How to Use Piano Adventures
coming soon: the Faber online guide for students & teachers at MusicStoreUSA
For beginning students ages 5 to 6
Use My First Piano Adventure®. My First Piano Adventure® captures the child’s playful spirit. Fun-filled songs, rhythm games and technique activities develop beginning keyboard skills. My First’s three levels, A, B, and C, each have a Lesson Book with CD and a Writing Book. Book C of this young beginner course leads into Level 1 of basic Piano Adventures®.
For beginning students ages 7 to 9
Use the basic edition of Piano Adventures®, starting at the Primer level. All students need the Lesson Book and Theory Book, and most should also be given the Performance Book and Technique & Artistry Book. If you only teach a 30-minute lesson, however, you may need to choose between the latter two books. As the student finishes the pre-reading units, add a PreTime® Piano book of the student’s choice. (“PreTime®” = Primer level) Young students enjoy PreTime® Kids’ Songs; PreTime® Favorites is a staple in many studios; older students appreciate PreTime® Popular or PreTime® Classics. For fun and work on rhythm, use PreTime® Rock ‘n Roll or PreTime® Jazz & Blues.
At level 2A or 2B, students may be introduced to the traditional piano literature with Preparatory Piano Literature of the Developing Artist® Library. The Developing Artist® Library presents authentic keyboard repertoire compiled and edited by Faber & Faber. The Piano Literature series continues with Books 1 and up. The Developing Artist® Piano Sonatinas (Books 1-4) take the student progressively through this important repertoire to the easier sonatas of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.
For additional recital repertoire, see the Achievement Solo Sheets. This sheet music series by the Fabers is correlated to the method by level. For creative exploration (and group activities), see Discover Beginning Improvisation and Discover Blues Improvisation.
Adventures® PracticeTime® is fun, effective, and provides correlated listings for the PreTime® to BigTime® Piano Supplementary Library. Older or advancing students may use the Practice and Progress Assignment Notebook to ensure effective practicing.
For older beginners ages 10 and up
Use Accelerated Piano Adventures® for the Older Beginner. This course begins with Book One, eliminating the use of a primer. The pieces and illustrations are appropriate for an older age. The repertoire is sufficiently different from the basic course to allow two siblings to both use Piano Adventures®. The Lesson Book is essential. It is ideally supported by the Theory Book, Performance Book, and Technique & Artistry Book. A proficient student in the Accelerated edition may go directly into a PlayTime® Piano book midway through the Lesson Book. (“PlayTime®” = Level 1) The older beginner progresses from Book 1 to Book 2 of the Accelerated course, then into Level 3A of the basic course.
For adult beginners
Use Adult Piano Adventures® comprehensive, “All-In-One” books. Book 1 introduces the concepts of music notation, chord playing, rhythm, harmony, and musical form—all through engaging music. Book 2 applies the basics of music theory using “lead sheets” with chord accompaniment patterns. Each unit includes a “3-Minute Technique” page to develop finger dexterity and a “Music Theory” page to develop understanding of rhythm and harmony.
All Students
Every student should be given an assignment book.