In Tune With You: An inclusive, accessible approach to teaching piano RSS
In Tune With You: A Review
The traditional way that many piano teachers, myself included, began lessons was to learn to play from notation from a beginners' tutor book and then progress in a fairly predictable way through the grades, with theory and aural training thrown in along the way. This was the accepted 'curriculum'. The problem with this approach, as those of us who welcome a range of learners know, is that the formula does not fit everyone and, in particular, it can create anxiety and frustration in piano students who are neurodivergent.
A fresh approach to teaching piano to neurodivergent learners that includes a broad range of musical elements and concepts has been created in a new programme, In Tune With You by Yvette French, with Anne Margaret Smith, and I have been exploring Book 1. For piano teachers who want to give neurodivergent learners an all-round experience of musicianship as they learn to play, this programme offers clear guidance based on sound pedagogy. It's a structured, multi-faceted approach that incorporates listening, movement, games, theory and also fosters creativity.
The teachers' manual offers detailed teaching ideas and advice at every stage, guiding the teacher along the pathway of this neurodivergent-friendly curriculum. There are optional packs of flash cards and game cards, all of good quality, with notated accompaniments for many of the pieces. Useful recordings of the the duet performances are easily accessible via QR codes.
There is plenty of material in the pupils' books, helping learners to stay engaged, and progression can be as gradual as needed. The student edition pages are uncluttered, with generously-sized notes on high calibre cream paper, enabling dyslexic students to process visual information more easily. Probably the most useful aspect of this presentation style is for those autistic learners who thrive on predictable consistency and clarity. I like that the teacher accompaniments are not included in the pupil books, as this minimises the visual load. The student book offers over 180 recordings, again accessible via QR codes.
The complete Book 1 package is hefty compared with conventional tutor books, so who would buy this programme? I'd like to suggest that In Tune With You is an essential part of the piano teacher's pedagogy repertoire. In my experience, parents are often unaware that their child shows signs of neurodivergence and do not communicate any special requirements to teachers, whereas those who teach one-to-one are well-placed to spot very soon that a child needs a different approach. Having Book 1 at hand, ready to try, will be a godsend.
The inclusive, multisensory approach of In Tune With You embodies the concept of Universal Design for Learning; the needs of neurodivergent learners are at the forefront of the programme design, meaning that the teacher is free from having to adapt existing, possibly unsuitable material. As far as I know, there is nothing directly comparable with this programme - Yvette and Anne Margaret have built a unique bridge that can empower teachers to inspire a whole spectrum of neurodivergent learners.
Please download an order form here.
Sandy Holland