Resources
Piano Teaching Resources: Curious About My Teaching Methods and Repertoire?
Explore the piano teaching resources I use to create a fun, engaging, and well-rounded piano learning experience for my students. Click on any book to be taken to Amazon to purchase!
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Lesson Focuses
01
Creativity
I encourage creativity and self-expression by teaching composition and improvisation. Students explore their musical ideas while building confidence and developing a deeper understanding of music theory.
02
Repertoire
I introduce students to classical, pop, jazz, and contemporary music depending on their current level to keep lessons engaging and build versatility. Exploring different styles helps develop a lifelong love for music.
03
Sight Reading
I teach sight-reading skills that help students read music quickly and accurately. Through various exercises and piano teaching resources, they learn to recognize patterns, improve timing, and explore new music with confidence.
04
Theory & Technique
I focus on technique and practical music theory to help students play confidently and creatively. Through engaging lessons, they strengthen fingers, hands, and posture while gaining a solid understanding of music.
05
Rhythm & Movement
I believe that rhythm & movement should be a cornerstone of piano teaching. I make sure to incorporate rhythm into my classes through rhythmic movement activities, challenges, and rhythm theory.
06
Pattern Recognition
Much of music is rooted in patterns. I teach students this by doing score analysis of our music. Students like it because they get to “color”–I like it because it helps them learn to analyze their music before playing.
Wunderkeys Method Books
My favorite piano teaching resource for young beginners is the Wunderkeys method books. The Wunderkeys books are story-based to engage young beginners through fun, interactive activities that build rhythm, finger strength, and early music skills. The lessons incorporate rhythm, movement, games, pattern recognition, and imaginative play, making learning feel like an adventure while laying a solid foundation for future success. I combine these books with my own professional resources to create an interactive learning environment for my young students.
Alfred Premier Piano
Alfred Premier Piano books are the ideal piano teaching resource for older beginners because they offer a well-paced, engaging approach that builds strong technique, note-reading skills, and musical confidence. With a mix of familiar tunes, theory exercises, and creative activities, these books keep students motivated while providing a solid foundation for continued growth. Each level has a supplemental Repertoire book that provides pieces that are perfect for performances and recitals.
Wunderkeys Pop Staff Piano for Older Beginners and Rock Repertoire for Teen Beginners
WunderKeys Pop Studies and Rock Repertoire books are a great fit for teen beginners because they can immediately play a “real” song rather than “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” These books blend popular music with essential piano skills, keeping students engaged while building rhythm, technique, and confidence. By incorporating familiar pop chords, these books make learning fun and relevant, helping teens stay motivated and progress quickly. Along with these books, I use resources from Vibrant Music Teaching and Top Music to teach composition and improv, which provides my teen students with the tools needed to just sit down and play when they feel inspired.
Alfred Adult Piano Adventures
It can be hard to find good piano teaching resources for adults, but Alfred Adult Piano Adventures fits the bill for adult beginners and those returning to the piano after a break. The series offers a well-paced, step-by-step approach that combines popular songs, music theory, and technique practice to build confidence and enjoyment. With engaging lessons designed for evenly-paced learning, adults can refresh their skills or start their musical journey with ease.
My Own Resources and Sight Reading
For a lot of sight reading and rhythm building, I use my own piano teaching resources that I’ve collected over the years. But I also utilize Sight Reading by Diane Hidy and Keith Snell. These books are excellent tools for developing strong sight-reading skills in a fun and approachable way. The short songs in this series are engaging and beautifully composed as you progress through the books. The series introduces progressive challenges that help students recognize patterns, improve timing, and build confidence when reading new music. Perfect for learners of all ages, it encourages consistent practice and boosts overall musical fluency.
Various Resources
I use a curated library of books to help students explore improvisation and composing from the very beginning. My favorites are the books by Forrest Kinney. They take improv and arranging music from something intimidating to approachable and fun. These piano teaching resources make it easy for students to create their own music, build confidence, and develop creative expression alongside traditional skills. Learning to compose and improvise early empowers students to think like musicians from day one, which helps cultivate a growth mindset!
Fingerpower and Dozen a Day
My favorite piano teaching resources for teaching technique include trusted books like Fingerpower and A Dozen a Day. These books help students develop proper piano technique from the start. Both sets of books have short, focused exercises designed to strengthen finger independence, coordination, and control, giving students the tools they need to play with ease and confidence. Whether your child is just beginning or advancing their skills, these books are a great way to build a solid technical foundation.
Supplemental Books
At Playful Notes Piano, I offer a large library of supplemental music to keep students of all ages and skill levels engaged and motivated. From beginner-friendly pieces to challenging repertoire for advanced learners, I carefully select music that matches each students’ interests and abilities, ensuring a well-rounded and enjoyable learning experience. These books below are just a handful of the books that I use to give my students fun and unique challenges outside of their method books. I try to provide every type of music–from movies to classical to holiday!
