16 yr old learner..Steve help!

[mitch]

Just had a phone call (just as I was complaining that I've not had any new enquiries lately).
I'm starting with a 16 year old next week. He can play a bit of guitar but wants to learn the piano as well as taking exams and doing theory aswell.
Apart from being totally impressed ( he rang himself and sorted everything himself), I wasn't sure where to start with him.

I thought about Piano Time 1 as it puts everything down so clearly including all the Theory parts he's interested in. It's also pretty user friendly.

Then I read your thread about Norton and Pam Wedgwood.

I've never taken on a total beginner teenager before so am not sure what to expect.

All suggestions very gratefully received. Thanks.

[SuzyMac]

I'd wait and meet him. Find out his music reading abilities, his aspirations; do you have various types of books to show him? I'd let him decide the books he'd like to learn from.

Piano Time may seem childish to him. Michael Aaron was pretty straightforward to use, and has some theory in. Pam Wedgewood went down well with my 15-year-old pupil. If he wants to do theory exams, you may be well-off using the AB workbooks

Enjoy

[mitch]

Thanks.
Yes I do have a few books we could look at together. I do have Alfred's adult course to hand aswell as Aerons so will have a busy first night!

[Steve Hopwood]

Have fun. I only didn't add a reply because you have already read the reply I would have given.

[mitch]

Thanks Steve.
I was worried you weren't talking to me anymore.

I'll let you know how I get on. First lesson Tuesday.

[mitch]

Quick update.

Aww..what a lovely lad he is! He's chosen the Alfred Adult course above the Aaron which he thought looked a bit 'heavy'. (polite way of saying boring, I think).

He has a great hand position (probably as he already plays the guitar), and we were away quite quickly through the book. He could even play a couple of chords!

He wants to do Theory and is more than happy to start on the AB books.

Also, he wants to do Grades and Classical music , at the moment, as opposed to the more jazz style ( so Vile can rest knowing that a Classically trained pianist ( moi) will not be trying to teach jazz..heaven forbid!).

Classical for beginners? Apart from the obvious Classics to Modern..what are other people's experiences with this series? Or even TG Initial exam pieces?

Another thought is P Wedgewoods Upgrade when he's underway a bit more (which I don't think will take long. He seems very bright).

I think technical exercises to strengthen fingers aswell.

Any suggestions very gratefully received!

Just noticed other thread from Steve, mentioning Early Classics for Late Beginners series , so will look into that aswell.

[mitch]

Gosh...he's really quick is this young lad!

He's carried on through the book by himself! very keen!

I've had to correct a few technical hitches (usual hand position) and getting him to relax a bit more, especially after playing a chord.
Onto legato this week( 2nd lesson).
Don't want him to whizz too quickly though, and miss important bits.
Mind you, we can keep correcting those I suppose, as we progress through pieces.
When should I be thinking about Grades? Is a few months too optomistic. At this rate, he'll be ready!
Anyone else had pupils who have progressed really quickly?