Mrs. Curwen’s method has two facets. First, there is the Teacher’s Guide. It’s a 380 page book written specifically for the teacher to study. Then there are the pupil’s books. The pupil’s books were to be used in complete conjunction with the Teacher’s Guide. On the front of every student’s book, it reads that ‘This method cannot be effectively used with the Teacher’s Guide.’
If you are ready to start your students with the 1st Step, but you haven’t studied Mrs. Curwen’s Teacher’s Guide yet, below is a video to get you started. It’s a summary for teaching the 1st Lesson of the 1st Step.
Mrs. Curwen reminds us that playing the piano requires many different things to happen simultaneously:
1st, to think of the name of the note on the staff.
2nd, to find the corresponding place on the keyboard.
3rd, to consider what amount of time it is to occupy; for which a knowledge of relative note-values is necessary.
4th, to make up his mind which finger to use.
(See more in What I Changed First.)
Each lesson in the 1st Step is laid out in the same pattern. They’re designed to teach musical principals one at a time. At the end of the lesson, the student is given the opportunity to combine everything they’ve just learned into a short line of music. Mrs. Curwen had a definite purpose and aim with every single lesson.
Before starting 1st Step with a student, you can glance over the Preliminary Lessons Exam. The exam is an opportunity to “check the teacher’s work; to secure that nothing has been left out and that the child is ready to begin to use the Lessons.”
If you are using her method, but need her books, there are reprints available in the shop.
Video Instructions for 1st Step, 1st Lesson
Is it possible, as a parent with little piano abilities, to teach this method and learn alongside my child? We are around 4c in the preliminary lessons using your videos. My 7 year old is motivated and grasping the concepts beautifully. I am trying to improve my knowledge alongside him but afraid my actual playing ability won’t keep up. Duets that require a proficient piano teacher, or demonstrating any real peice of music, will be difficult for me. Have parents successfully taught themselves with this method?
Hi Stacey, can I email you? I have some longer winded thoughts on this, but maybe you’ve moved on at this point since it’s taken me so long to comment back. I’m used to people emailing with questions, and I do a poor job of checking comments. But I’d be happy to offer some thoughts if you’d still like them. 🙂
I am here to ask the same question that Stacey posed above. I would be happy to hear your thoughts on this as a path for parents to learn alongside kiddos. I played as a child, and I have continued to play a little over the years, but without any further formal instruction.