Piano Method Books

I have had a few people ask me recently which method books I would recommend for beginning piano students - what do I like?  what do I use?  what do I teach my own kids out of?  So I've decided to write a little post about it.

I used to be a big Leila Fletcher/John Thompson fan.  I started Madi and Mac in these and they have managed to pick up the foundations well enough. I have never liked the Bastien or Alfred Series very much, and I find kids don't love them either.   But now I have discovered the Faber Piano Adventure Series.

Why did I not know about these before?




If you have a little one from about 4 to 6 years old, I would definitely start them in the My First Piano Adventure series.  Spencer and I have been doing this now for a week and he is so excited he can hardly stand it.  And who wouldn't be?  It comes with a CD so they can listen to all the little rhymes and songs they learn in lessons, a workbook with fun activities to reinforce the theory, and they present basic piano concepts to pre-readers in a colorful, bright, super fun way.  Even I have fun!



If you have an older beginner, go right into the Piano Adventures Series.  There is a primer that they would probably fly through pretty quick, but I just did my first lesson with Madison and Malcolm in Book 1 yesterday and for the first time in recorded history they were both laughing and bursting at the seams with the fun of piano lessons.  These books are great because they don't limit kids to playing 10 basic keys in the middle of the piano for the first year.  They range all over (play the highest/lowest note on the piano, pick any C to play this, etc.) which helps keep them from being stuck in one playing position.  Also, they get to use the pedal right away, which was a big draw for Mac who just couldn't wait to get his foot on it.  Plus, the songs are fresh and fun with funny words and the sound of the pieces fit the title and mood.  No dusty primer songs here!

So there's my recommendation.  Now remember, every kid is different.  Some don't want flash and fun.  I have one who is in Suzuki and probably will remain there forever because he is very methodical and technical.  But I made him take home the Older Beginner Piano Adventures Popular Book 1 (tings like Harry Potter and Star Wars) and choose a song last week - for fun!  Because it should be fun.  They need to love playing to keep playing.

For more information on this series, complete with videos and lesson ideas, follow this link:

http://pianoadventures.com/