Making Music at the Piano: Learning Strategies for Adult Students

Making Music at the Piano: Learning Strategies for Adult Students by Maris, Barbara English. paperback edition. ISBN: 9780195123265.

Beginners can make music at the piano and play musically even during the earliest phases of piano study, and this books shows how. Written for early-level adult piano students of any age, the book enables students to play gratifying music while continuing to develop their skills steadily, whether they are working in a private studio or in a piano class environment. Throughout, the book features numerous Concepts to Consider (focusing on conceptual learning) and Activities to Explore (which build on the Concepts and emphasize ways to strengthen the kinesthetic aspects of learning). The author discusses nearly every aspect encountered by the beginner, from appropriate goals and good playing habits to the basics of how people learn and how the piano works. She provides a hands-on explanation of the characteristics of music playing and suggests specific strategies for using practice time effectively and for developing rhythmic security and technical control of sound. For students who to play as well as practice, this book is the ideal guide.