Elements is a new way for kids and adults to learn the piano or keyboard. Most keyboard methods still look backward, to the 17th-19th centuries, to Europe. Elements looks forward, building on the incredible legacy of American music that continues to change the world.

The truth is, students are highly motivated to play only if they are learning the music they know and love; whether it’s the latest pop star’s hottest new jam, the blockbuster movie song, the cartoon theme or the video game track. Maybe they want choice cuts from a classic rock collection, patriotic favorites, holiday classics, even show tunes or classical music. Elements hunts for the songs students love and breaks them down so simply that even brand new beginners can play a favorite song in the first lesson!

Of course with Elements, learning the hits is not the end, but the means. Elements is not a gimmick, not an “ez play” or proprietary method that depends on purchasing special equipment, but a real, full, piano method which replaces the boring baby songs of traditional methods with fun, graded arrangements of songs students love!

There are different Elements courses for 3 distinct age groups.

Each course has 4 levels. Each level takes 8 weeks to complete. At the end of each level, a student should be able to play anywhere from 2 to 5 songs they learned in that level, in front of an audience!

By the end of 32 weeks, students ages 6 to 13 will be able to read, recognize and name all the notes on the treble and bass clef, including accidentals. They will be able to form all major, minor, and sus4 chords in root position. They will be able to read, find, and form all major and minor chords in inversions (slash chords.) They will be able to read both lead sheets and traditional grand staff notation. They will have participated in many rhythm ensembles, clapping through exercises with rests, ties, and quarter, half, whole, eighth, and dotted notes. They will have performed keyboard ensembles with rhythm tracks. They will have given 4 public performances and learned, on average, between 8 and 20 of their favorite songs, participating, along the way, in many games and contests that make learning new concepts fun! Compare that with the staid, ineffective traditional methodologies from the giant publishing houses!

Most importantly, students will have completed their first term of piano study and they will not “hate” to practice the piano! Why should they, since each trip to the keyboard is time spent investigating the rhythms, harmonies, and melodies of their favorite music!

When they complete the first term, students can go on to the 2nd term course of study, either online, or through the Elements @ Home program. In Elements Year 2, students will learn scales, key centers, key signatures, and how to transpose keys. There will be more emphasis on finger exercises and technique. They will learn how to break chords up into rhythmic patterns, and how to distribute the notes of the harmony between two hands. By the time they have finished Elements Year 2, they will be able to navigate most of the intermediate level Coates-Bradley type sheet music found in the music store, (as well as early intermediate classical pieces) and they can start building their own library and repertoire!

Elements students also get full use of the student workshop here at elementsmusic.com where they can download song clips, special sheet music, even video lessons! Now that you’re here, please browse! Our site has information about finding and registering for classes, our philosophy, our company, our teachers, our faq, a special section for adult beginners, teacher training, in-home classes, online classes, and a guide to becoming an Elements teacher!

Thanks for visiting elementsmusic.com, where we are always “discovering the future of music education.”™

Still have questions? Please read our FAQ for Parents, or contact us!