A Well-Balanced Curriculum for Beginner Piano Students

When developing a curriculum for beginner piano students in the Foundation Programme, I wanted to create a balanced system that included core repertoire, technique and theory. As students progress through the four different levels, we focus on building a strong base to prepare for the Expansion Programme.

Here’s an outline of the material covered in each level, a look at some of the resources that are used, and an explanation of how it all works together:

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Different Elements to Incorporate

Over the (many) years I’ve been teaching I’ve tried out a lot of different method books, theory workbooks, and approaches to technique (as well as a lot of resources for every other area of music!) I feel like I’ve landed on a good combination which ticks all the boxes of a well-rounded introduction to piano. Here’s a look at the different resources that feature in the Foundation Programme:

Repertoire

I’ve been using the Supersonics method books with my students for years, and really like the original version of the series. I’m able to print copies for my students with the digital license, which has made it easy to include and exclude particular pieces (and swap the order around a little). My only issue with this series was the later introduction of the left hand and bass clef, so I’ve added some extra pieces into the first section.

To keep track of progress I’ve also created lists of the pieces in each level, which are marked as complete when they can be played fluently. Although each level does have these specific pieces, there’s definitely flexibility when it comes to repertoire choice. I would never make a student learn a piece they didn’t like, and with so many options available it’s easy to find an alternative piece that covers the same material.

When looking for supplementary pieces here are some of my favourite collections:

• Alfred’s Basic Piano Library
• Carol Matz Piano
• Compose Create
• EVC Music
• Imaginative Repertoire
• Piano Adventures
• Piano Pronto
• Wunderkeys

Technique

Learning chords and pentascales in all keys is such an important element of music lessons. Recognising these patterns early on is gold for developing an understanding of key signatures, improving sight reading, and learning about transposing. Plus spending time playing broken chords and pentascales is a great way to improve technique like finger independence, speed, and dexterity.

There are a few different resources available for learning pentascales and chords, but I had a specific idea of how I wanted to organise everything in levels so I ended up creating my own!

The digital version of Key Exploration can be found in the Pianosaurus Rex Shop, so it’s available for any teachers who’d like to use this resource with their students.

Theory

Including some written activities for music theory can really help to cement knowledge, so students complete theory workbooks which correlate to the material they’re learning about in their method book.

Students are responsible for marking their own work using an answer booklet, and are able to correct any errors or issues. If we find there’s any areas they struggle with, there are a few different ways to review the information:

• Discussion and demonstrations during their one-on-one lessons
• Theory videos (sometimes it just takes a different way of explaining things for it to click)
• Additional theory worksheets about a specific topic
• Music theory games that cover relevant concepts
• Theory apps (although these are best for reviewing material)

The first two levels of Theory Workbooks I use are available in the Pianosaurus Rex Shop, and the second two levels from Music Discoveries are currently unavailable.

Other popular theory workbooks include:

• Thinking Theory
• Theory Time
• Piano Skill Set
• Playing With Note Printing

Other Elements

In addition to these three main areas, the curriculum also covers:

• Ear training
• Improvisation
• Transposing
• Sight reading
• Composition

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Developing Goals & Expectations

Having a clear goal in mind definitely helps students to focus as they progress with music lessons. In the Foundation Programme students feel a real sense of achievement as they complete each level and master the skills (as they should, there’s a lot of work involved!)

By the end of this programme students are ready to choose a particular track in the Expansion Programme. Whether they decide to focus on completing exams, expanding their repertoire, or composing, they have a great all-round knowledge and are prepared for a new challenge.

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Creating a Clear Progression

Organising the different elements of music lessons into four distinct levels has made my students’ progress much easier to map out, follow, and track. Here’s the breakdown of what’s covered in each level of the curriculum for beginner piano:

Level One

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Level Two

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Level Three

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Level Four

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Acknowledging & Recording Progress

As students work through the material we keep track of their progress through checklists (my favourite!) which makes it easy to see at a glance what they’re working on. Once they complete each level students will have:

• Learned all pieces from the list in their method book (or a suitable alternative)
• Completed practice for all relevant broken chords and pentascales
• Finished ten theory worksheets

And then to show their knowledge there are three more requirements:

Digital Recording

Students choose a bonus piece (I give them some options from other method books and supplementary material) which they prepare to performance level. We then take a video to show their progress, which we can then share with parents and keep as a record to look back on as they grow and develop as musicians.

Technique Demonstration

To show that they’ve mastered the different broken chords and pentascales, I ask students to demonstrate a (mostly random) selection from their current level. This doesn’t prove too difficult, as they’ve already completed a lot of practice for the six different keys which have been covered.

Viva Voce

Finally, to test theory knowledge I ask a few questions about pieces they’ve been working on (like identifying notes, counting rhythm, naming note values, and explaining dynamics). I like to do this at a couple of points during each level: once near the middle to highlight if there’s any particular topics that need more attention; then again towards the end to make sure they can apply their theoretical knowledge to their pieces.

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Covering Material During Lessons

With Rotating Lessons it’s easy to focus on different areas of the curriculum during the different activity stations:

One-On-One

During the individual part of the lesson we focus on repertoire: working on new or current pieces. There’s also an opportunity to introduce and review technique, plus the chance to cover other activities like ear training, improvising and sight reading.

Practice Lab

While students are working independently on the digital piano they split their time between repertoire and technique. This is really valuable practice time, especially when it follows on from the one-on-one lesson which helps to cement the concepts we’ve just covered.

Theory Lab

Having dedicated theory time during the lesson gives students the chance to complete worksheets independently, and once they’ve finished they can try to beat their high score in one of the music theory apps. This is also a good time to review concepts with videos and theory games.

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Key Takeaways

A well-balanced curriculum for beginner piano sets students up for success with their musical education. Students develop the skills and knowledge they need for a solid foundation as they focus on core repertoire, technique, and music theory.

Organising material into different levels provides a good framework, and students are motivated as they make measurable progress.

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If you’re looking for lessons with a comprehensive curriculum for beginner piano that students love, then sign up for lessons at Pianosaurus Rex.