How the "Payam Method" keeps the joy in learning piano

Learning to play the soft has agelong been associated with rigid lessons, endless scales, and strict adherence to classical repertoire. Rarely has it been considered fun. But now, Payam Khastkhodaei wants to alteration that.

This week connected 60 Minutes, analogous Bill Whitaker reports connected Khastkhodaei's caller method of teaching piano, which helium calls the "Payam Method." Khastkhodaei's doctrine is simple: students larn champion erstwhile they are engaged, motivated, and allowed to play euphony they love. Learning to work euphony and to recognize scales tin travel later. 

Whitaker knows firsthand however discouraging accepted soft acquisition tin be. He recalls his ain puerility lessons arsenic rigid and unforgiving: scales first, past Beethoven, with small country for exploration oregon enjoyment. "I was benignant of mislaid by twelvemonth two," Whitaker admitted with a laugh. "Never caught up. I was a unspeakable student."

Khastkhodaei's attack is different.

Instead of pursuing a azygous method publication oregon fixed curriculum, the Payam Method is personalized for each student. A 4-year-old mightiness statesman with nursery rhymes. A 6- oregon 7-year-old could determination connected to songs from movies. By the clip students are 10, they whitethorn beryllium learning euphony from their favourite video games. For Khastkhodaei, the genre matters little than the engagement.

"No substance their age, nary substance the benignant of euphony they like, we're capable to constitute it up, teaching the circumstantial method erstwhile you learn," Khastkhodaei explained to Whitaker.

He compared his attack to teaching English literature. Assigning a pupil to work "The Odyssey" each nighttime mightiness beryllium engaging for some, but not for everyone. Giving students the state to take what they read, portion inactive holding them accountable for learning the fundamentals, makes each the difference, according to Khastkhodaei. The aforesaid rule applies to the piano.

"We're not forcing you to larn circumstantial songs," helium says. "We're forcing you to larn the techniques, but successful songs you really like."

At the bosom of Payam's attack is the content that students should "play at the piano," not conscionable play the piano. Khastkhodaei delays ceremonial acquisition successful scales and classical repertoire, which helium says tin instrumentality distant enjoyment and creativity.

"Classical mentation tends to portion the joy," Khastkhodaei said. "It makes everyone play the aforesaid way."

Instead, his students are encouraged to construe euphony done their ain emotions and experiences. Khastkhodaei pointed retired that adjacent large composers similar Beethoven ne'er played a portion the aforesaid mode twice. Mood, feeling, and mentation ever mattered.

To demonstrate, Khastkhodaei sat astatine the soft and played the aforesaid notes successful antithetic affectional states — happy, sad, anxious. Though the notes remained unchanged, the feeling of the euphony shifted dramatically.

"It's the aforesaid notes," Khastkhodaei explained. "But it ever has a antithetic saltation based connected my temper and my feelings successful that circumstantial 2nd erstwhile I'm playing."

Students successful Khastkhodaei's schools, called Payam Music, larn not lone classical theory, but besides elements of jazz, waltzes, and euphony from cultures astir the world.

A acquainted melody similar "Ode to Joy" from Beethoven's 9th Symphony, Khastkhodaei demonstrated, tin beryllium a teaching instrumentality for creativity. Played successful a insignificant key, it transforms into what Khastkhodaei jokingly called "Ode to Misery." With sharper rhythms and tension, it tin go "Ode to Anxiety."

The goal, helium said, is expression, not imitation.

"When 2 students play the aforesaid opus back-to-back, it should dependable different," Khastkhodaei told Whitaker. "Anyone tin larn to work disconnected a portion of paper. But amusement maine wherefore it's peculiar to you. How bash you play it?"

Today, Payam Music provides lessons online and has carnal locations successful California, Maryland, New York and Washington state. Additional locations are planned nationwide.

The video supra was produced by Brit McCandless Farmer and edited by Scott Rosann. 

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