beginners piano book

[Itscurtainsforyou]

Not sure if this is the right place but, I'm looking for a beginners learning the piano book for a primary school child who can't currently read music.

Any recommendations?

[Sgtmajormummy]

Find a teacher before you find a book. Each person has their own favourite and learning the piano is such a complicated skill that you need the human touch. Anything else is likely to fail IMO.
Good luck and I hope your DC gets the "piano bug"!

[Itscurtainsforyou]

Thanks! I was going to attempt to teach him myself at first, just to see if he takes to it before I find a proper teacher. It's been a very long time since I learned...

[Sgtmajormummy]

I'm a great believer in parents' and teachers' roles being kept separate (having learned from experience!).

I think just messing about in a creative way with the piano is a lovely start, getting them to sing along and play with you will give them a positive start and you can keep it lighthearted while passing on your passion for music. Reading the notes can definitely wait. My piano playing is BASIC, BTW but I can read music and sing well.

Both of mine started "real" lessons at six and then my role moved into the "let's work hard and make teacher proud of you" one, through all of primary and beyond. I sit/sat in on their one-to-one lessons and unobtrusively made mental notes, also because lessons are darned expensive!

DS (17) is now at Trieste Conservatorio doing Composition, Piano and Trumpet. DD (10) is passionate about music but not about piano. I'm giving it another year before we look for another instrument...

Both sides of the coin, I suppose.

[Ferguson]

Here are a few, and you CAN learn the basics from reliable books, as well as advice on-line.

Having taught primary music for ten years, I always advise people to not concentrate TOO much on the names of notes, but get the fingers to learn which keys they should be on.

www.musicroom.com/se/id_no/03625/details.html?kbid=1582&gclid=CKCPme3798oCFQjmwgodgH8BeQ

www.musicroom.com/se/id_no/0407846/details.html?kbid=1582&gclid=CMmClqf798oCFeUy0wod1mcEzQ

www.musicroom.com/se/id_no/04040/details.html?kbid=1582&gclid=CIa7goj898oCFQccGwod5loFfw

takelessons.com/blog/piano-books-for-beginners

christopherhussey.co.uk/editorial-publications/

[Ferguson]

Some more ideas for children's Piano tutor books -

the series of books by Pam Wedgwood, some in her 'Up-Grade' series, and also another popular author, Pauline Hall, her 'Piano Time' series.

Dame Fanny Waterman is a highly respected teacher, and her 'Me and my Piano' books are popular, BUT they use a colour-coded system to identify the notes, which I do not consider a good way of learning.

John Thompson has many early books for children. And I like the 'Complete Piano Player' series by Kenneth Baker, which are suitable for adults, though could also be used by older children.

[sashaf01]

I quite like the Mango Piano Method and it is my go-to method when I get a new beginner student. I like the idea of a “happy face sun” on each lesson. My students try really hard to get it. They want the reward so it keeps them motivated.