For one particular pupil, who came to his first lesson not reading a note of music, his burning desire to learn ignited a playful romp through a set of duets. These are sourced from Faber’s Accelerated Adventures for the Older Beginner.

For our first few lessons, I used the PRIMER Piano Adventures, because I felt the Accelerated album moved too quickly, but at this FIFTH LESSON juncture, we’ve transitioned to material that seems custom-made in the adult hemisphere.

Because I’m not a dyed in the wool Method book teacher, I will wean him off the usual mass-marketed, spoon-fed pablum, and introduce repertoire that is “position”-less and drawn from contemporaries of the Masters. (Turk, Beyer, et al) But that’s in the offing.

For now we’re relishing a musical journey that’s enriched by ensemble playing.

(To this effect, I record Secondo parts or teacher accompaniments that I send to my adult students in progressive tempos. These enable baby-step practicing with harmonic enrichment)

FABER MINUET

MIDNIGHT RIDE