[Menvi-discuss] piano methods

Thu Jun 5 21:21:56 EDT 2014

here's a suggestion. Why don't a bunch of blind music teachers pool 
their resources and pay to have things transcribed, then share the 
results among themselves? If you're teaching as a legitimate 
business, then this is part of the cost of doing business, albeit a high cost.

At 08:00 PM 6/5/2014, you wrote:
>The music companies are always trying to make money (can't blame 
>them, of course) so keep up dating methods books so they can sell 
>new ones.  It is impossible for transcribers to keep up.
>
>
>On Jun 5, 2014, at 6:34 PM, Teresa Haifley wrote:
>
> > I second Marta's frustration on how hard it is to find current methods in
> > braille.  I recently had a transfer student in the Faber series and to my
> > horror and embarrassment discovered that the print book edition was later
> > than the brailled copy, which I had no way of knowing had become outdated.
> > Many pieces were the same but the page numbers didn't match up because a
> > different piece was thrown in here and there.
> >
> > We really need someone who can stay on top of these editions and keep the
> > braille current .
> >
> > Teresa
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Menvi-discuss [mailto:menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org] On Behalf Of
> > Marda
> > Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2014 6:19 PM
> > To: This is for discussing music and braille literacy
> > Subject: Re: [Menvi-discuss] piano methods
> >
> > Hi, John.  I appreciated the message about bard having the American Popular
> > Piano Repertoire method.  I know it was mentioned initially by someone
> > outside the U.S. but I wouldn't have known about it otherwise and 
> now that I
> > know NLS has it I want to investigate it for my own teaching.  One of the
> > things I find frustrating as a blind piano teacher is how 
> difficult it is to
> > get current method books.  Is American Popular Piano Repertoire available
> > from NLS in hard copy Braille or only on Bard?
> > Marda
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Hanson, John" <jhan at loc.gov>
> > To: "'This is for discussing music and braille literacy'"
> > <menvi-discuss at menvi.org>
> > Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2014 5:57 AM
> > Subject: Re: [Menvi-discuss] piano methods
> >
> >
> >> I recognize that there are a lot of people on this list from all over
> >> the world, which is why I noted that download is available for those
> >> registered for BARD.  I don't want to squelch information simply
> >> because not absolutely everyone has access.  This is an issue that some
> >> are addressing and wish to change, including myself.  Furthermore, in
> >> this particular instance, American Popular Piano Repertoire was
> >> transcribed by Prima Vista Braille Music Services in Leeds, England. I
> >> know they sell their music at reasonable prices. One can inquire about
> > paper braille versus brf files.
> >>
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Menvi-discuss [mailto:menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org] On Behalf
> >> Of Stephanie Mitchell
> >> Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2014 7:04 PM
> >> To: menvi-discuss at menvi.org
> >> Subject: Re: [Menvi-discuss] piano methods
> >>
> >> Not all of us can use the nls, as we live outside the us.
> >> Steph
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: Hanson, John <jhan at loc.gov>
> >> To: "'Th is for discussing music and braille literacy'"
> >> <menvi-discuss at menvi.org>
> >> Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2014 11:53 pm
> >> Subject: Re: [Menvi-discuss] piano methods
> >>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> It should be made known that at least the American Popular Piano
> >>> Repertoire is available in brf format from NLS. Free download for
> >>> those registered for BARD.
> >>> John Hanson
> >>> NLS Music
> >>>
> >>> -----Original Message-----
> >>> From: Menvi-discuss [mailto:menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org] On
> >>> Behalf Of Stephanie Mitchell
> >>> Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2014 8:51 AM
> >>> To: menvi-discuss at menvi.org
> >>> Subject: Re: [Menvi-discuss] piano methods
> >>>
> >>> Thank you. I am a member of the RNIB, although it's a pity I cant get
> >>> them in brf format.
> >>> I'm going to take a look at these.
> >>> Thanks again so much!
