Piano tuition for the beginner: The structuring and teaching of the basic movements in piano playing

Abstract

Literature study on piano technique, which consists mainly of piano pedagogues' empirical considerations, indicates the existence of common strategies/theories regarding the development of a piano technique. A meaningful and scientifically grounded piano-technical orientation is one of the major factors during the first few months of piano tuition and provides a basis for the development of an advanced piano technique. The majority of beginner piano courses use the adjacent, legato five finger method. The researcher identified six beginner courses, which were analysed in order to measure their presentation of a well-structured piano-technical development against the recommendations of well-known piano pedagogues/author~ in this field. During this process, demerits in the sequence, structure and presentation of the basic movements in piano playing were found. In most instances the use of the bigger levers are not addressed at all. All the levers and their specific movements should be addressed from the very first lesson. A logical motoric and educational process is to concentrate on the bigger levers (giving the support), which perform slower and easier movements, and then move on to the smaller levers, which perform faster and more complicated movements. All theoretical information in the beginner books studied is properly explained and presented in a very structured manner. The researcher is, however, concerned about the fact that there is not enough structure in the sequence of teaching and developing the basic technical movements in the beginner piano courses using the adjacent, legato five finger method. The connection between sound and movement is not made. Authors in the field of piano technique emphasize the fact that the movements the beginner is taught during the first lessons provide the technical foundation for the rest of his/her life. To address demerits in the structure, presentation and discrepancy in the sequence of learning the basic movements, the researcher compiles exercises for the beginner. These exercises concentrate on specific movements and results in sound recommended by well-known authors in the field of piano technique. In addition the researcher strives to explain the movements as clearly as possible and illustrates them with photographs and pictures.