Question on piano teaching method — counting rhythm versus sight-reading?
Once Bitten, Twice Shy asked:
I’m 35 and have played the piano for just over two months. I’m almost to Level I. My teacher uses the counting rhythm method. She will not let me sing the melody as I count (I have to count in monotone). I do OK at this method, but find that if I play the same songs just by sight-reading (and knowing the value of each note), I can play it much, much better. This is frustrating me that I am excelling at sight-reading (playing Level I and even at times Level II music already), but I’m not even in Level I when it comes to the counting rhythm method. I have a very excellent teacher and I don’t want to drop her. Yet during my practices, there are times I have to sneak in doing it by sight-reading for the pure pleasure of it, because counting in monotone is so mechanical. Will this get better? I don’t want to get another teacher.
Music Reading
I’m 35 and have played the piano for just over two months. I’m almost to Level I. My teacher uses the counting rhythm method. She will not let me sing the melody as I count (I have to count in monotone). I do OK at this method, but find that if I play the same songs just by sight-reading (and knowing the value of each note), I can play it much, much better. This is frustrating me that I am excelling at sight-reading (playing Level I and even at times Level II music already), but I’m not even in Level I when it comes to the counting rhythm method. I have a very excellent teacher and I don’t want to drop her. Yet during my practices, there are times I have to sneak in doing it by sight-reading for the pure pleasure of it, because counting in monotone is so mechanical. Will this get better? I don’t want to get another teacher.
Music Reading
