We are happy to present this information on five popular piano methods.  We also offer "Printer Friendly" versions of the chart, in Word 97 or PDF format.  Click here to get either or both.  The methods are shown in alphabetical order, left to right.  We have made no attempt to evaluate, but merely to describe the contents of each method so that teachers can have the information for their own use.  Accuracy has been checked by the publishers and some have provided direct links to make it easy for you to learn more or to purchase their materials.  
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Method

All-in-One Course
1994 (Combines Lesson, Theory and Recital into 1 book) 

Kjos Publishing 1985
James & Jane Smisor Bastien

FJH Music Co. 1993
Nancy & Randall Faber  
Homepage Link #1
Homepage Link #2

Also Accelerated Course for the Older Beginner  Books 1 & 2

Hal Leonard
Corp 1996
Barbara Kreader
Fred Kern
Phillip Keveren
Mona Rejino
Homepage Link

Component   & Supplementary Books Overview

Alfred
Levels:  Lesson 1A ($6.95) through 6 
(All-in-One Bks. 1-5 = Basic Bks. 1-2)

Other:

• Theory Books

• Technic Books

• Recital Books

• Top Hits! Solo Books and Duet Books (popular music)

• Ear Training Books 

• Theory Software

• Duet Books

• Merry Christmas Books

• Classic Themes Books

• Composition Books

• Ensemble Books

• Flash Cards

• Fun Books

• Group Piano Course

• Hymn Books

• Notespeller Books

• Repertoire Books

• Sight Reading Books

• Sheet Music

CD and General MIDI Disk accompaniments 

Bastien
Levels: Primer ($6.45) & 1-4 (Primer A-B for younger beginner)

Other:

• Technic

• Theory

• Performance

• Sight Reading (Level 1- 4)

• Solos

• Christmas

• Hymns

• Sonatinas

• Boogie/Rock & Country

• Notespeller 

• Pencil work

• Flash cards

• Assignment book

 General MIDI Disk CD accompaniments 

Other:

• Activities for Time to Begin, 1, 2A, 2B. (3 and 4 as above).  Each book includes skills, drills, theory, sight playing, notespeller, games, puzzles  for each level. 
• Literature, duet, supplementary and technic collections available in 6 intermediate and lower advanced levels to follow the Music Tree.

General MIDI diskettes and CDs for each level

Faber
Levels: Primer, 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4, 5
Lesson Book $6.50

Other: ( all levels)

• Theory (writing, sight-reading, ear training)

• Performance 

• Technique & Artistry

• Popular Repertoire

• Christmas

• Classics

• Favorites

• Hymns

• Jazz & Blues

• Rock 'N Roll

• More Popular Sheets music

• Flashcards-in-a-Box

• Developing Artist Literature Series

• PracticeTime Assignment Book

CD and MIDI Disk accompaniments

Hal Leonard
Levels: Book 1-5
Piano Lessons $5.95

Other:

•  Piano Practice Games L 1-4

• Piano Solos  

• Piano Technique

• Piano Theory

• Supplemental Books L 1-5

• Popular Piano Solos

• Christmas Solos

• Piano Ensembles

CD and GM Disk orchestrated accompaniments (all books) with Practice and Performance tempos for Lesson/Solos (Books 1-3).  

Reading Approach

Sequence:

• Pre-reading (black keys
• Pre-reading (letter names)
•  Bass F
• Treble G
• Intervals (2nds-5ths)
• Sharps and flats throughout measure

Bastien
Multi key - Intervallic 

Sequence: 

• line/space notes

• G-clef/F clef

• 2nds through 5ths 

• sharps/ flats through measure

Sequence:  

• off-staff to partial staff to grand staff over 9 units. 
• Directional reading in 2-4 octave black key pieces.  
• CDE groups
• FGAB groups
• 8va.  
• Intervals 2^nd through 5^th in sequence with staff lines added as needed.

