I have just started teaching a youngster (9) who has had about a year's tuition on a keyboard. She is now learning piano, and doesn't have any piano tuition books and I was wondering if there is anything out there that would help her transition from keyboard to piano. She is excellent with the right hand, but has only ever done chord symbols on the left hand - consequently she doesn't read bass clef very well. I don't want her to go backwards and start playing really basic pieces that don't inspire her.
She is probably grade one level with the right hand and beginner with the left

hi suzy,

i haven't come across this one before but I have seen a pupil who had a serious phobia about learning her left hand, you kind of have to work on two levels at once, maybe buy some beginner books and make sure that you explain that the reason for these is for her left hand not the right, and move onto more complex piece with her right hand, with you playing the left hand until her own catches up. Also she needs to learn not just her left hand but the co-ordination of reading two hands at once, even though she's got a major head start if she can play two hands on the kayboard.

One piece that I found brilliant was in Party Time! piblished by the AB, all the left hand does is hold silent notes to give harmonics, its a fantastic little piece and takes no skill in the left hand lol. Can't remember what the piece is called but you'll know it if you get hold of the book

Good luck and I hope you can sort this out with her, not sure if my idea would work, but I know it would be my starting point

the piano time books are also very good

I had one student a couple of years ago with a similar problem (although right hand was probably nowhere near grade one standard at the time).

We used More Tunes for Ten Fingers, and it worked quite well; however I think Lynne's idea of using two books would be a good one as your pupil's right hand is well ahead.

The Oxford Piano Time pieces book one (Yellow) might be worth looking at.
Yes the Party Time books are good too.

QUOTE

One piece that I found brilliant was in Party Time! piblished by the AB, all the left hand does is hold silent notes to give harmonics, its a fantastic little piece and takes no skill in the left hand

Chinese Crackers ??

Maggie

QUOTE

Chinese Crackers ??

thank you, I knew it was something to do with China and fireworks but couldn't quite put my finger on it lol

I like Chinese crackers... But they need a (real) piano at home to practice that one

I love the Dodgems one from Party time on holiday too... But everyone I play it to hates it.
Excellent for learning to play triads

Try Microjazz Beginners 2 - there are some quite fun LH tunes, with an accompaniment for you to play, too.

Have you come across 'The Bass Clef Book' by Maisie Aldridge (pubd.Augener/Galliard) ? I have found it to be most useful in the situation you describe. As the author states in her intro: 'A spell of concentrated work on the lh alone can work wonders' .Work through this one, and soon her lh will be ahead of her rh
Hope that helps Helen

Helen, would you know where on the net I could get The Bass Clef Book. Sheetmusicplus and Musicroom.com don't have it.

Chamberlain Music sell it, just do a search for Bass Clef book and you'll get it.

Excellent!! Thank you AnotherPianist!

Found the book!!! But they don't post to Australia! Thanks anyway.....

Sorry, I forgot that you were in Australia so I forgot to check .

QUOTE (minsmusic @ Jun 16 2004, 01:44 AM)

Helen, would you know where on the net I could get The Bass Clef Book.  Sheetmusicplus and Musicroom.com don't have it.

Hi minsmusic try Blackwells Music their web site is here.

They don't seem to have it. Thanks anyway Lucia. I guess if I'm desperate enough I'll order it through my local music store. I noticed it was first published about 1959 or something. There's no doubt similar titles available to me.

Hi minsmusic

Blackwells do have the Bass Clef Book, I've just checked on their web site. Sorry that link I gave you wasn't very good try this and then follow the link on the top right of the page to specialist sites and go to printed music. They will also post to Australia. Then again if you can get from your local shop that would be better.

Good to know that it's still available - my copies are rather worn now. Many piano students come along with a working knowledge of the treble, having sung, or played the recorder. Children will often have worked out a method for reading in the treble - after all, that's where the tune is, by and large. Maisie's book starts with one note ( bass clef F) and progresses, via folk songs, to Beethoven and Chabrier by the final page (23) . Highly recommended - and good for sight reading too.

Hi Minsmusic I have got a copy of the Bass Clef Book and it is published by Stainer and Bell (1965) If you put Stainer and Bell into google they have a very good web site and you can then do a search. Hope you are successful as it is a good book. Margaret

I found the book at Boosey and Hawks - but postage is more than the book! So I think I'll order it through my music store. Thank you everyone for all your help.