RESOURCES
BEGINNING STUDENTS
I work with the Faber Piano Adventures Adult All-in-One Course, Levels 1 and Level 2 as the core method books for beginning students. These books build a strong foundation in:
Note reading
Time signatures (3/4, 4/4, 6/8)
Rhythm and note values
Accidentals
Basic piano technique
To supplement the core method, I also recommend the following companion books for early repertoire:
Beginning students will also be introduced to one-octave major scales. A scale book is essential, and I recommend:
However, any basic scale book will be sufficient at this stage such as:
INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS
After completing Levels 1 and 2 of the Faber Adult method, students are considered early intermediate. At this level, we shift focus to developing repertoire. While I primarily assign classical pieces, students are encouraged to explore other genres as well.
All intermediate students will work from a leveled repertoire series, such as:
These collections include works from all four major periods of classical music—Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary.
Intermediate students will continue working on scales (major, natural minor, and harmonic minor) with a goal of playing all scales in four octaves.
MUSIC THEORY
A foundational understanding of music theory is essential to becoming a well-rounded pianist. Understanding how music is structured—through scales, chords, and harmonic function—enhances your ability to interpret and perform.
I recommend the following resources:
Fundamentals of Piano Theory by Keith Snell and Martha Ashleigh (Preparatory through Level 10)
For free online learning, musictheory.net is an excellent resource for interactive lessons and exercises.