Hello all,

My son (just 8) has been teaching himself recorder from "Recorder From The Beginning". He likes the style, as it shows you a clear picture of the fingering. He is now interested in trying his hand at piano, and has asked me to get a book he can use (very independent, and doesn't want me to teach him! ). He would really like something with a similar style, perhaps with a picture of a piano octave with the appropriate note coloured. I have no idea if this is the norm with children's piano books or not! Can anyone recommend anything?

He's very good at following clear instructions without help, and has taught himself Hot Cross Buns by asking me which note was "B" and working the rest out from his recorder book. He would love a book with familiar tunes, such as Twinkle Twinkle, Happy Birthday, etc.

I would really appreciate suggestions/recommendations! Thanks for reading.

Fred.

How about the Michael Aaron piano grade 1 book? It is very good and very self explanitory! Then if he likes it, he could progress throught he rest of the series!

I really don't think it's a good idea for a young child to teach themselves - bad habits are almost bound to be learnt, and can become so ingrained that they're then almost impossible for a teacher to subsequently put right.

Sorry if I sound like a killjoy - I'm all for children being keen, but any young beginner will need some sort of guidance. For instance, with the recorder, does he know exactly where to put his right-hand thumb to support the recorder? Has he just got the tip of the 'beak' in his mouth, so that teeth don't touch the instrument? Does he know how to tongue? How to slur? There are lots of things to think of when one plays an instrument - it's not just getting the notes!

If you play yourself, of course, you can check what he is doing, but if the instrument is not one you play you should tread cautiously!

Thanks for your replies. I will look out for the Michael Aaron book next time I'm in the music shop.

Good point, Jo.clarinet. I do play both recorder and piano (and clarinet and guitar and sing...although none of these to a teaching standard). On recorder, he refuses to be shown how to do things initially, but is open to ad hoc suggestions such as, "Make sure you're covering the holes properly" or "try turning your hand a little." Thanks to the confidence he got learning at home he is now having lessons on recorder at school, which takes some of the pressure off.

Thankfully he is fairly happy to be guided on piano. He positively refuses to have formal piano lessons, but I hope if he enjoys the self-teaching he will change his mind once he has some confidence - or if not, nothing lost. Although I am aware there are pitfalls to self teaching, given a choice between no knowledge of music and some learned haphazardly, I would prefer the latter for him.

If it sounds as though I'm afraid to put him off, it's true! He used to despise music, and even as a baby cried if there was any music playing. I am so astonished and delighted that he has taken an interest at all that I am happy to let him discover it on his own (having tried unsuccessfully to foster a love of music in him for the last 8 years!).

Again, thanks for your replies. Please don't be offended if you feel I'm disregarding your advice, which is kind and sensible .

Fred

i remember learning piano from a book with a rainbow and every note was a colour in the rainbow but i can't remember the name and i've given the book to someone else. does anyone know which book i mean?

QUOTE (violinandpianogurl @ Jan 6 2005, 07:43 PM)

i remember learning piano from a book with a rainbow and every note was a colour in the rainbow but i can't remember the name and i've given the book to someone else. does anyone know which book i mean?

Sounds like Fanny Waterman, 'Me and My Piano'. It's one I use occasionally, I like the tunes and the layout-the only drawback, and it's quite a big one, is that the first book has nearly all the fingering written in, so they end up playing from the numbers rather than reading the notes if you're not careful.

QUOTE (jpiano @ Jan 6 2005, 08:38 PM)

QUOTE (violinandpianogurl @ Jan 6 2005, 07:43 PM) i remember learning piano from a book with a rainbow and every note was a colour in the rainbow but i can't remember the name and i've given the book to someone else. does anyone know which book i mean? Sounds like Fanny Waterman, 'Me and My Piano'. It's one I use occasionally, I like the tunes and the layout-the only drawback, and it's quite a big one, is that the first book has nearly all the fingering written in, so they end up playing from the numbers rather than reading the notes if you're not careful.

Could the finger references be crossed out though?

QUOTE (Subatomic_Star @ Jan 7 2005, 10:56 AM)

[Sounds like Fanny Waterman, 'Me and My Piano'. It's one I use occasionally, I like the tunes and the layout-the only drawback, and it's quite a big one, is that the first book has nearly all the fingering written in, so they end up playing from the numbers rather than reading the notes if you're not careful. [/QUOTE] Could the finger references be crossed out though?

So they could, but it looks a bit messy and is extra work when there's so many other piano tutors on the market. Shame, because it's a good book otherwise. I like Bastien Piano Basics primers for young children-they're a bit American but well presented-but the layout is too a bit childish for 8. Pauline Hall's revamped Piano Time 1 is also good. I've recently bought a children's beginner book by Denes Agay, I forget the name, you can tell I haven't used it yet, but that also looks promising.