Our Custom Piano Curriculum

Building Lifelong Musicians—Not Just Piano Players

At Last Frontier Piano Studio, our curriculum is designed to help students develop confident musicianship, strong technique, and a lifelong love of music.

In the beginning stages, method books provide an important foundation for learning, but each student's curriculum is thoughtfully tailored to their individual goals, learning style, pace, and musical interests. Piano Safari is the primary method used with many beginning students because of its strong focus on technique, musical understanding, and creativity. However, I carefully select method books, repertoire, and supplemental materials that best support each student's growth. This personalized approach is why the studio offers four curriculum options, allowing each student to begin with materials that best fit their needs.

Students don't simply learn songs—they learn how music works. Through technique, theory, ear training, sight-reading, and musical exploration, students develop the skills needed to become independent and confident musicians..

Method Books We Use

Book cover for 'Piano Safari' Level 1 by Katherine Fisher and Julie Knerr Hague, featuring a zebra with a black and white striped pattern.
Book cover titled 'Celebrate Piano! A Comprehensive Piano Method' by Cathy Albergo, J. Mitzi Kolar, and Mark Mrozinski. Illustration features a dog playing a yellow piano, a kangaroo holding balloons, and an owl flying above with surrounding plants and balloons.
Book cover for Piano Adventures lesson book, 2nd edition, level 3B, by Nancy and Randall Faber, published by Faber Piano Adventures and Hal Leonard. The cover features a drawing of a grand piano with musical notes and symbols swirling above it.
Cover of a children's book titled 'Tales of a Musical Journey' featuring two cheerful elves in colorful clothes and hats, a castle, a bright sun, and musical notes on a vibrant landscape background.

Why Our Curriculum Works

  • Research-backed and widely respected

  • Develops strong music reading skills

  • Builds healthy whole body piano technique

  • Encourages creativity and confidence

  • Teaches sound before notation

  • Creates a solid foundation for classical study

More Than Just a Page-Turner Studio

Not every student begins their musical journey with us, and students come from a variety of backgrounds and learning experiences.

While method books provide a helpful framework for learning, we believe students need more than simply moving from one page to the next. This is why we supplement our curriculum heavily with additional repertoire, technique exercises, theory activities, ear training, sight-reading, and other learning resources. These materials allow us to address each student's individual needs and create a more complete musical education.

Whether a student is beginning lessons or transferring from another teacher, our goal is to help them grow as a well-rounded musician. Students can continue building on the skills they already have while developing strong foundations, confidence, and a deeper understanding of music.

What Students Learn

Every lesson is designed to help students grow into independent, confident musicians. Students develop:

  • Silhouette of a person climbing a mountain at sunrise or sunset.

    Musical Literacy

    Read music fluently instead of relying on memorization.

  • Illustration of a person with brown hair reading a book and making an OK gesture with their right hand.

    Listening & Ear Training

    Develop strong listening skills and understand music beyond what's written on the page.

  • An illustration of a smartphone surrounded by health, fitness, music, and food icons.

    Healthy Technique

    Build efficient, relaxed playing habits that support long-term success.

  • Illustration of a music note, musical staff, and a pink pen.

    Creativity & Composition

    Explore composition, improvisation, theory, and personal musical expression.

Growing Beyond Method Books

A Curriculum That Grows With Your Child

As students complete method books, their learning expands into carefully selected classical literature and additional contemporary repertoire based on their interests, needs and goals.

This may include:

  • RCM materials

  • Keith Snell Piano Literature

  • Bastien Piano Literature

  • Other graded classical collections

Every student progresses at their own pace while receiving individualized guidance and encouragement.

Some Supplemental Books We Use in the Studio

Cover of a book titled 'Museum Masterpieces' with a subtitle about 10 piano solos inspired by great works of art, by Catherine Rollin. The cover features a black grand piano, a framed painting of two children sitting outdoors, and grey curtains on the left.

