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Start with numbers, then read music

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PIANO LESSONS: A CHILD’S POINT OF VIEW

by John Aschenbrenner

Many parents wonder, “Will my child have to unlearn piano by number when they go on to read music?”

It’s a good question, but it has a very simple answer, which I apologize for posing in the form of a question: did you have to unlearn using training wheels on your bicycle?

No, you didn’t, because the training wheels were just a way for you to feel comfortable with the bicycle, and the moment you were able to ride without their support, all memory of those training wheels faded away.

It’s exactly like that with piano by number. All the children we’ve taught make a smooth transition to reading music and have only a dim memory of piano by number.

But the point is that these children played piano long enough in the beginning, thanks to piano by number, to be able to grow slowly and enjoy the benefits of simply making music at the piano before they were inundated with the task of learning to read music.

There is, of course, a huge difference between riding a bicycle and playing a piano, and, yes, playing piano is infinitely more difficult.

But logic dictates that the harder a subject is, the more generous and careful the initial approach to the student must be, especially when those students are very young and just gaining the motor and perceptive skills necessary to start to play the piano

All that matters is that the child enjoys starting to play the piano, by whatever method, and is also slowly taught how to read music while simultaneously enjoying the benefits of simply PLAYING music at the piano.

It is important for the parent or teacher to never, ever, allow the child to feel like a failure at playing.

An important point to emphasize is that you can only lose the battle of the piano once: once your child feels defeated, they won’t want to play, and if they do, they will do so grudgingly. That’s simply human nature.

So how is a teacher or parent to proceed?

Better to lower the bar slightly, sometimes dramatically, and proceed slowly rather than demand too much too soon and deflate the child’s enthusiasm. 

It takes a creative teacher to do this, and almost all teachers prefer, instead, to follow the steps, page to page, in the standard music texts, a process which bores children, even those who are the most diligent and cooperative.

There are several reasons why piano teachers take this “page to page“ approach.

First and foremost, it is easier for the teacher to proceed using this “page to page” method.

If the teacher follows a text alone, there is no room for error: the child either learns what’s on the page or is made to feel like a failure to some degree and risks the teacher’s disapproval.

But what about the child’s point of view of that same piano lesson that goes from “page to page?”

In the child’s mind, perhaps, they are asking, while this hypothetical conventional piano lesson is proceeding, “Why is this so boring? I thought music was this fun stuff that sounded good….” 

After all, that is a child's perception of music as we present it to them before kids piano lessons: music is fun and we sway and dance and sing to it as toddlers. But now you want this same child to suddenly make music by reading it off of a page. And the result is that predictable 90% failure rate for which conventional piano lessons are famous.

We all know children are impatient, and may only dimly understand the concept of deferred gratification. But conventional lessons take the concept of deferred gratification to an unacceptable degree, a degree that totally ignores the psychology of children.

Another way of stating it is that it is ridiculous to assume that very young children should be introduced to the piano as if the end desired is to have them play at Carnegie Hall. The regimen this misconception imposes upon children beginning piano lessons is all but unbearable for the kids. 

You should be glad to see your child happily experimenting with this most grand of musical instruments, and leave the thoughts of Carnegie Hall and the standards of conventional piano teachers behind: all that matters is that your child enjoys the piano and wants to do it more.

The proof of this is in the statistics: it is generally accepted that 90% of children starting piano will quit. But they don’t quit for the reason you might assume.

Most people assume kids quit because conventional lessons are too difficult, and that is partly true; the piano is hard for most kids unless you bend over backwards to make them take baby steps toward playing, all the while not diminishing any natural enthusiasm for music they may have.

But the real reason children quit is the imbalance between fun and learning in the conventional piano lesson, with the emphasis on learning straight from the book.

But what if the emphasis were reversed? What if a piano lesson consisted of mostly fun, rather than drudgery, and the work was interspersed with games and explorations of sound, rhythm and chords?

The result of this approach is that the child relaxes, and starts to try to get the idea of the rather difficult concepts being presented. But the teacher must be creative, every minute of the lesson, rather than relying on the books to fill up that half hour. No teacher will ever willingly tell you this.

Don’t you, as parents, remember your lessons as a child?

Almost all parents report to us that they hated their childhood lessons, but still want to learn to play, and want their children to learn, too.

The first step to success, in my view, is to give your child a tool that they can use BY THEMSELVES, a system so simple that they can move forward on their own steam, exploring the piano as a musical toy without teachers, parents or anyone but themselves if they wish.

And there's only one piano method that allows children to use the piano by themselves at first, specifically, and that is Piano by Number. 

The reason for this is that numbers are, for all practical purposes, the first method that a child uses to order their world. 

Remember "This Little Piggy?" a basic counting game? Were you teaching your child to count to five, or that they had five digits? In either case, consciously or not, you were teaching them NUMBERS, and you were both having fun doing it!

