Teaching Piano to beginners in Japan 1984-1987

Nowadays a great variety of methods for teaching piano beginners are being used in Japan. As to Japanese piano methods used between years 1984 and 1987, there were 3 major Japanese piano methods: Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawai. There are also 3 supplementary Japanese piano methods quite used in Japan: Atarashii piano no okeiko, Minna no okeiko and Hayashi Hiraku’s piano method. This research about teaching piano in Japan, as well as my studies of music education in Japan, have contributed to my personal development as a teacher, and have been particular helpful for awaking my consciousness and motivation for evaluating piano teaching methods and pedagogical techniques for teaching beginners in Colombia. We cannot continue on following a tradition for teaching piano without evaluating methods, techniques and results. If until the moment positive results in child’s musical growth have not been obtained yet, We, as teachers, must question ourselves Why? taking into account that students and results (good, or bad, positive or negative) are products of teachers, methods and estrategies.