Piano Method Books: How to Choose the Right One

Piano method books are not a rare commodity. There are scores of options available on the market today, with new ones surfacing all the time. This can make choosing the right one for your students feel daunting.

When I first started teaching, there were so many options! I proceeded to hop from shiny new object to shiny new object, switching my students into new books almost willy-nilly so I could try out whatever new series I had discovered. 

The haphazard way I assigned new books to students was not beneficial to either my students or myself. In many cases, progress stalled, and students got frustrated. There is a tool for every hand, but not every tool fits every hand.

The variety of piano method books available today is a huge advantage for piano teachers, but it’s important to match the right book to the right student.

Why Use a Method Book?

Before we get into how to choose one, let’s clarify why we use method books in the first place. Method books exist to provide a logical progression of concepts, skills, and music to help students develop as musicians. They assist in setting the pace and provide a scaffolding for introducing new ideas in a way that makes sense. However, it is important to remember that a method book is a framework, not a box; there should always be flexibility within the structure to accommodate the needs of individual students.

Where we can run into trouble is when we look to the method book to do all of the work for us as teachers. We set the book in front of a student, teach each piece in order, and turn the page. This quickly becomes boring, and it does little to ensure that students are actually internalizing new concepts.

Method books are best used as a guide to your teaching, not the end-all, be-all of everything. By treating the book as a structural foundation rather than a rigid set of rules, you can ensure your students receive a comprehensive musical education that remains engaging.

What Do You Look for When Evaluating a Method Book?

Not every method book is going to be a good fit for your and your students. As I mentioned earlier, there are a lot of piano method books on the market, and it’s important to take a good look through any that you want to try. 

When you start evaluating a method book, consider whether it is truly systematic and comprehensive. Does it provide enough reinforcement for new concepts, or does it move on before a student has really grasped the material? This may not rule a book out entirely, but it’s good to keep in mind whether you’ll need to provide extra reinforcement.

You should consider the reading approach and how other skills and concepts are integrated into the lessons. Are concepts introduced in a way that makes sense to you? There are several schools of thought on things like the best way to introduce reading notation or rhythms. Make sure whatever you choose aligns with your preferences and personal philosophy. 

Pacing is another critical factor to weigh. Does the book linger for a while on each new concept or move quickly from one to the next? Are there supplemental options that can provide a change of pace when needed? Many method series provide a lesson book that moves at an average pace while including a variety of supplemental resources to allow you to slow things down or reinforce concepts when needed. 

Perhaps the most important factor is the quality and appeal of the music itself. Students are going to struggle to want to practice if their music is overly complicated or doesn’t sound good.

The last thing to consider is the available supplementary materials. Are there additional song or musicianship books? Does the publisher provide additional resources like games, activities, or backing tracks? 

While no method is perfect, taking these things into consideration can help you determine if a method book may be beneficial to your students.

What Does Your Student Need?

Once you have a handful of method books that you feel good about, the next step is to determine the best fit for each of your students

Every student comes to us with specific experience, needs, and goals. It’s important to keep these things in mind when selecting a method book for them. 

Some questions to consider include:

What is their musical background? Do they already play another instrument or have a family that does? Students exposed to a lot of music at home may pick things up more quickly. If they play another instrument, they may be able to move more quickly through music theory concepts.

How old are they? What grade are they in? Choosing a book that matches a student’s maturity level is important. A method book designed for 12-year-olds will probably not be engaging for a 5-year-old, even if you think they can keep up with the pace.

Do they pick things up quickly or need extra time for new concepts to sink in? Some students take to reading notation easily, while for others it requires a great deal of effort. These kinds of things play a role in determining the pacing you’re looking for in a method book.

What are their goals in learning piano? A series that is very classically bent may not be the best choice for a student who is mainly interested in music production and playing popular music. It could, however, be an excellent choice for someone looking to pursue classical music performance or exams.

Alfred’s Piano Methods

Whatever a student's age, pace, or goal, there's an Alfred method built to match. Here is a guide to our core methods to help you find the perfect fit for every student in your studio:

Music for Little Mozarts: Ideal for ages 4–6 (as young as 3). This character-driven course uses a gentle pace to introduce foundational concepts like keyboard geography and basic rhythm to the very youngest beginners. The songs are short and simple, making them accessible and appealing to preschoolers, and there is ample reinforcement of new concepts, as well as a variety of supplementary materials to provide additional support when needed.

Alfred's Basic Piano Library: The Four Courses of Alfred’s Basic Piano Library make it the most flexible piano method available today. 

The Basic Course is best for most beginners ages 7 and up and moves at a moderate pace with clear, step-by-step instruction and an eclectic reading approach, supported by a vast library of correlated supplements. The vast library of supplementary materials makes it easy to create a custom curriculum for each student, depending on their needs. 

It’s easy to move among the courses when students require a change of pace. For younger students or those needing to slow things down, the Prep Course contains all the same material, but at a slower pace with more reinforcement. The Complete Levels combine levels of the Basic Course to move through concepts more quickly.

Premier Piano Course: This is another eclectic method designed for beginners 7 and up. Pages contain more instructional information, and technique is described more explicitly than in Alfred’s Basic Piano Library, so this course may be better for students and teachers who need more detailed instructions. 

Premier Piano Express contains the same concepts as Premier Piano Course, repackaged into an all-in-one book that is best for teens and adults who want to move quickly. 

Alfred’s Basic Adult Courses: Designed especially for adults. This is the fastest-paced option, focusing on essentials such as scales, chords, and note reading to get students playing satisfying music quickly. This is also a good option for teens who already play another instrument and can move through theory concepts quickly.

Explore all of the piano methods available on Alfred.com →

Choosing the right book sets your students up for a successful year. By matching the right method to the right hand, you give every student the confident start they deserve!