At TBMA, our favorite method series for piano students is the Faber Piano Adventures method. We love this method because it promotes both good technique and musical artistry from the very beginning. In this post, we want to take a closer look at the Faber method, detailing what parents can expect as their children set out on their first musical journey.
CLICK HERE to watch a demo video of the “My First Piano Adventure” curriculum used at TBMA with 5-6 year old students.
Great Pianists Need Flawless Reading Ability
The Faber method teaches students to recognize individual notes as well as intervals, and to relate them to a particular key. It uses several techniques to overcome the problems associated with hand positions and note recognition:
- Varied fingerings—By requiring varied fingerings within any given position, the Faber method breaks the student’s dependency on associating a particular note with a particular finger.
- Intervallic reading—Students must identify skips and steps within a musical line, enabling them to recognize patterns and encouraging more fluid playing
- Early introduction to multiple keys—As early as Level 2A, students are introduced to major and minor keys and must learn the five-finger patterns associated with each key. Not only does this promote chord recognition within the keys, but it also introduces variation and musical appeal early on.
Great Pianists Need Solid Technique
One of the greatest difficulties we encounter as teachers is correcting bad technique in a student who has already been playing for several years. The Faber method instills good technique in students from day one by:
- Practicing correct hand positions
- Including correct hand movements within the instructions of a given piece.
- Creating music that feels and sound right at the piano, making good technique more natural
Great Pianists Need Musicality
Musicality, or artistry, is the quality that turns keyboard pounding into music. The pieces in the Faber method (even in the very early books) are written with musicality in mind. They’re fun for the student and they encourage total involvement rather than just note by note accuracy. Faber pieces are written specifically for the piano. They’re not just generic songs intended to teach notes and theory. This means that the student gets a feel for how the keys should feel under his fingers, using the damper pedal, and using piano-specific technique and hand movements that form a solid foundation for lifelong playing.
Great Pianists Need Great Music
As the student progresses, Faber offers supplementary books that cater to that student’s individual musical taste. Whether she prefers pop, classical, jazz, ragtime, or another musical genre, she’ll find music she loves that will progress her further toward her musical goals.
At Tampa Bay Music Academy, we’re excited about getting students started on a musical journey that will serve them well throughout their lives. We believe the Faber method offers one of the best introductions to this journey. Parents will appreciate the musical sound and artistry of the Faber pieces, and students will love the fun and varied approach to learning. Talk to us today about how you can begin your musical experience!
Learn more about the Faber curriculum used at Tampa Bay Music Academy by clicking the following links:
My First Piano Adventure (ages 5-6)
Basic Piano Adventures (ages 6-adult)
This is a TBMA original article written for our Tampa Bay Music Academy readership. If you find it to be helpful, we would love for you to re-post it on your blog. Please contact us first for permission. Visit our website home for information on finding a music teacher in Tampa, Odessa, Land O’ Lakes, Citrus Park, Westchase, New Port Richey, Lutz, Trinity, Keystone, or Tarpon Springs Florida who offers private piano lessons, guitar lessons, saxophone lessons, voice lessons, or music lessons in any other instrument proficiency category. TBMA teachers (piano, guitar, voice, woodwinds, brass, strings, percussion) pride themselves in a reputation for an uncompromising commitment to excellence and special care taken for every student. We remain absolutely committed to providing an outstanding enrollment experience beyond any other in the region. Call us today. We look forward to hearing from you!