Piano Pedagogy I (315-1-1)

Instructors

Lam Wong

Meeting Info

RCMA 3-131: Tues 12:00PM - 1:50PM

Overview of class

This course is part of the full-year sequence that aims to help you become familiar with the processes and possibilities involved in piano teaching. Fall quarter focuses on teaching piano to beginner-level students. We will explore various teaching approaches, strategies, and appropriate materials. A combination of lectures, discussions, observations, and supervised teaching will prepare you for teaching beginners from the first year to further years of study.

Registration Requirements

Students must be undergraduate music majors who have completed their core curriculum. Please contact the instructor (lam.wong@northwestern.edu) to receive recommendations on registering for the course.

Learning Objectives

Explore various teaching approaches, strategies, and appropriate materials tailored for beginners; Develop an understanding of characteristics of elementary students; Analyze historical and contemporary piano teaching methods; Survey early childhood music educational system.

Teaching Method

Attendance and participation in Tuesday seminars are required, in addition to assigned observation and teaching duties.

Evaluation Method

Students will be evaluated for their success in assisting and teaching in assigned children's lessons, assigned projects and observations, contributions to seminar discussions, and a final project.

Class Materials (Required)

Students should be collegiate members of Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). The membership fee is $30 (subject to a small adjustment for 2024-25) for the entire academic year.

Class Materials (Suggested)

1. Piano Method books from Faber & Faber series
2. Piano Method Books from Hal Leonard Piano Library
3. Piano Method Books from The Music Tree
4. Piano Method Books from John Thompson's Easiest Piano Course
5. Piano Method Books from Music for Piano

Class Notes

It is recommended to register for this course for the full-year sequence. Attendance at the first class is mandatory.