Counting verbally usually comes before letter perception in terms of child development. Numbers are very deeply ingrained in children's minds, it's just part of how we grow up. 

You can try Piano by Number here, online. 

By John Aschenbrenner Copyright 2008 Walden Pond Press All Rights Reserved

 Click here to return the the main articles page.

 

ARTICLES ABOUT CHILDREN AND PIANO

Click here for the FREE EBOOK, a good place to start.  

Click here to read the NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES, including lots of valuable information from teachers and parents from various sources.

Click here to read ARTICLES FROM NEWSWEEK and other periodicals regarding children and piano study. 

Click here to read an INTERVIEW with the author of PIANO IS EASY.

Click here to read the essay, HOW CAN I HELP MY CHILD READ MUSIC?

Click here to read the entire tutorial HOW TO TEACH YOUR CHILD TO READ MUSIC

Click here to read the report WHAT IS A GOOD AGE TO START PIANO LESSONS?

Click here to read the essay PIANO LESSONS: A CHILD'S POINT OF VIEW

Click here to read the essay WHEN IS LEARNING FINGERING NECESSARY?

Click here to read the article  A CHILD'S BILL OF RIGHTS FOR PIANO LESSONS 

Click here to read the article IS PRESCHOOL A GOOD AGE TO START PIANO?

Click here to read the article BRAINS, CHILDREN AND PIANO

Click here to read the article WHY THE PIANO IS THE BEST CHILD'S MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 

 

ARTICLES ABOUT PRESCHOOL CHILDREN AND PIANO

Click here to read the article TEACHING PRESCHOOL CHILDREN PIANO

Click here to read the article PRESCHOOL PIANO ACTIVITIES

 

ARTICLES ABOUT CHILDREN AND READING MUSIC

Click here to read the article HOW TO HELP KIDS FIND MIDDLE C

Click here to read the article WHAT KIDS REALLY UNDERSTAND ABOUT SHEET MUSIC

Click here to read the article WHY DELAY READING MUSIC

Click here to read the article AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY FOR KIDS LEARNING TO READ MUSIC

 

SPECIAL EDUCATION AND PIANO

Click here to read the article AMAZING MUSICAL ABILITIES OF AUTISTIC AND ADHD CHILDREN

Click here to read the article HYPERACTIVE KIDS AND PIANO 

Click here to read the article PIANO BY NUMBER FOR A SEVERELY DISABLED GIRL 

Click here to read the article DOWN'S SYNDROME AND PIANO BY NUMBER 

 

ARTICLES ABOUT CHILDREN AND PRACTICING

Click here to read the article WHY NAGGING YOUR CHILD TO PRACTICE WON'T WORK

Click here to read the article RULES FOR PIANO PRACTICE

Click here to read the article DON'T CALL IT PRACTICE, CALL IT PLAY

Click here to read the article SETTING UP A CHILD'S PIANO PRACTICE REGIME

Click here to read the article WHY CHILDREN SUCCEED AT THE PIANO

 

ARTICLES ABOUT CHILDREN AND PIANO BY NUMBER

Click here to read the essay THE PIANO WHISPERER 

Click here to read the article STARTING TO PLAY PIANO BY NUMBER

Click here to read the report USE PIANO BY NUMBER WITH SCHOOL CHILDREN

Click here to read the article BUILDING A CHILD'S CONFIDENCE WITH NUMBERS

Click here to read the article TURN YOUR PIANO INTO A TOY

 

ARTICLES ABOUT ADULTS AND PIANO

Click here to read the introduction to EASY CLASSICAL PIANO BY NUMBER

Click here to read the introduction to TEACH YOURSELF PIANO, an excellent guide to important self-teaching points.

Click here to read the article RULES FOR PIANO PRACTICE

Click here to read the article TIPS FOR ADULT PIANISTS

Click here to read the article PIANO FINGER STRENGTH IS CUMULATIVE

Click here to read the article THE PIANO ZONE

Click here to read the article MAKING EVERY MINUTE OF ADULT PIANO PRACTICE COUNT

 

ARTICLES ABOUT THE PIANO

Click here to read the article HOW GOOD ARE TOY PIANOS?

