Marilyn’s Top Picks for Piano Method Books
During my 23 years of teaching piano, I have discovered what method books students’ love and what method books students get bored with. I have also discovered that many of the popular method books used today are “dumbed down” or overly simplified. When I was a child learning the piano in the 1970’s, students were more advanced than they are today. Today’s “advanced” student would be comparable to an early intermediate student in the 70’s. There is a multitude of reasons for this, but one of them is the piano method book. Below is a list of method books for students ages 4 and up.
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Faber Alfred Michael Aaron
For ages 4-6. Young students LOVE "My First Piano" books by Faber & Faber. Both the Faber & Alfred
books are "non-middle" C methods meaning that young students start on other keys rather than middle C. The Michael Aaron book is a middle C method. I suggest the Michael Aaron books for students all the way up to grade 5.
For ages 4-6. Young students LOVE "My First Piano" books by Faber & Faber. Both the Faber & Alfred
books are "non-middle" C methods meaning that young students start on other keys rather than middle C. The Michael Aaron book is a middle C method. I suggest the Michael Aaron books for students all the way up to grade 5.
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A Dozen A Day (fun technique book) Burnam John Thompson's Easiest
For ages 5-6. Student's beginning in these books could progress to the next book. A Dozen A Day goes up to book 5, Edna Mae Burnam goes up to book 6, and John Thompson's Easiest goes up to book 5. Young students love the colors in the John Thompson's Easiest book but find it more difficult than the Faber or Alfred method books.
For ages 5-6. Student's beginning in these books could progress to the next book. A Dozen A Day goes up to book 5, Edna Mae Burnam goes up to book 6, and John Thompson's Easiest goes up to book 5. Young students love the colors in the John Thompson's Easiest book but find it more difficult than the Faber or Alfred method books.
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Schaum John Thompson's Modern Michael Aaron
For ages 7-Adult. The Schaum and Michael Aaron series can be used for up to adult level. These books were very popular years ago. The John Thompson's Modern Course (in the middle) is one of the harder method books but offers the best selection of classical music pieces. There are also nice composer biographies and a synopsis of the style of music that you will be learning. None of these books are "dumbed down" and will give pianists a good solid starting point. The John W. Schaum books are Pre-A to H. The John Thompson Modern Course goes up to Grade 5 and the Michael Aaron books also go up to grade 5.
For ages 7-Adult. The Schaum and Michael Aaron series can be used for up to adult level. These books were very popular years ago. The John Thompson's Modern Course (in the middle) is one of the harder method books but offers the best selection of classical music pieces. There are also nice composer biographies and a synopsis of the style of music that you will be learning. None of these books are "dumbed down" and will give pianists a good solid starting point. The John W. Schaum books are Pre-A to H. The John Thompson Modern Course goes up to Grade 5 and the Michael Aaron books also go up to grade 5.
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SCALE AND TECHNIQUE BOOKS: Bastien offers a nice layout with scales up to 2 octaves. Great for beginners! Alfred has much more to offer in terms of scales and chords such as added contrary motion scales and chord progressions. Hanon is a great reference book for advanced technique, offering scales up to 4 octaves and many more...
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Fingerpower-Technique Note Speller Benner Music Theory
For ages 7-Adult. Fingerpower is a technique book. Hanon (not listed) is also a good technique/reference book. The Note Speller books are great for repetitive writing and learning of notes and intervals. The Benner Theory books are some of the best music theory books I used growing up. I have not found one comparable to the Benner books other than college level music theory books.
For ages 7-Adult. Fingerpower is a technique book. Hanon (not listed) is also a good technique/reference book. The Note Speller books are great for repetitive writing and learning of notes and intervals. The Benner Theory books are some of the best music theory books I used growing up. I have not found one comparable to the Benner books other than college level music theory books.
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Henle Verlag Urtext Schirmer Alfred
PIANIST FOR LIFE! As a pianist, you cannot have enough piano music! Just as you want to start building your piano repertoire, you want to start building your piano music library. I have chosen these three editions as examples. The Henle edition is an Urtext (an original or the earliest version of a text, to which later versions can be compared.) The are other Urtext publishers are Barenreiter, Paderewski, Peters, Wiener etc....Urtexts are more expensive but if you can afford them, it is well worth the money. Schirmer is economical but offers good editions of music. I only like the Alfred version for Bach and Bach only. The reason is because in some of Bach's music (like the French Suites), there are many ornamentation's.....so many in fact that the Alfred edition makes it easy by displaying the ornaments in a dark gray color above the staff.
PIANIST FOR LIFE! As a pianist, you cannot have enough piano music! Just as you want to start building your piano repertoire, you want to start building your piano music library. I have chosen these three editions as examples. The Henle edition is an Urtext (an original or the earliest version of a text, to which later versions can be compared.) The are other Urtext publishers are Barenreiter, Paderewski, Peters, Wiener etc....Urtexts are more expensive but if you can afford them, it is well worth the money. Schirmer is economical but offers good editions of music. I only like the Alfred version for Bach and Bach only. The reason is because in some of Bach's music (like the French Suites), there are many ornamentation's.....so many in fact that the Alfred edition makes it easy by displaying the ornaments in a dark gray color above the staff.
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Denes Agay-Classics to Moderns Denes Agay The International Library of Piano Music
PIANIST FOR LIFE! I believe there are 6 Volumes of "Classics to Moderns" by Denes Agay. Agay also has 4 period specific set of books (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Twentieth Century). The International Library is out of print but you can still find some of these books on ebay or amazon. I had the privilege of growing up with a set of these books which came with records! My Dad was proud when he bought me this set and I remember his excitement the day they came in. If you search for these, don't be fooled by a "lesser" encyclopedia set. These are published by "The University Society, Inc; Copyright 1967." There was a very esteemed advisory board consisting of members such as Van Cliburn, Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copeland, and Rudolph Serkin (to name a few). This encyclopedia also comes in a more economical edition with green binding and vanilla covering.
PIANIST FOR LIFE! I believe there are 6 Volumes of "Classics to Moderns" by Denes Agay. Agay also has 4 period specific set of books (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Twentieth Century). The International Library is out of print but you can still find some of these books on ebay or amazon. I had the privilege of growing up with a set of these books which came with records! My Dad was proud when he bought me this set and I remember his excitement the day they came in. If you search for these, don't be fooled by a "lesser" encyclopedia set. These are published by "The University Society, Inc; Copyright 1967." There was a very esteemed advisory board consisting of members such as Van Cliburn, Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copeland, and Rudolph Serkin (to name a few). This encyclopedia also comes in a more economical edition with green binding and vanilla covering.
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Royal Conservatory ABRSM Trinity
National Exam Boards: We have lots of students who participate in one of these 3 exam boards. There are usually 4 books to a level (exam pieces, etudes, technique, and ear training). All students are tested and judged based on their level. The books can be pricey and also the exams. I really like their selection of pieces.
National Exam Boards: We have lots of students who participate in one of these 3 exam boards. There are usually 4 books to a level (exam pieces, etudes, technique, and ear training). All students are tested and judged based on their level. The books can be pricey and also the exams. I really like their selection of pieces.
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Hal Leonard Composer Showcase The FJH Pianist's-Curriculum The Festival Collection
These books offer a variety of music and from composers of today. These books are often used in music festivals and recitals
(K-12) The National Federation of Music Clubs requires students to choose some pieces from these books.
These books offer a variety of music and from composers of today. These books are often used in music festivals and recitals
(K-12) The National Federation of Music Clubs requires students to choose some pieces from these books.
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Classic piano books all edited by Maxwell Eckstein. They all have a very nice variety of pieces from Baroque through 20th Century.