Can anyone recommend a good beginner book for a very young child? We will have her take lessons, but I'd also like something for her to play about with when we return from the States to find our glossy new piano waiting in the lounge... My daughter is 5.

Also can anyone recommend anything for an adult beginner (since I know I'm going to be lured in pretty fast too...)

Hello there.



There are several books aimed at this age category, however an old favourite among the teaching world is the John Thompson Collection.



Here is the first book I'd reccomend in the series. It is quite comprehensive and combines practice with a bit of colour.



http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thompsons-Easiest-...TF8&s=books



Priced at £4.95 from Amazon.co.uk



Dr. Sean.

not among this particular bit of the teaching world - sorry, I don't like the J Thomson books at all.

Your daughter might enjoy Piano Party, one of the Bastien series. I use it from 4 up, but for a 5 exploring on her own I imagine it could work well.

Joanna MacGregor's Piano World book one

Jane Sebba's Piano Magic book 1

for yourself, have a look at Carol Barrett's Classic Piano Course (it moves fairly quickly, but irrc you already read music, Meerkat! )

Me and My Piano, or Tunes for Ten fingers. I teach a six year old from the former and she likes the pretty pictures.

Hi,

I find the Bastien primer (red books - piano and theory) successful with this age group. I do jump about the book a bit and use bits of extra material from the Pauline Hall 'Piano Time' book.

HTH

I have used the Thompson books a fair few times - I love the teacher's accompaniments - they're some of the nicest around, BUT it is a very slow moving book - probably even slower than Tunes for 10 Fingers.........

For a 5 year old... Tunes for Ten Fingers by Pauline Hall published by OUP. After Book 1, if the progress she has made is good and sound, you can go on to More Tunes for Ten Finger; if she needs more reinforcement before Book 2, you can use Tunes for Ten Fingers Fun Book.

I have used a variety of method books, but I seem to come back to this one regularly...

For yourself... Carol Barett.

Best Wishes,
hero

I have found the Music Tree series to be the best I've ever used. The first book is called "Time to Begin" & is ideal for very young children, as it teaches the most basic concepts such as high & low first & encourages a very musical approach, gradually building up the reading skills. Jane Sebba's Piano Magic is also very good, but I think it moves quite fast for a very young child.

I would also recommend Carol Barratt's Classic Piano Course for an adult.

Tunes for 10 fingers etc are good books and I supplement them with Chester's piano solos first book to provide more reading material since the Tunes for 10 fingers books really don't have many examples to reinforce notation. (depends on the child a bit)