How Can Adults Systematically Learn Piano?
Traditional teaching methods often follow the progress of the textbook, moving to the next book once one is completed. For example, from John Thompson → Beyer → 599 → 849, etc. As a result, I often see questions like: "Should I play through all the Hanon exercises from start to finish?" "I've reached piece xx in Beyer; can I start 599 now?" "I've been playing 599 for a year; is it too slow?"
I believe this teaching method has a serious flaw: it mistakes the form of learning for the goal itself. Our goal in learning piano should be the level we want to achieve and the knowledge we wish to gain. Textbooks and exercise books are merely means to reach the goal. When we confuse the form with the goal, we often think that learning piano is just about going through books, and each lesson is about progressing through the pieces in 599.
While this method can achieve certain accomplishments, it can also lead to tedious practice, declining interest, unclear goals, doubts about learning, the teacher, or oneself, and even cause many to give up along the way. Additionally, learning pieces from traditional textbooks might lead to incomplete knowledge of music theory, with some teachers not teaching theory at all. Music theory is the foundation of musical art and an essential part of learning the piano. After learning music theory, your perspective on each piece—including Piano Sheet Music—will change significantly.
Learning piano with or without music theory is an important criterion for selecting a teacher. Since treating pieces as the goal might neglect music theory, why not use the music theory we need to learn as the goal and choose suitable piece material accordingly? This could include simplified easy piano sheet music, which integrates theory naturally into practice.
My Teaching Philosophy for Adult Piano Learning
We should find learning materials (determining the means and forms) based on the music theory points to be learned and the skill level to be achieved (based on the goals). At the beginner and elementary stages, avoid learning just by going through books; each piece learned should have a designed purpose.
For instance, using piano letter notes for absolute beginners can quickly connect visual note recognition with finger positioning, making the early stages less intimidating and more accessible.
This teaching philosophy's premise is that the teacher must have a complete knowledge framework, understand the student's stage and level, know what knowledge points to teach, and which skill trees to develop. Students should also clearly understand which step they are at in the plan, whether they have deviated from their original intentions, and what their short-term goals are.
Systematic Knowledge Framework for Adult Students
Beginners:
1. Basic Elements of the Staff: including line and space names, clefs, time signatures, notes, dynamics, etc.
2. Basic Note Values and Rhythm
3. Basic Playing Techniques and Notation: playing points, legato and breathing, staccato, finger touching and high lifting, ties, etc.
4. Strengthening the Structure Sense of the Staff: stepwise and skipwise movement, essential notes, basic interval structures (seconds to sixths), etc.
5. Basic Musicality Training: dynamics, crescendo and decrescendo principles, etc.
6. Accidentals and Natural Signs Rules
Elementary:
7. Knowledge of Whole and Half Steps
8. Major Scale Training and Tonality Concepts
9. Concept of Transposition and Simple Transposition Training
10. Basic Musical Terms
11. Arpeggio and Chord Training
12. Chord Inversion Concepts
13. Tonic, Dominant; Tonic Chord I, Dominant Chord V, Dominant Seventh Chord V7 Functions
14. Subdominant Chord IV
15. How to Arrange Accompaniment for a Melody Using I, IV, V, V7 Chords
16. Minor Scale Training
17. Major and Minor Triads in Minor Keys
18. Major and Minor Triads
Intermediate (599 Level):
19. Training Left Hand Soft, Right Hand Strong in Tonal Music
20. Learning and Related Knowledge of Small Sonatas
21. Using the Sustain Pedal
22. Basic Form Analysis
23. Cadence
24. Basic Harmonic Analysis: 599 is a great resource for this, since it uses simple harmonic and modulation forms throughout.
25. Learning Modern Chord Symbols: C, Am, Gsus4, F/G, Cadd6, etc.
26. Common Left-Hand Accompaniment Patterns in Pop Music
27. Directly Accompanying Melodies with Chord Symbols: With the right skills, you can even use an online keyboard to experiment with different arrangements.
28. Common Harmonic Progressions in Pop Piano
29. Arranging Chord Symbols and Left-Hand Accompaniment for Pop Music Melodies
What You Can Achieve with This Learning Approach
1. Framework Sense When Reading Music, Improved Sight-Reading Ability:
With a systematic knowledge framework, you'll begin to see Piano Sheet Music not as isolated notes, but as connected frameworks, making reading and playing much smoother.
2. No Need to Search for Scores Online, Play Your Favorite Pop Songs Directly:
Once you master notation, you’ll no longer depend solely on finding scores—be it piano letter notes, easy piano sheet music, or chord charts. Instead, you’ll be equipped to use simplified materials or improvise on an online keyboard.
3. Enhance Appreciation of Classical Music:
After learning, your understanding of classical pieces will be more analytical and nuanced, enriching your appreciation of music as a whole.
4. Improve Learning Ability and Cognitive Level Related to Music:
You’ll start developing musical intuition, which will evolve into concrete knowledge over time, making advanced concepts easier to grasp.
5. Learning Quality and Effectiveness Beyond 80% of Adult Piano Learners:
With a focused, knowledge-based approach—often missing from traditional methods—you’ll achieve more in less time.
Summary
The progression outlined above provides a comprehensive path for adult learners, enriched by key music theory concepts and purposeful repertoire. Whether you're using Piano Sheet Music, easy piano sheet music, piano letter notes, or exploring tools like an online keyboard, the goal remains clear: build a solid musical foundation and make meaningful progress. With the right teacher and a structured approach, adult learners can truly thrive.
