Hi!

I am teaching two sisters and they are moving at approximately the same pace. They are now both at a point where I would usually prescribe Piano Time Pieces book 1. However these girls don't like to work on the same book! Can anyone suggest a book along the same lines? I haven't used Cool Piano...what is it like? This pupil is just finished Piano Time 1 but is not the quickest as she becomes frustrated easily, so I don't want to make too much of a leap, she is just getting into her stride.

Many thanks!

Try Hal Leonard solos book 2. The pieces are very dynamic

I have twin girls of the same standard, one of them is working on Piano Time 1 and the other is on The Easiest Piano Course part two by John Thompson, part three is also very good.

Me and my Piano repertoire, maybe? although perhaps slightly younger looking than Piano Time pieces.

Thanks for those suggestions! I don't know those books so will have a good nose about the music shop next week during midterm

There are also some other good books in the Piano Time series, such as Prehistoric Piano Time and Piano Time Going Places that are good.

Keyboard crocodile has a good selection to learn. It covers quite a range - perhaps not enough at that pre-G1 level, but it will last to G2.
I also like both Piano Time Jazz books and Piano Time classics (more than I like PT going places or PT pieces where for me the hit to miss ratio is not high enough)

some really interesting comparisons here and in the previous post from Martin Clarke.

I agree about Piano Tine pieces book one's hit to miss ratio, although I find PT Pieces book 2 is great - a really good mix of styles, and I have had adults enjoy this one as well as younger pupils.

Going Places often starts off well and then flags. I've had this happen a few times - so maybe it is the proportion of misses that don't float people's boats. PT Jazz generally is popular (both books) although a few in book one generally don't get far.

PT Classics I'm a bit ambivalent about - quite a few good ones but in one book (I think it's blue but am working from memory) there are too many in a similar style, and interest doesn't hold up.

Prehistoric PT looks great fun - but I've had only one pupil on it so far - with loss of interest after the first couple of weeks.

I'm actually inclined to agree with the things that have been said about all the PT books - they've all got good pieces in them, but not everything appeals to every pupil. I've not really found a great deal of consistency as to what does appeal - it seems more a matter of the child's tastes and preferences.

I also really like Spooky Piano Time, although most of the pieces in it are much more difficult than in the other early PT books. Some very good ones, though!

How about "So Easy" by Henry Duke published by Fentone, or Faber's Just for Kids The Princess Piano Book, or for boys, The Superhero Piano Book.

I use Chester Piano Starters books 2 and 3 in conjunction with Piano Time 1. Book 2 starts with pieces that stay in five finger position, but gives them lots of practice with other little challenges, it moves into shifting positions by half way through the book, finishing about Grade 1 in standard. Book 3 follows on nicely, taking them up towards Grade 2, and I have had really good value from both these volumes, it's all pieces, so not a tutor book, but so well structured that if you use most of the pieces in the book, they have had a really varied grounding at the right kind of level. They have always been popular choices with my students.