I CAN READ MUSIC (ISBN # 0-9718936-4-0) was created for a very specific reason: there was no existing piano method or text which began slowly and carefully enough for both kids and adult beginners.
I CAN READ MUSIC is the most understandable and fun introduction to reading piano music available for kids
today.
Includes 50 page illustrated song book with removable stickers.
Every book package order includes a copy of I CAN READ
MUSIC.
Leading children's music educator and Emmy Award winning composer John Aschenbrenner looked at the experience children had with reading music and created a system based on what children could actually do comfortably, having fun while they learn to read music.
Piano for kids should be fun, especially when it's time to read music.
The result is I CAN READ
MUSIC, the piano book for kids that is easy to understand and enjoy.
Reading piano music is complex, but if you break it down into small graphic elements that kids can understand, it becomes a rather simple language.
Countless children have gotten the "idea" of reading music from this entertaining book, using familiar songs like TWINKLE TWINKLE, JINGLE BELLS and MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB.
Click here for Sample Pages from I CAN READ MUSIC
Click here for a detailed discussion of kids and starting to read music. See
also Reading
Strategy for more reading on the subject.
WHY IS THIS METHOD DIFFERENT?
Our books are designed to provide kids with preparation for piano lessons, a fun process children can do at home, before they start regular piano lessons.
All other piano methods start children far too quickly, causing early frustration and eventually leading most to quit.
We've found this failure can be prevented by starting your child playing piano "by number" at home, and then making a slow, smooth transition to reading music using our
book, I CAN READ MUSIC!
This "Fun Method" has proven results, turning children into happy, interested experimenters who enjoy tinkering with the piano. Piano for kids can be exciting if approached in this low-pressure way.
PIANO IS EASY and
I CAN READ MUSIC are the best way to properly prepare your kids for success with piano lessons. See also
THE BIG BOOK OF SONGS BY
NUMBER.
READING MUSIC
After starting with PIANO IS EASY and
THE CHRISTMAS CAROL
KIT, kids make an easy transition from playing piano "by number" to reading music.
In I CAN READ
MUSIC, the steps necessary to understand reading piano music are broken down into groups of fun activities that kids will enjoy exploring.
After putting six stickers on the piano, as in the above diagram from I CAN READ
MUSIC, kids are ready to start reading music!
This is the easy "Fun Method" that we recommend using with all beginning students.
Usually introduced slowly while the child is still playing "by number," the concepts introduced in this book are easy to follow for anyone, and help build the simple, abstract spatial skills necessary to read music, one skill at a time.
I CAN READ MUSIC is intended as an easy-to-understand introduction to reading music for children, and thus includes songs which make use of only the WHITE keys of the piano.
Click here to read a more detailed
description of how I CAN READ MUSIC will help your kids start reading piano music.
MY FIRST SONGBOOK
There is a section in I CAN READ MUSIC titled MY FIRST SONGBOOK which is equivalent to many standard beginning texts for children's piano, such as ALFRED, BASTIEN, or JOHN THOMPSON, but is presented only after the child has played musical games using the graphic elements of sheet music, and is comfortable with the geography of the piano.
This book is perhaps the best and most friendly introduction to reading piano music for kids currently available.
MY FIRST SONGBOOK, which is a section within I CAN READ MUSIC, includes these songs, presented in the format of simplified sheet music: JINGLE BELLS, WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN, MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB, ALOUETTE, TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR, LONDON BRIDGE, CAMPTOWN RACES, plus many more exercise pieces which teach your child the classic note patterns to expect in popular beginning sheet music methods such as ALFRED, BASTIEN, or JOHN THOMPSON.
Click here for a more detailed discussion of how our books help kids read piano music.
