I've just been contacted by a pupil's mum who would like to buy her daughter some piano books as Christmas gifts and has asked me which she should buy.
The girl is 9, is pre-Grade 1, taking Prep Test in 3 weeks, very bright & loves to play. She doesn't know that her main present is a digital piano, so as you can imagine, I'm very pleased with her parents!
She's been working mainly from Piano Time 1 and Piano Time 1 Pieces.
I'll probably tell them to get the first Upgrade book, but am not sure what else to suggest. I know I can rely on you all to come up with good ideas. Something not too serious that she can use for fun at home.
Thanks in advance!

Me and my Piano repertoire book (green stripe).

Has some fun familiar tunes like Pop goes the Weasel, as well as 'new' tunes.

Roundabout or Party Time - Alan Haughton.

I'd be inclined to suggest something a bit more relevant to the average 9 yr old girl - to be honest I'm not so sure " pop goes the weasal' grabs the pre-teens

The Disney Collection (Easy Piano Series) (Paperback)

Hannah Montana 2/Meet Miley Cyrus (Piano/Vocal/Guitar) (Piano/Vocal/Guitar Songbook) (Paperback)

Jonas Brothers (Easy Piano) by Jonas Brothers

might be worth a look. Probably nearer grade 1 but there is nothing like the incentive of actually wanting to master a piece that she'd like.

The High School Musical Easy piano is grade 2-3 so too hard but there might be an easier version.

Do you have a good local piano shop and time to call by ???

musicman's mum

The 9-year old girls I teach tend to be children still, not pre-teens.

Mine too, thank goodness.

How about "The Joy of First Year Piano" - lots of pieces she could probably manage by herself and a few harder ones as well - good variety of styles. Then, more difficult, but would last a fair time 'The Joy of First Classics" Book one and/or Book 2. ( these are all Yorktown Music Press edited by Denes Agay).

I find the upgrade books quite tricky for the level they are supposed to be.

There are some lovely fun books that might be more suitable. Suggest you have a look at these. Very popular with my younger students, and there is now a Strictly Ballroom (title maybe not quite right) version as well that is post grade 1.

If it's a Christmas present I'd give :

1/ A book of easy Christmas carols (I tend to print nice ones off the net so I'm not sure what would be the best book though I've got Hal Leonard's Christmas Solos which is very well presented, arranged and has carols as well as Christmas songs - I have level 3 which is a bit too difficult so 2 or 1 would probably be right).

Anyway, it'd be lovely if she could pick out a carol with her new book on her new piano on Christmas day !

2/ a classical book. Aquarelle's suggestion of The Joy of First Classics is a good one. Lovely pieces, has ones she'll be able to start learning straight away but will last a long time. And I think that the idea that it must be jazzy/modern to be fun for a 9 year-old is wrong - a little minuet is a lot easier to sight-read than the UpGrade stuff (i agree with SueH), and sounds 'real', and in my experience children feel like proper piano players and love it.

3/ a modern one if you want. The Bastien Boogie and Blues range are great if you want some pieces she can work on herself with you helping a bit (as opposed to teaching her). I know they're a bit simplistic in style but they are very popular and accessible.

Very Easy Little Peppers are brilliant (as well as the Up-Grade and More Up-Grade 0-1 books)

The Jazzin' About series by Pam Wedgewood is also good, but I can't remember if there is one for the pre- Grade 1 level?

I like the Little Peppers series too and I have used Really Easy Jazzin' About with some as well.


Louise

Many thanks to all!
I've sent a short-list to her mum, who was very grateful.
I didn't know about the Just for Kids Christmas book, although I have the other Just for Kids books. That will be a really good idea for Christmas day. I also like the sound of the Me and My Piano Repertoire Book and Easy Little Peppers. Thanks again!!