The key ingredient piano lesson books miss. Why you work 52x too hard and still struggle

[@manuelagorni7128]

Thanks for this video Robert. Very clear and useful. I also teach piano based on your method and I must say that since I introduced it to the studio, I have truly been able to observe an exponential growth in the musicality of the students. Unfortunately however, although the methodology is closer to the natural way of learning and the lessons are truly more creative and fun, there are students who do not dedicate themselves at home taken up by the many commitments that our way of life entails, they grow at the level of musicality, but then, since there is no practice at home, the demonstration itself is missing and therefore the path proceeding slowly does not lead them to experience success and competence and ... music off! it's the easiest way to stop feeling frustration! Then there is the comparison with students who attend traditional school... in the first years it seems that those who rely on reading know how to perform more complex music... it seems... they don't know then that they will become addicted to the score and will not be able to emit a note that comes from their heart and express themselves musically. While my pupils seem to play much simpler things ... but as long as they put their hand on the piano and the music begins to flow ... they improvise ... their music ... and when they start reading, they read with greater fluidity, but I add to this they write their music and compose. It takes time and respect for internal processes, which precisely because they are internal cannot be forced into demonstrations. I know all the methods you mentioned, because in the search for materials I bought and tried them all. I still use them, because they contain a lot of good music...some songs are really motivating for the students. It takes us longer to learn them because the whole phase of preparation analysis, extrapolation of tonal and rhythmic patterns, and physical preparation, even away from the piano, takes time. But then you save a lot of it in the next phase. Having understood what that notation means, the students memorize it more easily and are able to express greater musicality and art in execution. Thanks again for this video of yours, sometimes I get into doubts, but listening to you gives me the strength to continue along this little-known path at the moment. So yes, if you feel like making more videos with content in this sense, I would be very grateful.

[@MyMusicGenesis]

I feel doubts often. But I find strength in my students when I see them engaging with their own creativity and music making skills. Not practicing at home between lessons is almost universal among music students. What I find fascinating is that when I'm teaching to students' needs and understanding, we can still pick up each week where we left off before, and it makes sense to them and we can continue. Even if they haven't touched a piano. Because we're focusing first on the music that lives in them. That they carry everywhere in their mind and body. Whereas with traditional lessons that are over-burdened with theoretical concepts too early in the process, every week felt like we were starting over again at zero. And the students felt that frustration. It's interesting to me that when teachers attempt to teach music reading first, it never works well. I think parents accept it, thinking they'll get better as they read more. But it never gets better. Students just attempt to play more and more complex music, and end up continuing to play poorly. As long as the focus is on the reading and not the playing, it's impossible to find a solution! Students quit in frustration and never learned anything about their creativity or about flow. They learned "I can't read music" and think it means "I can't make music." Yet teachers continue to teach reading first as if everything is working just fine. I LOVE this sentence: It takes time and respect for internal processes, which precisely because they are internal cannot be forced into demonstrations. Ultimately it's respect for students that keeps me learning about their learning process and how to teach to it. I wouldn't trade the world for the way they become engaged with music when our lessons are informed by their process.

[@davidpaulnormanmusic]

Thank you for these videos! They could revolutionize how music is taught and that is really needed.

[@MyMusicGenesis]

Thanks for the kind comment and you're welcome for the videos. I reckon music lessons are about due for an overhaul. I love imagining what we could do with a more musical culture and I hope to help that become reality.

[@mariocg]

Thanks for your time!

[@everyonemakesmusicstudentf4062]

I use Music Moves for Piano. It is helping ME to develop to the point where I can decifer the pieces tonal patterns as you did.

[@MyMusicGenesis]

Marilyn Lowe (the author of Music Moves) is the most important piano pedagogue of the last fifty years. She was brilliant and kind and I miss her dearly. Music Moves is THE piano method that's based on the research of how students learn music. I'm glad you're using it. I use it with my in-person students. I still feel like the activities in Music Moves (aka the activities that really work) are fringe in the piano lesson industry. That's backwards. Music Learning Theory teaching should be mainstream and all of this other ineffective stuff should be fringe! So my work is to change that. With your help! And I'm not talking "in fifty years," either. This year! Good teaching ideas and materials have been out there for long enough. Old fashioned materials and teachers who refuse to improve make it harder for the field to progress to help students better. Thank you for your work!

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

I had Faber and also La Méthode Rose since I also have to learn piano in the French. But I made the most progress with John Thompson in French. I started only at 65 yoa, and only had bad memories of music classes. Last week I had a lesson with a new teacher and she told me to quit using my brain and feel the music. This video is exactly what I need. Merci beaucoup.

[@MyMusicGenesis]

Great to hear that, thanks! Sorry you had some unpleasant music class experiences in the past. I've got mixed feelings about "quit using my brain and feel." Feel what? How? And if there's one thing therapy has taught me, it's that humans have brains and we ARE going to use them. Have you seen my video on Audiation from last month? It has some very effective ideas about how to direct thought musically in a way that's fun and will lead to skill development. Thanks for your comment. Enjoy yourself! *as much as possible!

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

@@MyMusicGenesis Thanks, I'll look at it next.

[@vincentmusschoot8142]

Ok, great stuff... But now what! How and where can I learn this Rhythm/Tonal method?

[@MyMusicGenesis]

Thanks! I've made a course called Play and Sing in Harmony that will help you learn the Tonal Patterns and locate them on the piano/keyboard. Rhythm course is in the works. I'm also planning a low cost subscription forum to help you bring this kind of understanding to whatever music you're working on. The benefits are huge. Namely improved ability not just to play but to create music. Something I'd like to see everyone doing more of. The course is available at playandsing.co , and I'll be announcing the forum there too in the next few weeks.

[@daleburke1956]

I disagree with playing on pads of fingers. It changes the tone quality of notes. My teacher has played at the Kennedy center and Carnegie Hall. Playing more on tips of fingers at the end of the keys is appropriate

[@MyMusicGenesis]

@@daleburke1956 Except for the curling and diminished sensitivity on the tippy tips, I’d agree with you