Piano Adventures
Note recognition - Intervallic  
Multi key 

Sequence:  

• Pre-reading by direction

• Pre-reading by letter name

• Treble G/Bass F

• Middle D-E-F

• Staff reading by step

• Bass C-B-A-G-F

• Staff reading by skip (3rd)

Hall Leonard
Multi key - Intervallic,

 Sequence:  

• two blacks/three blacks

• C-D-E

• Mixed black key-white key patterns (whole tone)

• F-G-A-B

• FGAB/CDE using various finger sets

• Bass F Guide

• Treble G Guide

• Interval reading by step from guides

• Grand Staff -Middle C Guide/ steps and skips

• Use of alternative fingerings for different note groups.

Rhythm Approach, Counting 

Sequencing: 

• Quarter note
• Half note
• Whole note
• Dotted half note (3/4 time)
• Tied notes
• Quarter rest
• Whole rest
• Incomplete measure (upbeat)
• Half rest

Bastien
Chanting "quarter, quarter, half note"  or  Durational "one, one, one-two"

Sequence:  

• Quarter
• Half
• Dotted half
• Whole.

Piano Adventures
Durational "1 1 1-2"  

Sequence:

• Rhythmic grouping

• Eighth  notes later

Hal Leonard
Durational "1  1  1-2", Feeling pulse at different speeds, Experiential: "clap-hold" and "clap-open palms" (rests)

Sequence:  

• Quarter
• Quarter rest
• Whole 
• Half note
• Half rest
• 4/4 meter
• Dotted half note
• 3/4 meter
• Tie

Theory Elements & Sequence

Theory Book: 

• Identify keys
• Spell words from notes
• Write rhythms
• Match terms
• Draw notes, use intervals, ties, slurs, rests, sharps, flats
• Games and puzzles

Bastien
Melodic & Harmonic Intervals-C chord 

Theory Book: 

• Writing note stems

• Rhythms

• Key names

• Treble/bass clefs

• Dynamics

• Drawing intervals

• Notespell words

• Symbols

• Form: sameness and difference among groups
• Directional reading by interval
• Iintervals on keyboard and staff (identifying, writing, etc.). 

  Piano Adventures

Theory books:

• Measure/bar lines
• Writing notes & rests
• Recognizing aural patterns
• Drawing notes
• Steps
• Skips
• Clefs
• Ties
• Puzzles
• Ear training
• Eye training (sightreading)

Hal Leonard
(Practice Games Book)

• Listen & Discover

• Read & Discover

• Imagine & Create

• Puzzles

• Musical maps

• Flash cards

• Games

(Theory Book)

• Pulse
• Pitch ( high & low)
• Finger numbers
• Writing notes 
• Rests
• Key name identification
• Musical alphabet
• Completing 4/4 meter measures
• Dynamics
• Rhythms
• Step, Skip, Repeat, Line / Space  notes
• Drawing clefs, 
• Note puzzles
• Treble G, Bass F & Middle C guides
• Interval note writing
• Dynamics: p-mp-mf-f
• Tempos: Adagio, Andante, Allegro
• Meter recognition
• Ties

Technique Sequence

1st Book

• Black Keys Fingers 2-3-4
• Middle C Position
• C Position
• RH melody/LH intervals and vice versa
• G Position

Technic Book:  

• Warm ups
• Repeated notes
• Two- and three-note slurs
• Harmonic and melodic intervals
• Balance between hands
• Staccato and legato
• Hand over hand patterns

Bastien

• Black Keys Fingers  2-3-4

• C position

• All fingers used 

• Middle C thumbs

• D major position

• G major position

• Intervals 2-5
• Blocked and broken chords
• Phrasing
• Parallel motion

• All black keys at first
• Fingers 2 and 3 alternating hands moving across 4 octaves
• 3-2 slur, 4-3-2 slur, then various combinations.

Piano Adventures

• Posture/seating position
• Arm weight
• Range of the keyboard
• Rounded hand position/firm fingertips
• Dynamic contrasts
• "Artistry Hints"

Hal Leonard

• Finger 3 supported by thumb

• Black keys-mixed black/white keys - white keys

• 234/432

• Blocked clusters

• Middle C thumbs or middle B,C thumbs

• Alternative fingers on same note positions (e.g. 123 CDE or DEF)

• Hand position
• Black key- clusters
• Single notes
• Beautiful tone, attention to silence
•  Non-legato
• Thumb placement
• Legato
• Varying dynamics
• Staccato
• Legato between hands
• Non-legato between hands

Layout/Format

• Full color
• Large notes
• New elements in shaded boxes
• Teacher duet parts at bottom of page.

