![Big Picture](../_Media/big_picture_med.jpeg)
Piano methods often teach information as a series of isolated elements. Example: “The key signature for G major has one sharp on F.” Later, “The key signature for D major has a sharp on F and C.” Still later, “The key signature for A major has sharps on F, C and G…,” and so on.
Pace students instead learn big-picture concepts.
Example: “To identify ANY major sharp key signature……look at the last sharp and name the line or space directly above it.”
![C# Major Signature](../_Media/c_major_signature_med.jpeg)
Big pictures give students the tools to learn on their own, along with learning from a teacher.
Lifelong Learning
![Basic Levels](../_Media/basic_levels_med.jpeg)
Many approaches simplify material for basic levels by restricting students to a few highly similar tonalities.
![](../_Media/kids_mp1_closeup_300x_med_hr.jpeg)
Developing aural acuity is a central goal of the Pace approach. This approach therefore favors a rich soundscape for beginning levels, and onward. Simplification is accomplished through careful structuring of concept sequences. This enables students to play and hear a lively range of sonorities—including all major and minor keys, plus pentatonic, whole tone, 12-tone, chromatic, bitonal, blues, and modal tonalities—rather than depending on teacher or CD accompaniments for tonal variety.
Aural Acuity
![Student Centered Curriculum](../_Media/student_centered_curriculum_med_hr.jpeg)
Piano methods frequently emphasize teacher-scripted activities over student-directed ones. Teacher-scripted activity: “For a different effect, change the final C to G.”
![Boy Girl play guitar & keyboard](../_Media/boy_girl_play_guitar__keybo_med_hr.jpeg)
The Pace curriculum encourages student-centered learning by featuring student-scripted activities regularly.
Example: “Improvise your own new musical question-and-answers each day.” Student-scripted experiences build confidence and self-sufficiency.
Confidence & Self-Sufficiency
![Mastery thru Creative Practice](../_Media/mastery_thru_creative_pract_med_hr.jpeg)
Some methods base mastery of material mainly on multiple direct repetitions. Creative activities are intermittent, and not a primary means for reinforcing learning.
![boy at piano x200](../_Media/boy_at_piano_x200_med_hr.jpeg)
In-the Pace Approach, creativity is a cornerstone of the curriculum.
By regularly varying and transposing new material many ways, students practice recall while also creating something new.
This promotes student-directed learning and critical thinking skills.
High-level Thought Processes
By Cynthia Pace, EdD