Click here to read the article ORIGINS OF THE BLACK PIANO KEYS

Click here to read the article HOW TO BUY AN INEXPENSIVE PIANO OR KEYBOARD

Click here to read the essay WHY GRAND PIANOS ARE BETTER THAN UPRIGHTS

Click here to read the essay PIANO WARS: EVOLUTION OF THE PIANO IN AMERICA

Click here to read the essay THE GREAT PIANO CRAZE OF 1910

Click here to read the essay THE BALLET OF THE PIANO HANDS

Click here to read the essay A PIANIST'S MEANS OF EXPRESSION

Click here to read the report HUMIDITY AND YOUR PIANO

 

ARTICLES ABOUT PIANO TEACHING

Click here to read the article HOW TO FIND A GOOD PIANO TEACHER

Click here to read the article SO YOU WANT TO BE A PIANO TEACHER

Click here to read the article MY CHILD WANTS TO QUIT PIANO

Click here to read the article WHY KIDS NEED FREEDOM TO LEARN PIANO

Click here to read the article PSYCHOLOGY OF HOMESCHOOL PIANO

Click here to read the article THE PIANIST WITH TWO BRAINS

Click here to read the article YOU CAN ONLY ENJOY PIANO MY WAY

Click here to read the article TEN WAYS TO BE A BAD CHILDREN'S PIANO TEACHER

Click here to read the article KIDS SONGS FOR PIANO

Click here to read the article TEACH YOUR CHILDREN PIANO

Click here to read the article ARE KIDS PIANO RECITALS HARMFUL?

 

ARTICLES ABOUT PIANO LESSONS

Click here to read the article DISGUISING REPETITION IN KID'S PIANO LESSONS

Click here to read the article PIANO LESSONS FOR CHILDREN: HOME OR TRAVEL

Click here to read the article PIANO METHOD BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

Click here to read the article GUITAR OR PIANO: WHAT'S BEST FOR A SIX YEAR OLD?

Click here to read the article TEACHING GUIDE DOGS IS JUST LIKE TEACHING KIDS PIANO

Click here to read the article HOW COME MY KID HATES PIANO?

Click here to read the article USING FAMILIAR SONGS IN CHILDREN'S PIANO LESSONS

Click here to read the article HOW KID'S COMPUTER TIME AFFECTS PIANO LESSONS

Click here to read the article PIANO SOFTWARE OR PRINT BOOKS: WHICH IS BETTER

Click here to read the article FOLLOW THE CHILD'S PACE WITH PIANO LESSONS

Click here to read the article TOYS YOU SHOULD BRING TO A CHILD'S PIANO LESSON

Click here to read the article THE TRANSPARENT PIANO LESSON STRATEGY

Click here to read the article WHAT KIDS LIKE ABOUT PIANO LESSONS

Click here to read the article WHY CHILDREN FAIL AT PIANO LESSONS

Click here to read the article ATTENTION SPAN, CHILDREN AND PIANO

Click here to read the article PIANO FOR KIDS

Click here to read the article CHILDREN'S HIDDEN PIANO TALENT

Click here to read the article SELECTING CHILDREN'S SONGS FOR PIANO

Click here to read the article KIDS MUSIC AND THE PIANO

Click here to read the article CHILDREN'S PIANO POSTURE

Click here to read the article SHOULD PARENTS FORCE CHILDREN TO TAKE PIANO LESSONS?

 

ARTICLES ABOUT PIANO STICKERS

Click here to read the article WHY PIANO NUMBER STICKERS WORK FOR CHILDREN

Click here to read the article WHY PIANO STICKERS WORK FOR READING MUSIC

 

ARTICLES ABOUT PIANO GAMES

Click here to see the game QUARTERS: A PIANO GAME KIDS LOVE

Click here to see the piano game FUN PIANO GAME WITH A PAIR OF DICE

Click here to see the piano game MOZART'S FAVORITE MOVIE 

Click here to see the essay BASEBALL, KIDS AND PIANO

Click here to read about PIANO CHORD GAMES FOR KIDS

Click here to read about VISUAL PIANO GAMES

Click here to read about THE FUTURE EFFECT OF KIDS PIANO GAMES

 

MUSIC HISTORY AND HUMOR

Click here to read the article PIANO LESSONS WITH PAPA BACH

Click here to read the article PIANO LESSONS WITH FREDERIC CHOPIN

Click here to read the story HECTOR BERLIOZ AND THE TRAIN WRECK

Click here to read the story TCHAIKOVSKY'S GREATEST FAN

Click here to read the story STRAVINSKY'S GOOD LUCK

Click here to read the article CHOPIN'S SINGING TONE

Click here to read the article MUSICAL FEUDS

Click here to read the article MUSICAL GENIUS

Click here to read the story FRANZ SCHUBERT: THE FIRST BOHEMIAN

Click here to read the story BEETHOVEN'S RAGE OVER A LOST PENNY

Click here to read the story MOZART'S LAST DAYS

Click here to read THE STORY OF HUGO WOLF

Click here to read the story THE WORLD'S LARGEST BLUE DANUBE WALTZ

Click here to read the story BEETHOVEN WAS NO BEAUTY

Click here to read the story VLADIMIR HOROWITZ GOES TO THE RACETRACK

Click here to read the story EINSTEIN'S GYPSY VIOLIN

Click here to read the story IGOR STRAVINSKY LOSES HIS COOL

Click here to read the story ARTUR RUBINSTEIN WAS A VAMPIRE

Click here to read the story EINSTEIN'S PIANO

Click here to read the essay WHY BRAHMS MUST HAVE BEEN FAT

Click here to read the article PIANO HANDS

Click here to read the article THE MASTER'S HANDS

Click here to see the article TAKE YOUR KIDS TO THE OPERA

Click here to see the article GEORGE SAND KILLED CHOPIN

Click here to see the article I MEET AARON COPLAND

Click here to see the story CARL TAUSIG COOKS HIS CAT

 

