I'm curious how most piano teachers do this, because I've been reading various piano pedagogy texts, and about different methods, and don't have a way to try them out (start teaching someone music) yet from personal experience to see what they are like, since I'm a busy music major at university.

At least one method that looked interesting was one where it started out with one line, then slowly increased until they were all there.

Anyway, please describe your methods of teaching note-reading and a few examples of how they've turned out in students.

AdlerAugen,

I hope you get some responses that are helpful to you in reading pedagogy. Are you planning to teach? Reading lots of pedagogy and being acquainted with the pedagogues is really important, so I commend you on that for whatever reason you are doing it.

You could be buying subscriptions to music teaching magazines to stay current on latest thinking, and related music articles.

I don't do a published method, I do my own that surfaced from the years of experience I've had, I found a way that I prefer and concepts come from many many sources, including some I think I invented.

If we just can keep the thread going, I'm sure lots will surface.

Try "pedagogy" or "method" in the orange "search" button at the top of the page below the blue New Topic. Scroll to the very top (hidden) for search in all forums. You may add my name as I know these words have been a frequent topic for me, or just leave it unfilled.

About the line concept! Yes! One line with a note written on it. (Do it on blank paper at the lesson). Then draw 2 lines where you can show what a space is - draw it between the lines. That's a simple start as just a suggestion. Knowing there are 5 lines - 4 spaces is quite enough (without a clef) for early elementary.
Search: "staff".

I hope to "see" and "talk" to you again!

Betty

Well i use flash cards in class, ALOT. repetition is key. I learnt to read music with silly little rhymes i'm sure you've heard of (but i'll post them anyway) and most of the children seem to think it's fun and understand it quickly (if they actually want to learn that is, but that's an entirely different story!)

For the treble clef, starting with the "line notes" in the staff, from the bottom to the top, the rhyme is "Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge". the first letter of each word represents what that particular line in the treble clef is (E,G,B,D,F)

Always proceeding from bottom to top the spaces go as follows : they spell the word FACE

For the bass clef, the line notes are "Good Boys Deserved Fudge Always" and the spaces are "All Cows Eat Grass"

I've also heard "Good Bears Deserve Fish Always" which some of the children, particularily the girls, find more appealing than the one about boys

Speaking of Flash Cards, at the risk of promoting something we sell (hey, I'm allowed to do that, I own the place)...

We have a lot of good feedback about these:

http://www.pianoworld.com/crazy8ths.html