specialised training to teach Suzuki.
Can you do a review about Bastien New Traditions All in One piano course?
Sorry but I only review things I have personally used and I have no plans to explore Bastien right now.
This has been very educational. I have been thinking about giving piano lessons. I agree, Thompson books were SO BORING..
What do you think of the Alfred series?
Haven’t used it personally
I liked the Thompson method. I know many very fine pianist who have done very well with it. I think you need to incorporate other teaching material and not be too dependent on one book.
I have a question. I just bought a piano for our family to learn together. I have an 8 and 11 year old. We can all read music (though we are slow). We can identify to keys (though we are slow here too). I need a recommendation for a curriculum we can work through as a family without paying teaching. Any recommendations?
Not really, to be honest. What I would recommend is a teacher. If it is difficult for you to get to a studio, many teachers teach online.
@@ColourfulKeys
Thank you very much. I trust your advice. I will find them an instructor.
Bastien? Alfred’s? What are your views on these?
I haven’t used them personally.
Hi where do you get your Piano Pronto books from? I can see you’re in Ireland, I’m in Wales but am having a hard time finding ones that aren’t silly money. Thanks for the video anyway, I’m looking to move away from Piano Adventures which I have been using for years, it’s good but I could do with a change and something which allows a bit of a quicker pacing for students learning within a 1/2hr a week frame work. Best wishes Alex
My hardcopies are from before they stopped shipping internationally. Now I can only buy digital copies.
PS go to the Piano Pronto site. Any on Amazon etc are second hand or a bit dodgy as she only sells on her own website.
@@ColourfulKeys OK thank you I have done that, looking forward to trying something different :-).
Have you ever seen Music Pathways by Lynn Freeman Olson? It's definitely dated in terms of the art. I desperately want to update it, and I even reached out to the publisher about doing it, and got no response. I do love it, though. I'm just starting out trying Piano Safari.
I would like to know your opinion about the Wunderkeys methods and/or their new Vey Useful Library for primer to Level 1B.
I used the old Wunderkeys years ago but I haven’t used the new ones so can’t give a proper opinion.
What do you think of Bastien New Traditions All in one piano course book series?
Never used it
What do you think of Alfred Premier?
I haven't used it personally but when I've looked through it feels too position-based to me. But this is just from looking so I could be wrong about that.
@kyle - I'll just comment as another teacher that Alfred Premier is very similar to Piano Adventures. If you like PA, you might enjoy this. The music is fantastic - the composers include Martha Mier and Dennis Alexander, who are two of my favorites for students. There's quite a lot of good rhythmic work and focus on styles that require good rhythm such as jazz, blues, and rock.
@@JannaWilliamson I find Alfred Premier a bit better for relative reading whereas Faber is slightly more positional. I also like how eighth notes are introduced in Alfred Premier much better than Faber. The first couple of songs after eighth notes are terrible in Faber. Bach’s minuet and the Brahm’s lullaby split the eighths between the hands and have the stemming going back and forth in a way that is far too confusing for a student just learning eighth notes. Luckily the performance book songs are great as a substitute.
My main gripe with Alfred Premier is some insensitive song choices and questionable art. turkey in the straw, a caricatured Asian man, etc.
What do you think about the Piano Town curriculum? I rarely (if ever) hear teacher tubers mention it, always in favor of Piano Adventures and the like. Piano Town has a nice mix of positional and intervalic teaching. By level 2 students are already practicing stretching their hands by way of intervallic reading. The lesson book covered concepts like “sonatina” form, introducing ideas like structure. Besides lesson books, they also have theory and technique books which run concurrent to the lessons. Personally, I think they have a very clean layout/look to them, with lesson tabs so you can easily see what is covered throughout each book.
I will look into Piano Safari. Thanks!
I have seen it but haven’t used it. There are so many wonderful methods out there, we can’t use them all!
Is there any method someone could learn piano with by themself ? I dont have a teacher
There are many but not one I could honestly recommend. It’s really best to get a teacher who can guide you.
I would really love to try Piano Safari, sadly it is not locally distributed here in the Philippines. 😢
Are you able to get it shipped down there? I know that's probably a lot.
@@rachelpalm3688 I can but shipping costs will be expensive. Will look for an alternative 😊
@@elowees Ah, I see. I do know that they have some download options, especially for the rote pieces. I hope you can try some of those!
@@rachelpalm3688 thank you!
Can i ask to what level the first piano safari takes the student? And do we carry on with piano safari if we start of with it?
It depends what way you want to talk about levels? There are many different terms used. Piano Safari 1 takes students to the end of level 1 of most methods which is still beginner level. I would recommend continuing unless you have some reason to change.
I thought Piano Safari was the worst piano method I've ever tried. It leaves students very confused as to where notes are and what the note names are. They cannot remember the "by rote" pieces either. That's my experience with transfers who used Piano Safari. I tried continuing with it, and finally had to start them on other methods.
What do you think about “Celebrate Piano!”
I haven’t used it personally so I can’t comment.
Brilliant! I totally hear you wr to eighth notes! I find people struggle more with quarters. I find counting in eighths first makes it easier to understand most rhythms!
I agree John Thompson is boring and don't like the books for the same reasons. I agree with your analysis of Jibbidy F and ACE. I much prefer an intervalic approach. The music needs to be interesting and the visual aspect attractive.