FAQ

Return Policy:  

Merchandise may be returned within 14 days of ordering.  All merchandise will be returned in the original condition as received.  A restocking fee of 25% will be charged for all returns.  Postage will be the responsibility of the customer.  Please include a letter stating the reason for the return.  Damaged merchandise may be returned for replacement and will be replaced at no charge to the customer.  All merchandise purchased at conventions and workshops are considered final sales and not returnable.  No returns on sale items or shipping charges.

All DIGITAL material is considered FINAL SALES.
We would please ask that everyone respect our copyright terms.

Any reproduction of The Piano Curriculum Series LLC material is strictly prohibited.

The term “copyright” refers to the property ownership rights of all intellectual properties of The Piano Curriculum LLC.  Although not always tangible, a creative work is still property.  U.S. Copyright laws protect the rights of creators to retain control over, and be compensated for, the use of their intellectual property.  Many people don’t realize that the reproduction of copyrighted materials without prior authorization in essence theft of property.  As music educators, we all recognize the value of creativity.
*PCS PIANO PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION QUESTIONS*

This program sounds like something I would like to use in my studio.  I am confused about registering.
The beauty of this program is it’s simplicity.  You don’t have to register until you are ready to test.  You can test anytime your students are ready, so there is never a rush.

I purchased the Syllabus, but can’t quite figure out how to level my students.
Great question!  All students are to be leveled according to their technical skills.  In other words, they are to be placed in the level appropriate for their scales, chords, cadences and arpeggios.  Some of their repertoire may be more advanced, but that is not taken into consideration when registering levels.

I can’t find a teacher registration form on the website.
Again, there is no teacher registration form, for teachers do not have any membership requirements!  All forms can be found in the back of the PCSPPE Syllabus and the Teacher Packet.

Why are all of these material digital?
We decided that this was the wave of the future.  We could eliminate postage and charge less for our materials.  Thought that would be a great savings for our customers.

*GENERAL QUESTIONS*

Why did you write The Piano Lesson Companion Books?
I had an idea to put all of the supplemental material together in one binder.  This way, my students wouldn’t be forgetting this book or that book. The fact that I had to buy so many additional books and materials it was bleeding me dry financially.  I decided to develop assignment sheets and theory drills and put them together.  Then I thought about scale work and all of those scale books.  Most of them give too much information, too soon and it scares the average student.  I felt if they had just the scales they needed for the year, they would be able to handle them better.  The rest of the book just fell into place.  Over the years, these books have made my teaching more complete and certainly more organized.  I wish that I had thought about this earlier in my career! 


Can I teach myself how to play piano with these books?
No, you cannot teach yourself how to play with these books.  If you do not know how to play the piano, you need to find a qualified teacher to guide you.

What will these books do to help me?
These books will simplify your preparation time and keep your students on track.  Having everything in a single book keeps you from having to continually research, write fingerings,
and sift through mounds of repertoire.  Just by reading through the teacher manuals, you have everything you will need to be successful.

How will these books help my students?
As we all know, most students are very opinionated about what they want and don’t want.  By having all of this material in each book, they can’t say “I don’t want to do scales” or “I hate theory”, if it’s in the book, they do it.  Since all of the exercises are very short and manageable within the lesson, they don’t grumble (too much).  It also makes them accountable to learn all of the material.  I liken it to a textbook at school. They are required to learn all of the material before going to the next level. I’ll pass on a funny story about one of my students recently.  We were coming to the end of the school year and he hadn’t learned all of his scales from Level 5.  I informed him that he would stay in that level until he completed the scales.  He looked at me with horror and said “You mean I am failing piano?”  I burst out into laughter, he, however was not laughing.  Once I got a grip, I told him he wasn’t failing, but needed to get this material learned.  It’s quite amazing that with his mindset of staying in Level 5, he took the initiative to get those scales learned over the summer and was able to move into Level 6 that August.  I love these books!


Can I teach adult students with these books?
Of course you can!  I currently have 4 adult students in my studio.  One who took as a child and the others were beginners.  All of the beginners are in Piano World.  They both like the idea of having that material plus the music appreciation.  

What benefits can I get professionally using these books?
Having a well-mapped curriculum gives you the credentials of professionalism.  Most parents don’t understand what we do, but they certainly understand how school systems work.  Giving them the concrete format of what their child will learn over the course of the year, eases their mind as to what you are teaching their child.  It will also allow you to command more financially because you have a system that all of your students follow.

I contacted my local sheet music store to look through your books.  They said they were no longer carrying them.  Why?
We decided several years ago to sell through the internet, exclusively.  With the ever-rising costs of paper and marketing, we felt that we could actually LOWER our prices and pass the savings along to our customers.  Without the middle man, our teachers are saving quite a bit.   As a private piano teacher myself, this approach seemed the most logical.

