what we teach and Why we are different?

 3 components are crucial to becoming a MUSICIAN, and these components are what we teach in our curriculum and our lessons.


Music Reading

We strongly believe that all students should learn to read music, sight read, and master rhythm reading. 

- With our system, students learn to recognize notes on a staff AND keyboard using our original 'Landmark' system

- We eliminate the need to use slogans like "All Cows Eat Grass" or "Every Good Boy Does Fine".
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- Identifying notes AND the keys that are played covering FIVE octaves on the staff and keyboard has never been easier than with the MusicMaster™ Landmark system.

Chords and
Improvisation

Students learn to create music by using chords in arrangements and do what many call "play by ear". We like to call it playing by brain because improvising and ear playing involves planning and thinking as well as a strong, relevant theoretical base. Students start by playing well-known songs using lead sheets and chords. 

- Students' lessons are enriched by learning to play the assigned songs with computer generated accompaniments using software like iRealPro, Band in a Box, Garage Band, etc. 

- When a student feels like they are playing with a "group" (guitar, drums, bass, etc.) they prepare more willingly and also have more fun. 
- Improvisers have more fun AND they also know more (a lot more).

Imitative,
​Big Sounding Pieces

We have developed some techniques over the years that help us teach a memorized repertoire of fun, well-known pieces such as Mission Impossible, Crazy Frog (Axel F), Hedwig's Theme, and more. 

-These imitative songs allow students to play music that is two or three years ahead of expectations.

- The students really enjoy this last part of the lesson. It's almost like the dessert, and they have to eat their vegetables first (music reading, chords and improvisation). ​

(This aspect of our curriculum is taught in our in-person lessons. However, Repertoire building is one of our main focuses  in at-home lessons also.)
One of the most important contributions of the MusicMaster series is the COMPLETE curriculum. Too often, piano teaching methods produce lop-sided students. Most piano students typically are taught only those skills that they need to read music and to play it accurately. In addition to music reading skills, the MusicMaster series produces students who can improvise, play by ear, create their own arrangements and have the foundation to play other instruments also.