> >>> Steph
> >>>
> >>> ----- Original Message -----
> >>> From: Stephanie Pieck <themusicsuite at verizon.net>
> >>> To: "'Th is for discussing music and braille literacy'"
> >>> <menvi-discuss at menvi.org>
> >>> Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2014 10:35 pm
> >>> Subject: Re: [Menvi-discuss] piano methods
> >>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> The "American Popular Piano Repertoire" method is very good; very
> >>>> well-paced so students play a lot of different music before making
> >>>> huge jumps in difficulty. You might start in Level 1 or 2--the
> >>>> preparatory grade would probably be too easy for your adult student.
> >>>>
> >>>> I've never used the "Little Mozarts" book, but I find that Pauline
> >>>> Hall's "Tunes for Ten Fingers", "More Tunes for Ten Fingers," and
> >>>> "Fun for Ten Fingers" books generally captivate very young students
> >>>> while providing a very thorough foundation. These can be had from
> >>>> RNIB; if you can't purchase them, you may want to look into signing
> >>>> up for their international lending library service. I know it
> >>>> works; I borrowed old ABRSM exam books and used them for several
> > months.
> >>>>
> >>>> Hope this helps ...
> >>>>
> >>>> The Other Steph (Pieck)
> >>>>
> >>>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>> From: Menvi-discuss [mailto:menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org] On
> >>>> Behalf Of Stephanie Mitchell
> >>>> Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2014 9:36 PM
> >>>> To: menvi-discuss at menvi.org
> >>>> Subject: [Menvi-discuss] piano methods
> >>>>
> >>>> Speaking of piano books etc I do have a few questions. I have just
> >>>> taken on an adult student. I'm using the "piano lessons book 1" by
> >>>> Waterman which seems quite good. She already has knowledge of
> >>>> treble cleef and seems a little shaky with the bass but could still
> >>>> read it quite well.
> >>>> She wants to do pop as well and I was wondering what I could use
> >>>> along side the book work that would keep her interest. I need to
> >>>> have a braille copy too so I can follow along. I thought of the
> >>>> american popular piano or the easy Dan coates piano, but not sure
> >>>> if they would be too hard for her.
> >>>> Any ideas?
> >>>> Also, does anyone know if the "music for little mozarts" books are
> >>>> in braille? I have 4 year old who is keen to start and I'd heard
> >>>> good things about this book.
> >>>> Steph
> >>>>
> >>>> ----- Original Message -----
> >>>> From: Stephanie Pieck <themusicsuite at verizon.net>
> >>>> To: "'Th is for discussing music and braille literacy'"
> >>>> <menvi-discuss at menvi.org>
> >>>> Date: Tuesday, June 3, 2014 9:50 pm
> >>>> Subject: Re: [Menvi-discuss] Yamaha piano course and gradings, any
> >>>> help?
> >>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Winy,
> >>>>>
> >>>>> One approach you can try to correlate grading systems is to try
> >>>>> and find pieces that are common to both and see which grade they
> >>>>> occur in on each scheme.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Alternatively, see when the student plays particular
> >>>>> scales--i.e., the ones with all those pesky sharps and flats!--or
> >>>>> when they move from playing scales in simpler form (i.e., one
> >>>>> octave only; hands separately; legato
> >>>>> only) to more advanced (with hands a third apart, for instance).
> >>>>>
> >>>>> An important thing to keep in mind is that grading systems are
> >>>>> highly subjective, and while they can provide a useful framework
> >>>>> for study, they aren't the be-all end-all of teaching.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Another gauge for progress is to ask the student "How long have
> >>>>> you studied?" Be prepared to take their answer with some
> >>>>> skepticism, however, because there's no guarantee that a student
> >>>>> who has taken lessons for five years will be playing Mozart
> >>>>> sonatas! If the Yamaha school has had a high rate of teacher
> >>>>> turnover, then the student may have studied for five or six
> >>>>> years, but with many changes in teaching methodology which will
> >>>>> hamper their progress. Just because a school follows a curriculum
> >>>>> doesn't mean that all the teachers employed by the
> >>>> school are equally adept at implementing it.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> In my own studio, whenever I am presented with a transfer
> >>>>> student, I use most of the first lesson to make my own
> >>>>> assessment, discussing with the student how long they've been
> >>>>> playing, what books they have used, and then having them play.
