The Importance of the Comprehensive Approach
Why we believe in giving our Conservatory piano students a solid and comprehensive foundation.
There are many facets to learning to play the piano and they all work together to produce students who have the whole package: they play in a polished manner, they are literate musicians who understand what they’re playing, and they delight in the creative outlet which music making provides.
One of the surprising things for me about teaching over the last 55 years is that you never know when the spark of music study will catch fire in a student. I have had students who languished in lessons for a couple years - doing the minimum of work during the week in practicing, seemingly disinterested in excelling - and suddenly one day they “woke up” and couldn’t learn enough music. Practicing, having a keen interest in finding their own pieces, doing research on their own, and developing a deep love for music making are all the beautiful outcomes of this new-found passion.
Many of these students then go on to become music majors in college and eventually become professional musicians in teaching and/or playing. However, there is a catch—
If students become passionate about their piano studies too late, and they have not been given a solid foundation to start, it is sadly too late to make up time for some students. I remember one unfortunate situation where a teacher brought a high school student to me for coaching as they prepared for a college music major audition. Unfortunately, they lacked a solid technical foundation, a competent note-reading ability, and secure music theory understanding, resulting in their not being able to catch up in time to win acceptance into any college program.
So what does a comprehensive music foundation entail?
Of course, covering a wide range of repertoire is primary. Students will naturally prefer one style over another, but thoughtfully providing engaging pieces in a variety of music periods, different tempos, contrasting technical requirements, and keyboard ranges/harmonies is crucial. Of course, the standard repertoire can be supplemented with jazz pieces, pop music, and quality teaching repertoire to keep students having a great time learning their pieces.
To play repertoire well, which will ensure a lifelong enjoyment of music making, students also need to be competent in the other foundational skills— each one of which undergirds and contributes to the successful playing of repertoire itself.
Technique
This goes way beyond just good hand position. Beginning and intermediate technical practice actually “patterns” the motor strip part of the left brain, which, in turns, facilitates great ease in the learning of pieces. Scales, chords, octaves, arpeggios, etc., are all the building blocks which composers use to put together their compositions. By working the patterns into the motor strip of the brain, students can then learn their pieces much more easily, with fingers often going to the right notes effortlessly and without any coordination angst. It’s a miracle!
Sight Reading
Being able to read music fluently is a wonderful skill and facilitates the learning of new pieces by speeding up the process. Most piano students who don’t achieve a competent ability to read new music will eventually quit in frustration. It’s important that teachers are intentional in guiding their students through a variety of educational methods to become easy and happy sight readers, including both note reading and rhythmic understanding.
Ear Training
It’s common that students who are natural readers often struggle playing by ear (without music) and vice versa. How important it is, though, that everyone gets this skill set so that they can sit down at the piano and just “play” for pleasure. Being able to play by ear often translates into good functional skills like playing on a praise team in church, making up accompaniments from chord charts, and have good memory skills - being able to play what you hear in your head is essential.
Music Theory and History
It’s simply not enough to just get up and play very well in a polished manner for recitals and competitions – we want to produce educated players at the Conservatory. This means that they understand the “reading, writing, and arithmetic” of music, which is music theory, as well as the historical background which puts their pieces into context within all of human history.
The beauty of the comprehensive approach is seen in how every facet of it interacts and relates to another part. Teaching in this integrated manner produces a satisfying, organic whole understanding of the world of music. For example:
The interpretation of the repertoire is deepened by knowing the theoretical and historical background of the piece
The beauty and polish of tone and the physical approach can be honed in the technical set, undergirding the playing of repertoire in a satisfying way
A solid sightreading skill can lead to the exploration and experience of so many more pieces and styles which broadens understanding of the repertoire area
Learning to play by ear can open up a whole new world of creativity in improvisation, functional piano playing for church, and competence at the keyboard
It’s an exciting and engaging way to learn to play an instrument!