For beginning students ages 7 to preteen I use the Alfred Premier Piano Course in the their 45 minute lessons. These books incorporate a varied repertoire with songs from a variety of styles. The selections are straightforward for both the student and the parent to follow along and are well-paced.

Class Structure

Classes at this level are 45 minutes. Here is the general breakdown of class:

• 5 min: review assigned theory pages to warmup
• 15 min: go over assigned songs from the previous week
• 10 min: play a game to learn a new concept or review a previous one, compose a piece, or do an improv activity
• 15 min: go over new songs for the coming week

Improv and Composition

We use iPad software through a MIDI connection to my digital piano to compose. I guide students as young as 4 and 5 to make their own compositions on their level which when completed are printed out and assigned as songs to practice during the week.