Contemporary Piano Method – Book 1A
A comprehensive, modern approach to piano education designed to develop confident, well-rounded musicians through interval reading, scale mastery, and progressive technique building.
Overall Objective
The material in Book 1A and 1B enables students to play within the five-finger hand position over the range of four octaves, with extensions to intervals of sixth, seventh and octave, in all major keys, using note-values from the whole note to the sixteenth note.
Book 1A Keys
C Major
G Major
D Major
A Major
E Major
Book 1B Keys
F Major
B♭ Major
E♭ Major
A♭ Major
D♭ Major
F♯/G♭ Major
Learning Stages
1
Interval Reading in Five-Finger Position
- Reading without looking at the hands
- Playing by feel
- Developing the ear through listening for intervals and correction
- Transposition exercises
- Awareness of combined direction for both hands: up, down, in, out, same or oblique
- Mixture of intervals between hands (advancing from the Junior Primer's matching intervals)
- Proportional notation for easy understanding of timing
- Playing over four octaves from Very High C to Very Low C
Note: Use Contemporary Theory Primer alongside practical materials to facilitate interval reading and timing concepts through color-coding and clapping exercises.
2
Introduction of Scales
- Hand-position changes
- Learning scale pathways on the keyboard
- Understanding key signatures and the cycle of fifths
- Finding chords in root position
3
Extension of Five-Finger Position
- Using larger intervals: sixths, sevenths, and octaves
- Expanding technical capabilities and hand span
- Building strength and control
4
Chords and Harmonic Understanding
- (a) Chords in inversions, block and broken forms
- (b) Primary chords in major keys and the Chord Table
- Finding chords on written music
- Chordal analysis of each piece
- Introduction to 12-Bar Blues
5
Playing in All Major Keys
- Scale pathways and interval reading
- Using the key signature as a 'key' to unlock the puzzle
- More hand-position changes along pre-learned scale pathways
- Chromatic scale introduction
Throughout the Course: Progressive introduction of musical signs, touch markings, experience in various time-signatures, and exposure to all styles of music.
Supplementary Materials for Best Results
Expand your student's repertoire and technique with the following Brandman materials (page references included in CPM):
📖 Repertoire & Technique
Junior Trax followed by Hot Trax
Daily Dexter Flexers
Dexter's Easy Piano Pieces
It's Easy to Improvise
Pictorial Patterns for Keyboard Scales and Chords
🎵 Theory & Ear Training
Contemporary Theory Primer
Contemporary Theory Workbook - Book 1
Contemporary Aural Course - Preparatory Level and Set One
📘 Guide Notes
Detailed guide notes for teachers and students are included on page 65 of the book.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.