Bastien

• Full color

• Humorous figures

• Large notes

• New elements shown at top

• Focus on music

• Teacher duet part at bottom of pages

• Full color
• Child-centered illustrations
• Sidebars highlight discoveries and practice skills
• Teacher duets at bottom of page
• Larger notes with focus on music.

Piano Adventures

• Full color Lesson Books and Popular Repertoire Books  

• Others 3-color 

• Non-childish art

Hal Leonard

• Full color original illustrations

• Large notes

• Focus on music

• New elements in shaded focus box

• Teacher duet parts at bottom of page

• Keyboard graphics for finger placement

Pedagogy

• Supplementary Books correlated page by page with Lesson Books
• Separate Teacher's Guide
• Teacher duet parts for many pieces
• Words for all songs in early levels
• Some creative suggestions included
• Some practice steps included
• Written review test at end of Lesson Book
• Certificate of Promotion

Bastien

• Supplementary lessons correlated page by page

• Teacher duet parts-several

• Words for songs for many pieces

• Practice directions highlighted

• Written work/tests

• Final test

• Certificate of Achievement

• Separate 64-page teacher handbooks for Time to Begin/Part 1 and Parts 2A/2B
• Emphasis on complete musicianship, understanding, projection of artistic performance
• Activity books correlated by page and unit
• Cartoon characters Chip and Bobo highlight visual and aural awareness
• Avoids position-based reading
• Emphasis on independent learning.

Piano Adventures

• Varied fingerings; Sequential fingerings

• Student finds starting key and finger

• "Discovery" activity with piece 

• "Creative" activity with each unit

• Teacher  duet parts

• Printed practice steps 

• Certificate of Achievement
• Blends discreet note reading and intervallic reading; multikey at level 2A

Hal Leonard

• Method components coordinated page by page with technique and theory.

• Separate Teacher guide
• Teacher Duet parts - words to many songs
• Student improvisation on FGAB and CDE
• Magnifying glass symbol for Student reminders
• Characters Spike and Party Cat used throughout
• Lessons divided into Introductory unit and 5 teaching units
• Award Certificate

Musicality  Elements & Sequence

• Dynamics p, f, mf 
• Legato and staccato
• Crescendo and diminuendo
• Repeat sign

Bastien

• Dynamics f, p

• Legato and staccato

• Pieces describe experiences of childhood. 
• Singable tunes and many well-known folk/popular melodies
• f,p (sometimes to be chosen by student to fit)
• Non-legato/ legato
• Emphasis on phrasing.

Piano Adventures

• "Artistry Hints" and "Artistry Magic" pieces

• "Technique Secrets" applied toward musical expression

• Use of pedal

Hall Leonard

• p-f-mf-mp

• Adagio, Andante, Allegro

• Use of damper pedal

• D.C. al Fine

• Repeat symbol

• Detached / connected tones

General Comments

• Avoids finger number association with specific keys
• Lyrics that often reinforce musical concepts
• Overlapping concepts with much reinforcement

Bastien

• Includes some familiar tunes

• I, IV, V accompaniment chords

• Practice directions included

• All major and minor keys covered by Level 4

• Emphasis on communicating through music
• Emphasis on creativity through composing, improvising, and rearranging,
• Independent practice skills developed
• Rresearch and testing over 5 decades by thousands of teachers and students (previous editions in 1955, 1960, 1970, 1993)
• For use in private, group, or combination of both.

• 12 years of pre-release testing and development
• Avoids finger number association with specific keys
• Songs have words
• Pianistic gestures encouraged
• Teacher accompaniments

Hal Leonard

• Test- marketed to 1000+ teacher/ students 

• Teacher accompaniments
  throughout 

• Creative
  improvisation  throughout

• Songs have words/ variety of moods.