TAKING OFF THE TRAINING WHEELS
Effectively teaching past the method book and into the intermediate level
THE SCARY IN-BETWEEN: Defining the Intermediate level
Intermediate simply means the middle stage of learning. Most teachers rely on a beginning method series, such as Piano Adventures, Piano Safari, or Alfred’s Basic Piano Course, to introduce new piano students to technique, repertoire, theoretical concepts, and everything else that is needed in the earliest stages of learning to play.
However, these methods are intended to be just that - a way to begin a student’s journey at the piano. When a student completes a series of books, he is not ready to play the advanced repertoire, such as Beethoven’s Pathetique Sonata or Debussy’s Clair de lune.
LACK OF TRAINING
Unfortunately, many piano teachers - even those who took pedagogy courses! - have minimal training in how to teach the intermediate repertoire and bridge the gap between beginning study and advanced playing.
Taking Off the Training Wheels is a course designed to answer the most frequent questions about intermediate piano teaching. You will be equipped to effectively teach past the method book by exploring the answers to questions like:
What goals should we have for our intermediate students?
What are the necessary components of an intermediate curriculum?
How can we smoothly introduce progressively more and more difficult repertoire?
How can we avoid overwhelming our students with repertoire that is too difficult for them?
Why should we include theory, analysis, and performance practice at this level?
How many pieces should our students be working on during the week? And how long should it take them to learn each piece?
What makes a great intermediate teacher?
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
This is a video course of roughly one hour of video content.
Attached is a PDF handout in outline form for note-taking and clarity.
Lastly, there’s a curated webpage of resources with direct links for student materials and additional teacher resources.
BONUS!
Included in your purchase of Taking Off the Training Wheels is my very popular Method to Masterworks resource in which I have created a list of all of the historical pieces found within several standard beginner methods. Then I lined up these very same pieces with the intermediate repertoire series books in which they are found.
This allows you to launch your student into an intermediate series book based on their current ability. They will feel comfortable, and your introduction of historical repertoire will be smooth and successful.
Feel secure in your intermediate teaching
Get the support you need to feel like you’re in charge of your intermediate students’ curriculum.
There are plenty of resources out there - you just need to know where to find them. I’m here to help!
Questions?
Use the contact button above to reach out.