Christy has written a new piano method that combines formal piano instruction with solfege sight-singing, listening, and tonal and rhythm pattern-singing and playing, so that young pianists will acquire the life-long skills to self-accompany, play by ear, sing in tune, and play and sing by notation. You will find here her thesis which includes the research behind the method as well as a teacher guide and some helpful links. The teachers at Access Piano use this method for beginning piano students. For more information on how to purchase her method, please contact us.
Access Piano Method Teacher Guide
Access Piano–A Research-Based Approach to Piano Pedagogy
Access Piano Method Map
B Series is parallel to allow for different tunes for siblings or teacher sanity. Young students will take longer than older students. Piano lessons should be individualized to student pace.
Series A Book 1
C Major Scale
A Minor Scale
Duple Do Re Mi Staffless: “Hot Cross Buns”
Triple Do Re Mi Staffless: “Fais Do Do”
Duple Do Re Mi Sol Staffless: “I Have a Dog”
Triple Do Re Mi Sol Staffless: “Johnny Works with One Hammer”
Series A Book 2
C Major Scale
A Minor Scale
Keyboard and Staff Introduction
Duple Do Re Mi Grand Staff: “Hot Cross Buns”
Triple Do Re Mi Grand Staff: “Fais Do Do”
Duple Do Re Mi Sol Grand Staff: “I Have a Dog”
Triple Do Re Mi Sol Grand Staff: “Johnny Works with One Hammer”
Series A Book 3
F Major Scale
D Minor Scale
G Major Scale
E Minor Scale
Primary Cadences for each scale
Duple Do Re Mi Sol La: “Great Big House”
Triple Do Re Mi Sol La: “Morning”
Duple Do Re Mi Fa Sol: “Cobbler, Cobbler”
Triple Do Re Mi Fa Sol: “Oats, Peas, Beans”
Duple Do Re Mi Fa Sol La: “Ah! Vous Dirais-je, Maman”
Triple Do Re Mi Fa Sol La: “Fiddle Dee Dee”
Student chosen fun pieces from fun books, level 1 or 2 depending on student, from local music store.
Series A Book 4
B Flat Major Scale
G Minor Scale
D Major Scale
B Minor Scale
Notation Reference Guide
Literature Introduction:
Teacher-chosen pieces from Succeeding with the Masters: The Festival Collection, Preparatory by Helen Marlais (for young students) or Easy Piano Classics by James Bastien (for older students).
Chord Introduction
Lead Sheets (Repertoire from Books 1-3)
Duple Do Re Mi: “Hot Cross Buns”
Triple Do Re Mi: “Fais Do Do”
Duple Do Re Mi Sol: “I Have a Dog”
Triple Do Re Mi Sol: “Johnny Works with One Hammer”
Duple Do Re Mi Sol La: “Great Big House”
Duple Do Re Mi Fa Sol: “Cobbler, Cobbler”
Triple Do Re Mi Fa Sol: “Oats, Peas, Beans”
Duple Do Re Mi Fa Sol La: “Ah! Vous Dirais-je, Maman”
Triple Do Re Mi Fa Sol La: “Fiddle Dee Dee”
Triple Do Re Mi Sol La: “Morning” (skipped at first due to more complex harmony)
After completion of Book 4, Review of repertoire, scales, and literature should continue. Add new literature following the same plan.
The series will continue with songs in minor keys, more complex harmonic structure, and a focus on developing accompaniment skills along with the literature. This is still in the works.
For further improvisation development, after completion of Book 4, student will be ready for Developimg Musicianship through Improvisation by Azzara & Grunow, published by GIA.
Additional literature can be found in the following books in the series:
Succeeding with the Masters: The Festival Collection,by Helen Marlais, published by FJH.
Easy Piano Classics by James Bastien
Add contemporary tunes using River Flows in You and Other Eloquent Songs for Piano published by Hal Leonard.