Learn at Home Piano Simply Music - anyone use this?

[4forhim]

We'll be taking a break from piano lessons during the summer. I'd like to use a piano curriculum - have you tried this? Thoughts? Thanks!!

[danielle]

We have it. I'm currently using it with a fifth grader. It is VERY basic. For example, it doesn't teach note reading during the entire first level (haven't gotten thru the 2nd or 3rd level yet). It teaches the student to play melodies and left hand accompaniments, at least so far.

I think the best use of this would be for a kid who's very excited about the piano, but is very early in lessons or not at all. It gets them playing, which is very satisfying. Then, the child could move into regular lessons--which they will be hungry for. Too often, kids just want to play, and get bogged down with how hard note reading is. This gets them playing right away, and note reading would come later.

However, if your students have had a least one year of traditional music lessons, I don't think it will work. My older dd thought it was stupid not to be playing from regular notation, but she had already had piano lessons.
Danielle