Piano for Kids

The Animal Note method of beginning music education is based on associative learning.  Everyone learns easier and quicker if the new knowledge being acquired can be based on something the individual already knows.  The notes in the music books of this series are caricatures of familiar animal faces.  Each music note has a story about its location on the Grand Staff.  These stories help the individual recognize the corresponding standard music note.
The first music book is a study of the first nine notes in the center of the Grand Staff.  It is written for beginning piano students.  In the front of the book are two keyboard charts with stories that help in learning the notes’ locations.  These are associated with the homes of each of the animal notes.  With this, the beginner learns the set of white notes located around the two black notes on the piano and those located around the three black notes and how this is repeated on the piano keyboard.
As the animal notes are friendly and easily recognized, other important aspects of learning can be emphasized.  Most young beginners want to hit each note with the same finger.  Three year olds have the most trouble with this, but even they can accomplish the task, because they are not struggling with both recognizing the note to be played and what finger to use to play the note.  Children older than three learn correct hand position fairly quickly.  What a joy!
The second book emphasizes timing.  As the notes are familiar, the beginner can concentrate on the count of each note.  The Animal Note/standard note flash card set has the animal note on one side and the comparable standard note on the other.  After reviewing the animal notes with their clue, even a three year old can recognize the standard note by the word clue when it is presented.  By using these cards, the beginning student becomes comfortable with standard music notation as they enjoy learning to play music.
The Fun Song and Christmas music books give the beginning student a chance to enjoy playing songs they know and other people recognize.  The Moving On book has songs written in the animal notes on the front of each page and the same song in standard music notation on the back.  It provides a smooth transition to music written only in standard music.
This beginning music education works well for any age.  An older child enjoys the quick start it gives them into playing, and when they complete the series of books, including study in the Theory Book, they have the ability to play music at the early intermediate music level.  It is a win – win situation for all involved.