> >>>>> Prior to the lesson, I tell the student (or their parent) that I
> >>>>> will ask them to play some pieces they feel comfortable
> >>>>> with--things they may have played for a recital or exam, etc. I
> >>>>> ask them to bring the books they were last using to the
> >>>> class.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Once I've had them play their chosen pieces--which says a lot
> >>>>> about how they play, incidentally--I ask questions about the
> >>>>> books, like how far they've gotten in their current one, or if
> >>>>> they have any particular books they enjoyed using more than others.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> After that, I ask for scales, do some sight-reading (for many
> >>>>> students, this is where the real truth of their studies starts
> >>>>> showing itself), and finally, I give them a piece to start
> >>>>> working on with me.
> >>>>> This last item allows the student to experience my teaching style
> >>>>> and also lets me see their approach to learning--i.e., what do
> >>>>> they struggle with; what comes easily; are they attentive to
> >>>>> details or oblivious to everything except the current note
> >>>>> they're staring at.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> If the student continues to come for lessons, then I begin to
> >>>>> work on technical things such as posture, hand position, etc.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I read somewhere that the average student should be at ABRSM
> >>>>> Grade
> >>>>> 1 level after about one to two years. The grades can be taken
> >>>>> annually after that, although personally I think the gradient in
> >>>>> difficult between grades--i.e., moving from Grade 5 to Grade 6,
> >>>>> for instance, or Grade 7 to 8--gets a bit steeper toward the
> >>>>> higher end of the system.
> >>>>> I also think there's a bigger jump at the low end of the
> >>>>> system--so Grade 1 to 2 to 3 requires a bit more advancement than
> >>>>> going from 3 to 4
> >>>> to 5.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Of course, all these are just my own personal opinions. I make no
> >>>>> claims to be a "great teacher" or even an expert in anything. But
> >>>>> I hope some of it is helpful.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Stephanie Pieck
> >>>>>
> >>>>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>>> From: Menvi-discuss [mailto:menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org] On
> >>>>> Behalf Of Winy Kwany
> >>>>> Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2014 2:16 AM
> >>>>> To: This is for discussing music and braille literacy
> >>>>> Subject: [Menvi-discuss] Yamaha piano course and gradings, any help?
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Hi all,
> >>>>> I have a new student. She is still studying in Yamaha Music
> >>>>> School here with Yamaha piano course curiculum. She said she will
> >>>>> have grade
> >>>>> 7 Yamaha piano exam in July or October this year. I did an
> >>>>> acessment on her and I found her playing level is for grade 2-3
> >>>>> (She hasn't used any pedaling yet, but have played simple Bach
> >>>>> and some classical pieces). I have some questions.
> >>>>> First, does anyone ever transcribed Yamaha piano course into braille?
> >>>>> If so, where I can obtain them?
> >>>>> Second, how I can get the grading of Yamaha and ABRSM on track? I
> >>>>> am confused with the system. Yamaha has 13 grades, from grade 13
> >>>>> to 1.
> >>>>> I read in the website, but I am still confused. For example, if
> >>>>> the student is in grade 7 Yamaha, in what grade will it be for ABRSM?
> >>>>> Thanks in advance. Any input, suggestions, will be highly
> >>>>> appreciated.
> >>>>> Winy.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Please visit www.menvi.org/donate.html  to make a voluntary
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> >>>>
> >>>> Mitchell Piano Studio
> >>>> Phone: 0450354342
> >>>> Web: www.mitchellpianostudio.com
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> >>
> >> Mitchell Piano Studio
> >> Phone: 0450354342
> >> Web: www.mitchellpianostudio.com
> >>
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