There are a few things more fulfilling than playing an entire piece on the piano. To get there, one needs to go on a musical journey with the piano.
Regardless of how motivated you are, learning to play the piano has never been easier. Aside from in-person classes, there are now online lessons, self-guided learning, and other options for helping you learn the piano.
Whatever avenue you choose, you’ll need a good piano method to help you become a master. Today, we’ll be learning about the different piano method books available. This way, you’ll know which one to take on your journey.
Why Purchase a Method Book?
You can check out MuzicTribe for the vast array of piano method books saturating the market. Remember, how successful a particular book is at helping you depends on your level of motivation, age, skill level, or schedule. So, you’ll want to be very careful about the choices you make.
Piano method books are capable of teaching people of various skill levels. It doesn’t matter if you’re working on your own or with an instructor.
A piano method book can carve a steady path for you to follow so that it’s easier to accomplish your goals. They contain all the ins and outs of piano playing necessary for you to improve your skills.
Although these books’ content is structured differently, its majority will cover music theory, piano basics, technique, and learning exercises. Most of these books will also give students the opportunity to structure their lessons according to their own pace and frequency.
If you’re into self-teaching, then a piano method book can be a great option. It can make your venture less expensive and time-consuming. For instructors, method books can serve as a guide for tracking their students’ progress.
Questions To Ask Before Choosing a Method Book
As great as a book is, if it doesn’t meet your specific learning needs, then it’s not the book for you. As such, here are some questions you need to answer to help you decide on a piano method book.
1. Who are you buying the book for?
Are you buying the book for yourself or your child? Remember, different age groups have different needs. The ideal keyboard method book should suit both the learner’s age and skill level.
2. Why do you want to learn piano?
A person’s intentions can help direct him or her towards the right method book. Maybe you just want a book covering the fundamentals or one that is enough to learn the piece you want to play during the annual family reunion.
3. Where does your current knowledge on the piano stand?
Are you starting from total scratch, or do you have the basics all figured out? Perhaps you want a book that just picks up where you left off.
4. What do you want to learn?
Maybe the technique is something you’ve already mastered, and you want to focus more on music theory. Be clear about what you already know and what you desire to know since it will help you determine the right book you need.
5. How do you learn best?
We each learn differently. Perhaps visuals work as well for you as it does for kids? In that case, you could get a method book that displays lots of illustrations. If reading is what works best, then get a book that incorporates more text.
What Else Should You Consider?
Even after asking the necessary questions, you’ll still want to head to the store and preview your options in person. Sometimes it takes touching a book and having a feel of it in order to decide.
Perhaps you’ll end up liking the book with the spiral-bound better than the regular bound. These things may seem inconsequential, but they can have a big influence on the learning process for some people.
Also, you may realize that you need more than one book. Thus, preview each book so that you can build one comprehensive guide based on your needs.
The List You Can Consider
Here are some of the great books that have made our list and you can opt for if you’re still having a hard time narrowing down your choices.
1. Bastien Piano Basics
When is the better time to learn the piano than as a child, right? With this book, your kids will be guided from the first step.
It’s packed with colorful pictures, fun songs, and basic exercises designed to keep their attention. It’s especially ideal for kids with no previous keyboard knowledge or experience.
2. Bastien Piano for Adults
From children, we move on to adults. Bastien Piano for Adults offers a challenging course on music theory, sight-reading, technique, and many others. The start of each section begins with theory, which gives you a strong foundation for learning the rest of the content.
In this book, you’ll find that there’s a song that suits each person’s tastes. You’ll also notice that lessons are gradually built, focusing only on techniques and dynamics once the theories have been properly explained.
3. Alfred’s All-In-One
This is arguably the best piano method book for adult beginners. It offers a comprehensive lesson plan covering piano basics, theory, and technique.
The book starts very simply but progresses quickly once the basics are discussed. It’s simple enough to be understood by those with a little musical background. Still, it’s challenging enough to keep the interest of advanced users.
4. A Complete Guide for Absolute Beginners
If you’re learning how to play the keyboard from scratch, then this book is for you. It clearly explains keyboard functions and basic techniques.
It also provides you with easy-to-follow instructions and exercises. It’s filled with visuals for enhanced learning, including simple diagrams and charts.
The Piano Method Book for You
At the end of the day, the book or books suitable for your piano journey would depend on a few important considerations: age, current skill level, the things you want to learn, and the best way you learn. If, in your case, these considerations cannot be satisfied by a single book, then feel free to choose other books to aid you on your musical journey.
