Pianimals or Progressive Young Beginner Piano Series?

[one l michele]

I've seen the samples of Pianimals.

I haven't been able to locate and inside view of the Progressive books (on Amazon or Rainbow Resources). I did find an inside view of the recorder book on Amazon and this series also has peaked my interest.

They are very different from each other in technique though. Which would you go with?

Also, what ideas do you have for an inexpensive music sheet holder? Our large keyboard doesn't have one.

Professional music lessons are simply not an option at this time. What is the next best thing?

I should add My First Piano Adventure to this list. How do you decide?

[ma23peas]

We use Faber&Faber...I like their program and how it easily tells you what pages in each lesson correspond with each other..you'd need Lesson/Theory/Technique and Artistry..if you wanted you could add Performance and Christmas books...but my kids have used these for over 5 years and they're doing well in their piano..

Tara

[one l michele]

We use Faber&Faber...I like their program and how it easily tells you what pages in each lesson correspond with each other..you'd need Lesson/Theory/Technique and Artistry..if you wanted you could add Performance and Christmas books...but my kids have used these for over 5 years and they're doing well in their piano..

http://www.pianoadventures.com/how.php

Most importantly, is this program doable with a mom with no musical background?

My boys are just turned 7 (in 1st) and 8.5 (in 3rd). If I go by the above link and their age, it puts them both in the basic edition at the Primer level. Is that what you would recommend? Would the Christmas book be of any benefit this year since they'd be brand spanking new at it?

[mom2abcd]

I haven't seen Faber's My First Piano Adventure, but I have seen the other two. I prefer Pianimals. I think you will do just fine with it as long as your child works at it consistently. You may want to have an accomplished pianist check their hand and finger positioning (after church once a month for a few months, etc.)

Pianimals is very do-able for a mom who doesn't play the piano.

For the music holder, you could get a nice music stand (not the strips of metal stands) and set it behind your keyboard.

One other option is to find an old Jump! Discovery Music program and keyboard. These were really nice for independent study, though for a young child, Pianimals would probably be better.

HTH.

[one l michele]

I haven't seen Faber's My First Piano Adventure, but I have seen the other two. I prefer Pianimals. I think you will do just fine with it as long as your child works at it consistently. You may want to have an accomplished pianist check their hand and finger positioning (after church once a month for a few months, etc.)

Pianimals is very do-able for a mom who doesn't play the piano.

For the music holder, you could get a nice music stand (not the strips of metal stands) and set it behind your keyboard.

One other option is to find an old Jump! Discovery Music program and keyboard. These were really nice for independent study, though for a young child, Pianimals would probably be better.

HTH.

Are they able to branch out into other instruments?

What level of piano music would they be able to play?

Or is Pianimals simply pre-professional lessons material?

[Paula in MS]

Just out of curiosity, what is it that appeals to you about Pianimals and Progressive Piano? I have never seen either one. I am teaching my dd6 with Alfred. How do your 2 choices differ from other choices? Alfred is very straight-forward by the way. But, I am a pianist, so you might see it differently.

Paula

[mom2abcd]

Are they able to branch out into other instruments?

What level of piano music would they be able to play?

Or is Pianimals simply pre-professional lessons material?

Oh, yes! They can definitely branch out to other instruments after using either of these.

The PYBPS doesn't go to a very high level. The large music staffs and LOTS of bright color seems like it would be distracting.

My Pianimals stuff is packed away, but it goes much higher in level. As I recall, it gets them playing with both hands-- maybe four notes at a time. I really like that it has little boxes to check when they've practiced a song. It has a cd so moms who don't play can know how the song is supposed to sound. I guess it just seems to me like their former name suggested... "The Phonics of Piano."

I've used Alfred's Music for Little Mozarts for teaching really young children and it's nice, too, but it is geared more for preschoolers. Pianimals could be used by kids ages 5-15 easily.

[LindaOz]

My 6yo has just started with Pianimals and likes it. The CDs are designed so that the child can play along with them therefore playing with accompaniment. She likes this.

[one l michele]

There are many good options out there, but these two stood out as being kid friendly, inexpensive, and easy for a teacher with no musical background to use.

[one l michele]

Pianimals.