---

Transition Guide

Chart a smooth course from book to book.
Use this guide to explore cross-method transitions. Uncover the key concepts your student will repeat, encounter for the first time, or miss entirely. Each recommendation includes a pacing label, concept percentages, and categorized lists of new, repeated, and missing material—weighted for pedagogical significance.

Use it to:

• Adapt pacing to meet a student’s needs
• Place transfer students confidently
• Choose books that reinforce or challenge specific skills
• Fill in concept gaps with clarity

Used this in a cool way? I want to hear about it!

I’m constantly looking to iterate on this tool, so please drop me a line if you’ve had success with it. It really helps to know how it’s being used in real life!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check some comparisons myself?
Sure! Here’s a tool where you can get the raw percentages of new and repeated concepts, as well as the number of missing concepts between any two books currently in the PMN library. It will also give you lists of those concepts. Do note that these are not the advanced weighted versions, and that a lot more went into the official Transition Guide recommendations than these raw numbers. With that said, have fun!

Why are there multiple suggestions for some transitions?
Because students (and teaching styles) vary! You might see two recommended books in the same series as possible next steps—one with a more comfortable pacing and another that’s more challenging. Both are pedagogically sound; the right choice depends on your student’s needs.

What do the new, repeated, and missing numbers mean?
They show how much overlap or new material there is between the two books—weighted by how significant the concepts are. A transition with 70% new concepts will likely feel much more advanced than one with only 40%, even if both are technically at the same level. But that number doesn’t tell the full story either. Repeated concepts offer critical reinforcement that can make transitions more manageable, whether you’re accelerating progress or supporting a student who needs extra scaffolding as they move forward.

Here are a few quick definitions:

• New concepts are introduced for the first time in the new book.
• Repeated concepts already appeared in the student’s current book and show up again in the new one—great for reinforcement or added support.
• Missing concepts are ones the new book assumes the student already knows, but that haven’t been covered yet in the current book. These may need extra teaching support.

What are weighted concepts?
Not all concepts carry the same teaching load. A new rhythm isn’t the same as a new dynamic marking. That’s why the Transition Guide weights each concept by importance—so the scores and percentages reflect real-world teaching impact.

Can I use this for more than just transfer students?
Yes! The Transition Guide can help you plan curriculum paths, balance pacing, review specific skills, or create a custom learning journey across multiple series.

What if I disagree with a recommendation?
You might! This guide is meant to support your judgment, not replace it. If something feels off, explore the comparison yourself using the Concept Maps or Index—and make the call that works best for your student. And—let me know about it! I’m always up to adjust things and incorporate different viewpoints and input.

How were these recommendations created?
With a whole lot of spreadsheets, custom Python scripts, and many, many hours of analysis. I (ABR) built tools to compare every concept across method books, but at the end of the day, each of the 350+ transitions was reviewed by hand and shaped by real-world pedagogical judgment. This isn’t AI-generated or publisher-sponsored. It’s just me, buried in method books on my nights and weekends. How’s that for a niche hobby?

What’s coming next to the Transition Guide?

Plenty—both big and small!

Smaller enhancements to improve usability:
– Estimated book pricing ranges
– Cover images for visual reference
– Publisher links for easy access
– Notes on digital availability
– Indicators of page count or book length

Major updates on the Wish List:
– Mid-book transitions to compare specific pages across methods
– Half-step transitions for students who need a gentler level-up
– Supplemental resource suggestions to bridge gaps creatively
– Crowd-sourced concept weighting based on real teacher input
– New series, including Alfred’s Premier Piano Course, Music for Little Mozarts, John Thompson’s Modern Course for the Piano, Essential Piano Techniques, Music Moves for Piano, Piano Safari, Piano Partners, and Faber Accelerated Piano Adventures
– Complete series beyond the lesson books (technique, sight reading, artistry, theory, etc.)

Curious what’s in the queue or want to help prioritize what comes next? Vote on the homepage.
Have an idea, notice an error, or want to collaborate? Send me a message!

---