• How can I use the monthly resources?
• Do I need to be Kodaly trained to teach this method?
No. The PianoForte method uses many Kodaly teaching ideas and approaches, but the method is based primarily on the development of aural skills using Moveable Solfa and the application of these skills to traditional piano pedagogy. The method is composed in such a straight forward way that it’s easy for teachers to use even with only a basic understanding of Movable Solfa.
• How long do students spend on each PianoForte level
Each level usually takes about an academic year to complete - give or take individual circumstances of course. It is very useful to take as much time as possible throughout the beginning levels as it develops strong musical skills.
There is a magic moment during the “Beyond Level 3” stage where each student seems to suddenly ‘takes off’. One minute they are methodically working through the material and then suddenly you find they are playing Grade 2-3 repertoire - it’s like the music teaches itself!
• What is better - the printed books or the printable membership?
The printed books are currently only available in the US and the UK, but if you live elsewhere don’t worry! The entire method is available with the Printable Membership, which gives you a studio license to freely print what you need for your students. All of the material that is in the Beyond Level 3 section, and all of the Supplementary Teaching Materials, are only available in the membership.
If you live in the US or the UK, you will probably find it convenient to ask your students to buy the book and also have a printable membership for yourself. This way you can still use all the wonderful supplemental materials, but it’s slightly more convenient for each student to have an actual book to take home for practice!
• Does this method work for group lessons?
Yes! This method is absolutely wonderful for teaching lessons in groups. There are so many ways to make music together that learning in a group is fun and extremely effective. There are “Story - Play Along Pieces”, games, chants and many songs! All of the worksheets are perfect for group work and all of the songs have a ‘folk-music’ quality that lend them to easy arrangements with multiple children doing multiple things. The idea is that children engage in the process of making music as much as possible. This can happen in private one-to-one lessons with a teacher and in groups of other students.
• When students finish the method what grade are they?
This method can be used exclusively without any other books or other methods from the very first piano lesson right through to the end of the levels. When students have moved naturally through each level and the Major Scale book, the Supplementary Material and the repertoire music in the Beyond Level 3 stage, they are comfortably at a Grade 1, rising to a Grade 2 standard (ABRSM). They move effortlessly into repertoire such as Arabesque by Burgmuller, In the Garden by Maykapar, Minuet in G from the AMB Notebook, and Sonatina Op 36, No. 1 by Clementi.
• What about adults and older beginners?
Adults and older beginners thrive with this method. The lessons are simple and uncluttered. Older beginners enjoy the straight forward approach and are excited at how simple and logical it feels to read music using this method. Older beginners progress very quickly and within a year they are usually able to play much of the repertoire found in the Beyond Level 3 stage, and are also exploring other repertoire beyond!
• Is it suitable for transfer students who have never used Moveable Solfa?
Yes. If the transfer student is below a Grade 1-2 standard they can usually start on Level 2 or Level 3. They can spend time “filling in solfa gaps” along the way. The supplementary resources are perfect for this. The student will find that in a short time reading feels easier, and learning new music takes much less time. If the student is beyond a Grade 1-2 standard, it is useful to use the Major Scales book to introduce Moveable Solfa through singing scales. There are so many resources that support this as well. This ‘slightly more advanced’ students will thrive on the repertoire in the Beyond Level 3 section, as the music is highly patterned, easy to read and easy to sing using solfa.
• What if a student refuses to sing?
This is not uncommon and the method is still perfect for these students. Depending on each individual student and why they won’t sing, it is effective for the teacher to do the singing and ask them to “sing along in their head”. This is actually quite useful in its own way as it helps develop a strong audiation skill. Even if the student isn’t singing, the method still teaches them to read logically using Moveable Solfa, and the technical and theoretical progression is the same.
• Is this method good for students with diverse learning needs?
Yes. The way the PianoForte method is composed and presented allows a teacher to meet a student exactly where they are musically and aurally. It is very logical and uncluttered, with no unnecessary distractions or superfluous information. It is creative and collaborative, and has so many opportunities to make music together. Teachers can take the student’s lead, experiment with sounds and there’s enough material that extra time can be spent at any point or concept. It is a natural and gentle way to teach piano and has been successfully used with many, many students with various diverse learning needs.