Ok, Im sorting Out a list of Piano books I will be offering to my up-coming Piano students, So the parents Know what to expect, And also when the New begginers come for the Consultation and introduction, the parents and student can choose the books they would Like to use, so I can order them ready for september, Does anyone else do this?

I will be using the Chesters Easiest Piano course, as i used it when I was learning the Piano, and that Book is one they will definately use, But from looking through the book I have, its not good for people starting RIGHT at the beginning, i see it more as a Book for Sight reading, Building Up experience in playing, so i will be using that book for those reasons.

But I'm trying to find a Book for absoloute Begginers to learn the notes etc, I have the ten-fingers book, but is there any more out there?
I could also do with some advice, this is my first experience of teaching, and I know what I'm doing, but i could do with some advice from experience!!!!


Hugs and kisses


anna
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If you don't mind( or prefer to use) the american terms (For which I will also offer the english alternative) the Piano discoveries books look good.
I am just about to use these for the first time. There is an on stave or an off stave starter with accompanying theory book which you may or may not want to use. I have, from the same authors, one of the 'Superstar solos 'n' Stickers' books. These match the levels of the Discoveries books and the tunes are very nice
For adults the Classic Piano Course is quite good, though like many other tutors there will be places where you need to supplement it with other material before moving on.

Other books i have heard good things about are the Alfred Books and Piano Adventures. I have not tried these (yet) but you may want to look at them.

John Thompson's books are great for children. Alfred Series books not too bad. It has ear-training book, techniques book, recital book and so on....

The Bastien Piano Basics series is very good for children.
I also like John Thompson, but a lot of the pieces get quite boring for younger ones.

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John Thompson's books are great for children.

Not at all keen on John Thompson. They don't seem to progress logically, and children who have transferred to me around grade one level on JT seem to have a lot of gaps.

I use Chester, Me and my Piano, Tunes for Ten Fingers and others.

Maggie

I like Denes Agay, learn to play the piano, because it deals with intervals right from the beginning.

For young children, I like Pauline Hall's Tunes for 10 Fingers best - it uses left hand very early on, has material as interesting as it's possible to be at the early stages with children, is logical in progression and seems to move at about the right pace - for the ones I'm teaching, anyway. I'm in the process of making a tape to go with it so that my young pupils can play along with it at home - no excuses about not knowing what or how to practice, hopefully! I've added some listening games too, so they get some aural practice early on.

I am using Pauline Hall's Piano Time for older children, which is OK, but looks a bit old fashioned now. I have also used Piano Lessons Book 1 by Waterman/Harewood, which I don't like so much - some of it is unclear as to what is required and it also introduces concepts but does not follow up with material to reinforce them.

I also use Pauline Hall's duet books for both adults and slightly older children - they love doing these and they are good for sight reading.

I use Carol Barratt's Classic Piano Course with adults - the best one I've found after comparing quite a few. Some of the adult tutors look quite intimidating, with, I feel, too much material introduced at once and often in a cramped layout. I find there's plenty to keep my adults busy without too much supplementary material, but I don't have any who have got to the end of book 1 yet - after book 1 I would certainly be steering them towards other material.

I would be interested to know of any other good tutors for the 9+ age group.

Suepea - I use many of the same books you mention, and I agree the Pauline Hall books are excellent. I use Chester and Me and my Piano too, but if pushed I'd have to say that Tunes for Ten Fingers is my favourite - I think it's very hard to beat.
Also like the Classic Piano course, but it does move too quickly towards the end.

For slightly older children I've used Denes Agay the Joy of First year Piano (no coloured pictures - but it might appeal to anyone who likes a more grown-up looking book!)

Have you looked at Microjazz? I have the first two books and have n't used them yet. It's not just for jazz piano but looks like a good starter book - probably not for the youngest.

I still quite like the Oxford Piano Time series, but I think book one is badly laid out, and I wish they would reprint and space the stuff out a bit more. (I find bks two and three better). I have an 11 year old on Oxford PT bk one and she is making quite heavy weather of the last quarter - we've had to introduce other things.

cheers
Maggie

Piano Time series now have published their new revised edition, which you can check at this site:


oup.co.uk/music/pianotime/

or you can type google.com then type piano time then click search, the first found entry will lead you to the new revised edition.

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Piano Time series now have published their new revised edition, which you can check at this site:

OH - thank you!

I am on OUP 's mailing list, but I don't seem to get anything from them.

I will check out the site,

Maggie

The john w. shaum books are brill.

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The john w. shaum books are brill.

Except that they go a bit fast and are full of american terms and the words to the tunes are very american.

I use Bastien Piano Basics for young beginners-I like the layout, it's nice
and clear and doesn't squash too much on each page, and has colour illustrations. It does use American terms, quarter notes, etc, but I haven't found that a major problem. I have moved students onto Level 1,2 and 3 in the same series-1 and 2 I like, three suddenly jumps in standard near the end-it's so annoying when books do that. I've used Piano Time 1, but find the layout a bit off-putting for all but the very keen, and some of the titles a bit dated, but I didn't know they did a revised edition. I also find book 1 jumps in standard near the end-there-s an additional book that goes with it, but the students haven't found the pieces or presentation very inspiring. I like the presentation of Me and My Piano, but find the big problem is the excessive amount of fingering in the first book. I will explore the Microjazz first books-I've used the series for duet playing, but hadn't thought of using it as a first book. Have bought Dennis Agay and like the look of it for about 9 years old upwards, but haven't used it as yet.