Psychological versus Logical Order of Music Instruction

A piano teacher should begin where the child is, and lead him step by step through the developing stages of piano instruction. This is the emotional and psychological order of the stages of learning for children. It's where a good piano teacher distinguishes himself from one who is an artist only.

The artist, on the other hand, absorbed as she is likely to be with the music of her calling, will often present the material in logical order. That is, an artist's approach is taking a mental organization fit for adults, chopping it into pieces, and giving it a piece at a time to the child to learn in piano classes.

Psychological order is the order of experience, of discovery, and consequently of learning. Logical order is the order of arranging for later use what has already been learned.

A child's processes will be immensely shortened by having as a guide someone who knows the piano. But, to be effective, piano instruction must be presented in psychological rather than logical order. The best piano teachers are both artist and teacher.

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