Museum Masterpieces

Book cover titled "Jungle Beat" by Kristen Allred featuring a colorful jungle scene with a gorilla and purple flowers.

Jungle Beat

Book cover for 'Beware the Jabberwock' featuring an illustrated, large, old tree with a face in its trunk, surrounded by colorful grass, flowers, and a mystical forest background.

Beware the Jabberwock

Solo Xtreme Piano book

Solo Xtreme

Book titled 'Grand Solos for Piano' with a grand piano on the cover, purple curtain background, and text indicating it's Book 5 for intermediate pianists by Melody Bober.

Grand Solos For Piano

Cover of a music book titled 'Perfect Patterns Plus' with a colorful geometric pattern background and text 'Showcase Solos for Early Intermediates,' created by Chrissy Ricker, published by Composers Community.

Perfect Patterns

Historical literature

Historical literature is an important part of a well-rounded musical education at our studio. Students explore music from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern eras while developing technique, artistry, musical expression, and a deeper appreciation for the history and evolution of piano music. Through studying composers and works from different time periods, students gain a better understanding of musical styles, interpretation, and the expressive choices that help bring each piece to life.

Cover of the book titled 'Masterwork Classics,' compiled and edited by Jane Magrath. The cover features paintings of a vase with flowers, a woman in traditional dress, and a profile of a young woman with curly hair and headphones. It also displays a CD icon indicating the inclusion of a CD with music, and music staff notes in the background.

Classical Books

Cover of Piano Literature Volume Four for early advanced grades, compiled by James Bastien, featuring a black grand piano silhouette and list of music styles including Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary.
Music book titled 'Celebration Series Sixth Edition Piano Repertoire' with green and white cover, featuring a decorative green scroll design, and a partial image of a piano keyboard. Published by The Royal Conservatory.
Cover of a music book titled 'Neil A. Kjos Piano Library Selected & Edited by Keith Snell Piano Repertoire Romantic & 20th Century', featuring a painting of a man sitting outdoors with a hat, beside a boat.
Book cover for 'Clementi Six Sonatinas, Opus 36 for the Piano,' edited by Keith Snell, featuring an illustration of a hot air balloon in a sky with clouds.
Book cover titled 'Prokofiev: Selected Works for the Piano', edited by Murray Baylor, featuring an impressionist painting of a room with a piano, open window, and balcony with a view of the outdoors.

Modern Repertoire

Classical Foundations. Modern Music Too.

While classical training provides the foundation of our curriculum, many students also enjoy exploring contemporary music that connects with their personal interests and keeps them motivated. Depending on each student's goals, level, and musical development, lessons may include carefully selected modern repertoire that complements technical development, musical understanding, and overall growth.

Examples may include:

  • Movie themes

  • Disney music

  • Pop arrangements

  • Jazz-inspired pieces and collections

  • Contemporary piano literature

Modern music is used to complement—not replace—the strong musical foundation students develop through classical study. Our goal is to help students become well-rounded musicians who can appreciate and perform a variety of musical styles while continuing to build strong skills at the piano.

What We Don’t Teach

Our studio focuses on traditional, skill-based piano education. While we enjoy incorporating a variety of musical styles, we do not teach chord charts and improvisation-focused instruction.

Teacher plays keyboard while children sit at a table in a classroom, smiling and watching.

Why Families Appreciate Our Curriculum

Parents consistently tell us they appreciate that their children:

  • Learn to read music confidently

  • Develop disciplined practice habits

  • Build confidence through performance

  • Enjoy lessons while making steady progress

  • Gain skills that last a lifetime

Ready to Build a Strong Musical Foundation?

Whether your child is just beginning piano or transferring from another studio, we'll create a learning plan that supports their goals and inspires a lifelong love of music.

Schedule a complimentary consultation to learn more about our curriculum and determine whether Last Frontier Piano Studio is the right fit for your family.

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