Great teaching books for REALLY little kids?

[peasant_warrior]

Hi there - I'm a professional musician and teach piano/cello/voice in Chicago. I just got a new student who I visited today for the first time. His dad said he was five, but I have my doubts...looks much more like four to me. Regardless, the kid & family seem great and I am excited to work with them on learning piano. My students are usually much older - going anywhere from 8 to adults. Even my most basic books are too crazy to start with, and I want to have some guidance while I develop a fun, active curriculum for this student. Any advice on the best resources for very, very, very beginning piano and music theory? I've got some old Alfred's books I never use anymore (Level 1A stuff), but again, it's a bit much. Would love your feedback!

[ajspiano]

The piano adventures series has a set that are targeted at the 5-6 age group, its that bit more basic that the standard primer books..

https://pianoadventures.com/publications/mainLibraries/pa/myfirst.html

You could probably adjust the lessons and rate of progress to suit your student, rather than having them work through it directly. It always going to be heavily dependent on the child's attention span in that age group. I've met a 5 year old that had all of about 30 seconds before he got bored.

[quantum]

There is also Celebrate Piano.  Personally I haven't used it, but the strong presence of FHM in my city does market their publications a lot.
https://www.celebratepiano.com

Nonetheless, I feel there is still a strong presence of teachers in my area using the Piano Adventures and everything else Faber.  I've attended a presentation by the Faber's on this series, and was pleased with the material. 

[cjp_piano]

My First Piano

Celebrate Piano

Music Tree

[lostinidlewonder]

Sometimes I find that the very young benefit a great deal more learning about music in general rather than specifically learning it only through the piano. Some youngsters do not even have a concept of what beat, rhythm, pitch, phrasing etc is, so it would be foolish to try to get them to play a musical instrument without strenghening these very basic foundations.

I have found teaching concepts in "Upbeat, Musical Education in the Classroom" published by Ashton Scholastic is excellent in teaching music to young children and has a lot of activities to teach the students without having to get them to play the piano.

It may be helpful even for these young children to learn on simpler instruments next to learning the piano. The descant Recorder or Xylophone I have found are invaluable instruments to teach young minds with. Also sticks to tap beats and rhythm with are good to accompany with.

[cjp_piano]

Yes, I agree with "lost..." that it's best to experience music in general rather than specifically piano. Often with young students who want to learn piano, most of what we do is actually just music. I play a lot and have them dance, react, play games etc.

[jpahmad]

Yeah, I teach in the public school system and seriously, some kids have so much trouble with steady beat, coordination, rhythm, pitch matching, that you would think they've never experienced music before.  This is rapant even as far up as fifth grade.

In agreement with the above posters, you would do ten times more justice to a young child by just getting them to feel and experience music.  Now, having the benefit of seeing hundreds of different kids in my classes throughout the year, I can confidently say that the children who've developed rhythm, sense of beat, etc.. will leap over all other piano students, or any instrument for that matter in a matter of weeks.

When a new young student (5-6) comes to me to sign up for lessons.  The very first things I ask the parents are, does he/she dance? Sing?  The answer to these questions usually effect my willingness to take them on.  I might even test them right there to see if they can keep a steady beat. 

[fleetfingers]

I like Step by Step by Edna Mae Burnam. Not the whole method; just the basic books that teach note-reading. The youngest I've used it with so far was 6 years old. At one point, I was worried that he wouldn't get it, but I patiently stayed where we were with middle C, D, E, and B until something clicked and he knew what to do. I had to print off or copy other pieces of music and drill him on those 4 notes. And the quarter, half, and whole notes. He would keep forgetting! I did flash cards, played a memory game, had him write out notes, etc. It took about 2 months of going over these simple lines of music with just the first four notes, but he eventually understood what it was all about. He is such a sweetheart and didn't get frustrated. He just kept trying. Once it clicked, he took off, and adding new notes was quick and painless. Now reads well for his age and experience.

Anyway, he was 6. I do not know how a five-year-old would do. Personally, I would teach him folk songs, scales, and the first Hanon exercise by rote to get his little digits moving. You can then teach musical concepts and rhythm with the music he plays.

Lots of people learn to play piano at age 5, so I don't think that such a student would be considered a REALLY little kid. Just a little kid.      Best of luck!

[pianoplayjl]

I like John Thompsons series. I think it would appeal to the children with the little cute figures dancing around the pictured piano keys. Shame that the children can't colour the figures, otherwise it would be twice the fun.  There are 4 books in this series. 

JL