Ashley wrote that her daughter has had several years of very basic piano lessons, and is still in the Alfred piano book level 1A. The parents want to help her progress, but would like to reduce the cost and the time commitment of outside lessons as they have multiple children. She is considering our Quick Piano course and the Learn to Read Music by Color book, and wants a suggestion as to the order in which to use those two books. She is also wondering if a beginning student can do the Quick Piano course with just a keyboard or whether an acoustic [non-electric] piano is necessary.
Renee replied:
Yes, having your children learn the basics of piano and note reading will save your family time, stress and money. And, you're probably already aware of how the Quick Piano course splinters the skills, teaching each skill separately so it is easier to put them all together and play all the hymns and songs that comprise the last part of that course book.
In my own lessons to piano students I intersperse table time (learning to read music by color; I call it "cracking the code") and time on the piano keyboard--once the Quick Piano course tells you to do it on the real piano after learning it from the printed book on the table. An electronic keyboard is fine, so long as it has at least four or so octaves and the keys are of standard width — but at some point as students progress, it is encouraging to them to play on a nice upright that delivers a warm, resonant sound. But, with a large houseful of children, there certainly is great benefit in practicing on an electronic piano, while wearing headphones so the rest of the family has peace and quiet.
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A related topic is our e-Book of thoughts on selecting a musical instrument.
