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Suggested Items
Below is a list of items that I suggest for lessons, and for ease there's a table of contents linked to the sections below.
Table of Contents:
Piano Method Books
Suggested materials for children, teens, and adults that are beginners or intermediate level students. Advanced students should contact me directly about specific repertoire suggestions or alternative anthologies/ collections.
Alfred's Music for Little Mozarts
Suggested for beginners that are 5 - 6 years old
A great introduction to the piano and music for little ones, the story-like nature and coloring activities will keep them engaged and learning! I tend to use this series for very young students that want to take lessons to give them a positive experience with piano, music, and lessons from the beginning. If you need a link to a specific book in the series, please contact me!
Faber's Piano Adventures
Suggested for beginners that are 6 - 7 years old; later levels work well for intermediate level students
One of my two go-to series for most young beginners, this series excels because of it's broad approach to music education. I tend to use this with students that don't work well with fast-paced lessons and need variety (in terms of music styles and types of activities in the theory book) to keep engaged. Also, students tend to like the activities in this method compared to my other go-to below. If you need a link to a specific book in the series, please contact me!
Alfred's Premier Piano Course
Suggested for beginners that are 7 years old or older; later levels work well for intermediate level students
My other go-to series for most young beginners, I even use it for students that are up to 12 years old because of the wealth of information packed inside. This series uses a faster pace than Faber and is narrower in its approach (less stylistic diversity and less variety in theory book activities), but many have found success with the series because of its concise and direct approach. If you need a link to a specific book in the series, please contact me!
Faber's Adult Piano Adventures
Suggested for beginners or intermediate level students that are teens or adults
One of my two go-to series for beginners or intermediate level students that are teens or adults. This series is comprehensive (the "all-in-one course" means that the book contains lesson, theory, and performance pages all in one book) and gives a complete music education. Like its series for children, the adult version is slow-paced and full of variety. An added bonus is that the book uses a lot of familiar songs to help you learn faster, which helps you feel confident about piano/ music lessons from the beginning! If you need a link to a specific book in the series, please contact me!
Alfred's Adult Piano Course
Suggested for beginners or intermediate level students that are teens or adults
My other go-to series for beginners or intermediate level students that are teens or adults. This series is comprehensive (the "all-in-one course" means that the book contains lesson, theory, and performance pages all in one book) and gives a complete music education. Like its series for children, the adult version is fast-paced and narrow in scope, but concise and direct. An added bonus is that the book uses a chordal approach to teach songs; this is great for students that want to learn pop, jazz, or any such modern style. If you need a link to a specific book in the series, please contact me!
Supplemental Piano Technique Books
Suggested materials for children, teens, and adults. Other suggestions can be given by contacting me directly!
Hal Leonard's A Dozen A Day
Suggested for beginners of all ages
This series is very useful as supplementary technical exercises that can be used as warm ups (to get the blood flowing and to stretch the muscles before practice) or as finger strength exercises (to build the small muscle dexterity needed for harder music). Working through the graded levels can take a student all the way to the intermediate level of playing piano, which will get them ready for the book below. If you need a link to a specific book in the series, please contact me!
Alfred's Complete Book of Scales, Chords, Arpeggios & Cadences
Suggested for intermediate and advanced level students that are teens or adults
A timeless resource that professionals use as a constant reference, this book includes fingerings for all major and minor scales, and their corresponding chords, arpeggios, and cadences. Working through this book is important for any and every pianist because all music (especially the songs/ pieces you want to learn) are made up of scales and chords. I stress learning these fundamentals in lessons so my students can play music without stressing about details that can easily be ingrained into one's muscle memory (ex: fingerings, order of notes, physical transitions).
Alfred's Junior Hanon
Suggested for intermediate level students of all ages
This book is a great resource for both building finger strength and learning how to get around the piano through various patterns. Some may notice that this book is a simplified version of the regular Hanon exercises, so once a student is ready they can advance to that version (link here). A great feature of this book is that each exercise specifies what fingers are worked on so an individualized plan can be created depending on a student's needs.
Keyboards and Other Things
Suggested instruments for children, teens, and adults. Other suggestions can be given by contacting me directly!
JAEZZIY Roll-Up Keyboard, 88 Keys
Suggested for young beginners and for children and teens to use for practicing on the go
A new introduction to the piano/ keyboard family, this item is good for young beginners (5 - 6 year olds) that aren't ready for a real piano/ keyboard, or for children and teens to use for practicing on the go because of its portable nature. While the feel isn't like the real thing, it still helps with all the other piano/ keyboard basics (black and white keys, higher and lower, note identification, etc.). Also, because it's made of silicone, it can survive almost anywhere.
RockJam Portable Keyboard, 61 Keys
Suggested for beginners and intermediate level students of all ages, especially children and teens
While I would prefer my students to learn on a full piano/ keyboard with 88 keys, I don't want not having an instrument to be a detriment to lessons, and this keyboard is affordable (less than $100). It'll work for beginner and most intermediate level pieces, but the lack of the full range will cause students to compensate and create odd habits, and it'll definitely hold a student back from getting to the advanced level. That being said, the instrument works well for students that are taking piano lessons just as a leisurely hobby. Also, for affordability I didn't include the full setup in the link attached to the button below (with keyboard stand and piano bench), but if you'd like that version look here.
Yamaha P71 Digital Piano, 88 Keys (Weighted)
Suggested for all skill levels and all ages, especially for teens and adults
One of the best keyboards on the market, this instrument will serve you for a long time during your piano studies. The cost is justified because Yamaha is a highly reputable brand (so it's a quality instrument), and it includes weighted keys. Without going into too much detail, this feature makes it feel like a real piano and will allow for a better dynamic range. It also includes a sustain pedal which many pieces in the piano repertoire necessitate. For affordability I didn't include the full setup in the link attached to the button below (with keyboard stand and piano bench), but if you'd like that version look here.