Would it benefit a beginner pianist to start by learning Bach's Prelude in C?
I'm asking for objective reasons why this piece can be quite useful for beginners, specifically those who cannot yet read music. I'm not asking for meanings or arguments as a discussion but for examples of copies or tutorials.
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From a pedagogical standpoint, consider all of the things an "absolute beginner" would have to learn in order to perform this piece:
Note names in treble clef
Note names in bass clas
Note values of whole, half, quarter, eighth, and sixteenth
Dotted note values
Rest values of eighth and sixteenth (and result syncopation)
Ties
Accidentals
Fermata
Notation with multiple voices in a single staff
Extensive use of ledger lines
I'm sure there are other things I could add to this list—and I didn't even get into questions of technique or interpretation—but this is a huge list for absolute beginners to learn all at once.
If your goal as a teacher is to find one single piece that illustrates a lot of new concepts all at once, then this prelude is one of many that might fit.
However, if your goal as a teacher is to gradually move a student forward one step at a time, helping ensure success by never allowing them to be shocked by too much new material, it's hard for me to imagine this being a good piece "for absolute beginners."
I'd say it's a good beginner piece, the arpeggio pattern repeats itself. I had an easier time writing the notes like this though because it's more condensed.
Use this pattern for all lines, first line example: C E G C E G C E
C E G C E - C
C D A D F - Dm7
B D G D F - G7
C E G C E - C
C E A E A - Am
C D F# A D - D7
B D G D G - G
B C E G C - CMaj7
A C E G C - Am7
D A D F# C - D7
B G D G B - G
G Bb E G C# - Gdim7
F A D A D - Dm
F Ab D F B - Ddim
E G C G C - C
E F A C F - Fmaj7
D F A C F - Dm7
G D G B F - G7
C E G C E - C
C G Bb C E - C7
F F A C E - Fmaj7
F# C A C Eb - F#dim7
G Eb B C Eb - Cm7/Maj7
Ab F B C D - Abdim7
G F G B D - G7
G E G C E - C
G D G C F - G7sus4
G D G B F - G7
G Eb A C F# - Gdim7/G
G E G C G - C
G D G C F - G7sus4
G D G B F - G7
C C G Bb E - C7
F A C F C A C A F A F D F D - F/C
G B D F D B D B G B D F E D - G7/C
C C E G C - C
That's not an unreasonable 'first piece' for an adult beginner who can cope with notation on an intellectual level.
As you're after the objective: I'm currently doing exactly this! I'm a 40-something with no prior piano experience. Musical ability limited to bass and guitar via tabs.
It's a stretch but more fun than "simpler" pieces I have access to: my daughter has had tuition and has several simple books (largely aimed at the under-10s). I don't really have the opportunity currently to seek formal tuition. Real proficiency is a long way off if ever obtainable but in the meantime if I can only ever play one tune I'm happy it'll be one I enjoy. (I'll save the C# prelude for later.)
As a (near) absolute beginner I think it depends on the beginner: I doubt my daughter would get as much from it as I would given a love of WTC. Although coming to Bach early in life can only be a good thing.
As a guitar and bass hack I'm happy to play (badly) for my own amusement. I can think of friends that this would put off starting here as they'd prefer to master "simple" first to have a sense of achievement. As a novice, I think it depends on the individual.
For completeness I should add this is largely because of James Rhodes "How To Play Piano" book, which is based on learning this very prelude.
Ironically, I did exactly that with one young adult who had never played the piano before. You are looking for objective reasons. Hard to do but I will give it a shot:
Pros:
motivation: The C prelude provides an infinite source of pleasure and can be played, listened to at length and not lose its original appeal. Many beginner pieces don't provide that appeal. It's a great way to provide motivation to a student, especially an adult with limited time.
technique: an important aspect of learning to play the piano is to work on hand position. This piece provides a good learning ground for that skill: working on the ability to put the fingers on the keys and then pressing one after the other.
accomplishment: the piece is a succession of chords. Even if the adult doesn't succeed in playing the whole piece, they may get a great sense of satisfaction in playing in a loop a couple of lines already.
rhythm: the learner won't have to focus on that aspect. That's one challenge that's removed from the plate.
Cons:
challenging to read: if the adult hasn't any music background, that's a lot of notes to read.
challenging to memorize: one of the beginner frustration is to spend so much time reading the notes before playing each of them. Usually beginner pieces present the advantage of being short and having notes that follow each other so that they are easy to memorize and the learner can practice playing the piece. The C prelude doesn't provide that advantage.
uneven hands: beginner pieces are best if they help the student practice both hands evenly. This piece doesn't help much with the left hand.
I'd say that with motivation, everything can be accomplished so I think with the right nurturing environment and a good teacher, it is ok to start with this piece: aim for the moon. It's ok if you don't reach it.
I also think you will be more successful with an adult on this piece as it will be easier for them to see the whole picture. A young kid may get frustrated by the length of the piece and how much work it is to get to the end.
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