They're not made like this anymore....
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What music can I try? There are so many books and resources available for piano and keyboard that it is relatively easy for a keyboard teacher to take the lead from the pupil when considering what is actually studied: classical, pop, rock, jazz, easy listening and so on. Sometimes a pupil will suggest an artist or song and that will take us into an area I've not specifically touched on before: OneRebublic, Taylor Swift, Elton John, film music (don't sneer - one man's meat is another's poison) and even pupil's own compositions, although the last category is extremely rare. However: when pupils do work with their OWN compositions they often apply themselves much more enthusiastically than with other books of well known music.
I am currently using a Yamaha e373 as my teaching keyboard - in other words, as I teach, that is the keyboard I use to demonstrate scales/twists/turns chords etc. |
Small print....... |
1) a solo musician rarely emulates the TOTAL sound of a band recorded in a professional recording studio. This is especially the case with beginners. Also: it is often the case that a certain song only really works with a band: in other words, with singers, drums and guitars. The essence of a song's power is often lost simply by transferring it to solo keyboard; especially when there is no one singing, as is the case with solo piano or solo keyboard.
2) Letting the pupil take the lead can fall flat: often the pieces they want to work on can only be found in arrangements that are WAY ahead of their capability. |
Current beginner books for keyboard |
The Complete Keyboard Player is a fine resource which runs to four levels as well as offering optional books of various styles and songs eg film music.
For younger children I usually start off with the "Progressive Electronic Keyboard Method for Young Beginnners" which runs to 3 books with two supplementary volumes. Also useful is "Kids Keyboard Course" [books 1 & 2] (although the artwork is not nearly as attractive) and the LCM "Electronic keyboard Handbook" of which the 2013 edition is still current. |
