The Art of Effective Piano Teaching.(Book Review)

The Art of Effective Piano Teaching, by Dino P. Ascari. AuthorHouse (1663 Liberty Dr., Ste. 200, Bloomington, IN 47403), 2003. 121 pp. $14.50.

Novice piano teachers will glean practical advice shared by experienced teacher Dino P. Ascari in The Art of Effective Piano Teaching. Ascari uses non-technical language in a narrative style that is easy to read. The ten short chapters cover topics ranging from ideas for the first lesson, to preparation and planning for studio recitals, and each chapter ends with a clear and concise summary. There is a particular focus on teaching young beginners.

The book's strongest features are its consideration of the personal dynamic between teacher and student, especially in the traditional one-to-one tutorial setting and its emphasis on motivation. Inexperienced teachers often underestimate the importance of a structured routine when developing practice habits for beginning students. Teachers will find ideas for establishing appropriate goals and consistently evaluating each student's progress. He advocates clear practice assignments, including the number of repetitions for drills rather than time spent at the piano. Even experienced teachers could benefit from a refreshing reminder that structure and consistency are critical components in a child's learning process. The one glaring oversight regarding motivation is the importance of repertoire as a motivator and the need for teachers to constantly explore new repertoire that will capture a ...