It is better to learn piano using letters or notes?

Question

Mi son spend 2 years in piano lessons and he learned note names to read and play the piano. We just moved to another state and he's in another music institute. I was surprised when they started to teach them with letters (A to G) instead of note names. His current music teacher tells me that letters is the right way to learn to play an instrument. His previous music teacher tells me that notes are the real way to learn music and play an instrument.
I'm confuse and feel that my son spend a lot of time learning his Do, Re, Mi 's and now he has to switch to a different naming convention.
What is the best approach? Can he learn the letters just as a reference but keeping his focus on notes?
I studied guitar for four years (30 years ago) and I never learned letters.
Are notes more traditional? Should he switch to letters?
Thank you.

Answer 1

OK... here's the weird answer: BOTH are correct! However, it is necessary to learn the letters, because that is how you learn all the different scales, such as Major, Minor, Pentatonic, etc. The "do - re - mi " actually comes from a way of learning the notes as well, but it is called "solfege"... do is the same as "C", re is the same as "D", etc. However, solfege has quirks in it that allow you to learn the sharps and flats. If you really study music intensely you will learn how to do BOTH. Solfege is used in ear training, the letters are used to learn music theory. Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Notes will be more effective in the long run. Music is NOT written with the note names. I have no idea why anyone would think that learning the letters is more effective. Granted, he does have to know what the note names ARE, but he shouldn't ignore the concept of notes. If you want him to learn to play piano and play well, then he should focus on the notes.

Answer 3

My 12 yr. old sis also plays piano and when her teacher gives her a new sheet of music the first thing she does it write the letters above the notes, thats the way she learned and for her it worked the best. If he has already learned letters than let him use letters, learning notes is like trying to teach him another language unless he WANTS to change.

Answer 4

Notes! Pick up a sheet of piano music and you'll see the correct method. No one, and I mean NO ONE, composes music using letter names instead of notes. You son will never be able to read a single line of music if he can't read music ... as it's actually written! If his instructor continues to teach letter identification instead of note reading, get him out of there and find a real piano teacher!

Answer 5

Notes are the way to learn to play properly . Letters are like crutches . I would take my son out off there pronto and forget that method . It's like baby talk. Learn it the right way and be proud .

Answer 6

The "proper" was to teach music is with the actual names of the notes. HOWEVER, if its a matter of not training a classical musician who is going to be playing with big orchestras, then the letters are much more practical, because they teach you, once you get ten down, not about one sound, but about the arpeggios that can combine with that note. For example: with notes, Do is just Do. But with letters C is Do-Mi-Sol. Get it?

Answer 7

Learn to read sheet music. If I gave you a c, how would you know what c to play, what harmony, how loud, what rhythm, or what expression you play it in? That's what musical notation is for. Little kids can learn to read music, and so can you. Get a teacher, and it will become natural after a while. It's time to start learning to read actual music, don't you think?

Answer 8

i learned on letters there much easier

Answer 9

If youe kid already knows how to play with notes then you should keep playing with notes. :)

Answer 10

It all depends on the teacher - each have their own method - check around - if your child is happy - leave it alone!@