Is there anything like a Montessori method for piano?

[wally]

I am looking for a piano teacher for my 12-year-old. I am familiar with many different learning methods such as Suzuki, Brendell, Thompson, etc., and I am certain that any of these methods would absolutely turn him straight away from piano. I am wondering if anyone has heard of a piano method, or a piano teacher, who uses a Montessori approach to learning.

A Montessori approach would likely have the following attributes:

- self-directed, in that the child brings to the teacher a piece he wants to learn to play (anything is ok, even if it's way over his ability level) -- the piece he selects dictates what techniques he needs to learn;
- a child's boredom is considered a sign that he's ready to move to something else of his choosing, not be made to complete something after boredom sets in;
- no advancement through formal "levels" or "grades";
- learning through a philosophy of "discovery" rather than by pedagogy.

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

[dbjorck]

Hi!

No thoughts but a reflection. That's exactly what I did when I tought a 12 year old. I've heard of Montessori of course but I never knew how the method worked. It just felt the right way to do it. In the two years I taught her (or she taught herself) she did get better and enjoyed the classes. For improving Bach we would for instance improvise Boogie Woogie, great laugh. At least the parents also said that she had gone from bored to enthusiastic and mechanical to musical, so this method must be a good one.

Brgds

Danny