*CLASSROOM & GROUP LESSON QUESTIONS*

 I teach class piano at a public high school, how will these books help?
Several classroom teachers came to me after the original series of The Piano Lesson had come out.  They expressed a need of having material written for them.  Since the majority of class piano teachers are not pianists, but choral or band directors, I certainly understood their dilemma.

I teach group piano lessons in a private studio.  Can I modify these books to work with the class?
Absolutely!  In fact, these books really lend themselves to a group situation.  Each section is broken down into lessons; therefore, you can keep your entire class right on track.  It is the easiest system out on the market.
*EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND QUESTIONS*
I have a Masters of Music, what do these books do to help me?
Regardless of your musical background, these books will help you organize your students.  Most students are children and tend to forget books or resist learning rudiments.  If you present the material to them in a single book and inform them that this is what them must accomplish during the school year.  They are usually fine.  I normally ask them if they like everything they are learning in a particular class at school. The answer is always NO.  Their school teacher still expects them to learn that material.  The analogy hits home.
I do not have a degree in music or piano pedagogy; however, I am teaching piano in a very small town.  Will I be able to use these books?
These books will really assist you in your lessons!  If you are not as strong in one area, the material is at your fingertips.  Your parents will appreciate the effort you are making to give their children a complete music background.
I play the flute and have a minor in music.  Because I am the only person in our neighborhood that has any musical background, parents have been asking me to teach their children.  Will these books help me?
You are an ideal candidate to be using these books.  Along with method books of your choice, these books will assist you in learning piano fingering for scales and how the majority of piano teachers organize their lessons.  It will elevate your teaching to the next level.

My piano teacher told me that I could start teaching beginning piano students (I’m still in high school, but have been taking piano lessons for 10 years). Would these books help me?
Because you are still young and still learning the instrument, you can certainly benefit with this curriculum.  Most beginning teachers know how to play the piano, but don’t know how to put all the pieces together.  With these books, it will take most of the “trial and error” out of those beginning lessons and steer you in the right direction.
 *HOME SCHOOL QUESTIONS*

As a home school parent, how does this work with my home school curriculum?
This is a wonderful question!  After some research, I discovered that there is not a great deal of material on the market that will assist “home-schooler’s” with their pursuit of a music curriculum.  There are many method books, music history books, theory books, etc. that you can use independently, but the flow of all that material is lacking.  These books put it all at your fingertips.  My suggestion however is that you find a qualified piano teacher and ask him/her to use these books in your child’s lesson.
 
 
*LEVELING QUESTIONS*

If I have a transfer student, what level should I put him in?
This is one of the most difficult questions that run across my desk.  All transfer students come at some many different stages.  Some may be strong in technique, but weak in theory or vice-versa.  I generally place the student in the level where they are most comfortable with their scales.  It is usually a level or two below what they are expecting.  I tend to be on the cautious side.  I would rather have them “review” material and feel a sense of accomplishment rather than have them be frustrated at a higher level.

Once a student finishes Piano World 4B, what book should they go to?
Piano World moves at a faster pace.  It also teaches the natural minor scales first, where The Piano Lesson Companion Books teaches the harmonic minors first.  Depending on the age of the student, you could either go to Level 5 or Level 6 of The Piano Lesson Companion Book.

 
*MATERIAL QUESTIONS*


With all of the method books out on the market, why do I need to use these?
Remember, these books are not method books, but a graduated curriculum.  There are so many terrific method books out on the market; there was no need to write another one.  It also addresses continuity for students from the beginning of their studies throughout.

Why isn’t there repertoire (music) included?
This is one of the most common questions I receive.  It is also one of my favorite.  Because I am the kind of piano teacher that likes to “mix and match” material, I thought this might be the best route to take with the books.  I will use one book/edition for say Bach Inventions, while using a different edition for Schumann’s Album for the Young.  I also do a great deal of supplemental material while my students are in their method books.  I get frustrated with editor’s choice of material and sometimes get very frustrated with their remarks/fingerings/etc.  With an open-ended concept that you can choose YOUR FAVORITES, without compromising the student’s education, you stay in your comfort zone of teaching.

Is there a place where there are suggestions for repertoire?
Well, I certainly don’t want to leave anyone high and dry on this subject.  In all of the teacher manuals,  there is a specific section dedicated to suggested repertoire.  By all means, it is not a definitive list of material, but a guideline of what will work well at each level.  I have included several collections of repertoire from the many fine publishing houses that will guide you as well.

Do I really need the Teacher Manual?
As a business woman, of course I am going to tell you YES.  As a piano teacher, I am also going to tell you YES.  The material in the teacher manuals will help you navigate through the student books easier.  They also contain all of the theory answers, so you won’t have to spend time doing that yourself.  If you are a beginning teacher, the sections on setting up your studio and advertising for students are invaluable.  I have had so many teachers thank me saving them valuable time and energy.