Primary Piano Series
8 – 12 year old beginners
The Primary Piano Series is dynamic, comprehensive and lots of fun. Its age-specific approach is targeted, engaging and rewarding.
Book / Audio / Flash Cards
Key Elements
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Backing Tracks – outstanding arrangements that provide authentic aural models
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Finger Zips – micro pieces that develop essential keyboard skills
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Rhythm Taps – develop two-handed coordination, rhythm reading and playing
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Finger Taps – establish finger numbers, develop dexterity and reinforce key patterns
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Whole Pattern Learning – promotes an ease of learning that is accurate, highly musical and efficient
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Flash Cards – enhance reading skills and reinforce theory concepts
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Keyboard Harmony – standard chord progressions, transposing and improvising
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Ensemble Playing – part-playing skills, group interaction and team playing
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Solfa/Solfege Singing – builds an aural library of melodic patterns
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By-Ear Playing – connecting keyboard playing with aural perception
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Repertoire Pieces – solo performance pieces
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Extension Activities – promote creativity and expand musical understanding
As with the Junior Piano Series, students learn to play hands together from the first lesson. It is suitable for both private and group lessons.
Encore’s unique whole-pattern methodology is utilised throughout the series. This results in faster learning and fosters the development of musical intelligence. Students become skilled in reading musical scores, are able to play by ear, transpose pieces into related keys and accomplish other musicianship skills that are rarely explored by other piano methods. This course develops well-rounded musicians as opposed to students who just read and play.
Multi-sensory teaching strategies ensure that all learning styles are well supported. The learning sequence is carefully structured to suit the intended age-range. It provides great flexibility which ensures students achieve their full potential.
Curriculum
The Primary Piano Series uses a ‘Five-Finger’ approach as opposed to the ‘Middle C’ approach of some other methods. The ‘Five-Finger’ system allows students to learn the piano as both a harmonic and melodic instrument. It also treats the right and left hands as equal partners and establishes a versatility that allows the hands to swap parts with ease.
There is a strong rhythmic and harmonic foundation throughout the Primary Piano Series. Rhythm is the basis of all music-making and harmony is intrinsic to Western music. Students are able to make rapid progress because the essential structures that underpin their pieces are quickly grasped as a series of whole-patterns or complete musical units.
Technical foundation skills are integrated throughout the series. This begins with non-legato playing before establishing a legato touch. Chord playing is taught as an essential skill so that by the end of Book 2, chords I, IV and V7 are known in both hands and in three keys. Students are able to experience a wide range of styles from Baroque to Rock, and Jazz to Pop.
Students who successfully complete the Primary Piano Series advance to the Achiever Piano Series.