CULTURAL CRITICISM

Click here to read the op-ed opinion column WHY AMERICA IS LOSING THE CULTURE RACE

Click here to read the op-ed opinion column WHAT KILLED THE GOLDEN AGE OF PIANO

Click here to read the op-ed opinion column AGAINST FILM MUSIC

Click here to read the op-ed opinion column CARNEGIE HALL STARTS IN YOUR LIVING ROOM

CHORDS AND MUSIC THEORY TUTORIALS 

Click here to read the tutorial ROOT POSITION CHORDS

Click here to read the tutorial FIRST INVERSION CHORDS

Click here to read the tutorial SECOND INVERSION CHORDS

Click here to read the tutorial THE SIX BASIC CHORDS FOR CHILDREN

Click here to read the tutorial TWO NOTE CHORDS FOR KIDS

Click here to read about PIANO CHORD GAMES FOR KIDS

Click here to read the article WHY CHILDREN SHOULD LEARN ABOUT PIANO CHORDS

 

Course One

TEACHING TOOLS

#1 TEACHING CHILDREN'S PIANO

#2 WHAT A CHILD SHOULD EXPECT FROM PIANO LESSONS

#3 WHAT IS FINGERING AND WHEN DO WE USE IT

#4 PIANO BY NUMBER AND OTHER STARTING METHODS

#5 THE FIRST PIANO LESSON

#6 MINUTE BY MINUTE PIANO LESSON

#7 TOYS AND ACCESORIES FOR FUN PIANO LESSONS

#8 READING MUSIC FOR KIDS STEP BY STEP

#9 THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WORST AND BEST TEACHER

#10 A CHILD'S CLASSICAL MUSIC LISTENING LIST

 

Course Two

TEACHING BACKGROUND

#11 A SHORT HISTORY OF THE PIANO

#12 A SHORT HISTORY OF PIANO METHODS

#13 A PLEASANT PIANO LESSON ATMOSPHERE

#14 ADVICE TO A YOUNG PIANO TEACHER

#15 WHY I TEACH PIANO

#16 A PIANO TEACHER'S EMOTIONS

#17 PACE AND CHILDREN'S PIANO LESSONS

#18 CHILDREN'S PIANO MOTOR SKILLS DEFINED BY AGE

#19 CHILDREN'S PIANO FINGERING OVERVIEW

#20 GUILT IS THE WRONG WAY TO BUY ATTENTION

 

Course Three

PIANO GAMES

#21 FOURS, A PIANO COUNTING GAME

#22 THE PIANO DICE GAME

#23 PIANO HAND POSITION GAMES

#24 THE USE OF HUMOR IN PIANO LESSONS

#25 HAPPY OR SAD: EAR TRAINING FOR KIDS

#26 FOLLOW THE LEADER: VISUAL PIANO GAMES

#27 PIANO GAMES TO PLAY WHEN ALL GOES WRONG

#28 IMPROVISING GAMES

#29 BEETHOVEN'S BICYCLE

#30 PIANO CHORD GAMES FOR KIDS

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

See also: PIANO BY NUMBER, a series of fun books for beginning piano students of all ages.

See also: EZINE ARTICLES, a list of publications which include John Aschenbrenner's writings about the piano.

 

See also: ARCHIVES at pianoiseasy.com, which contains a large collection of games and articles about children and the piano. Below is a list you will find on that site:

ARTICLES ABOUT CHILDREN AND PIANO
Click here for the FREE EBOOK, a good place to start.  
Click here to read the NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES, including lots of valuable information from teachers and parents from various sources.
Click here to read ARTICLES FROM NEWSWEEK and other periodicals regarding children and piano study. 
Click here to read an INTERVIEW with the author of PIANO IS EASY.
Click here to read the essay, HOW CAN I HELP MY CHILD READ MUSIC?
Click here to read the entire tutorial HOW TO TEACH YOUR CHILD TO READ MUSIC
Click here to read the report WHAT IS A GOOD AGE TO START PIANO LESSONS?
Click here to read the essay PIANO LESSONS: A CHILD'S POINT OF VIEW
Click here to read the essay WHEN IS LEARNING FINGERING NECESSARY?
Click here to read the article  A CHILD'S BILL OF RIGHTS FOR PIANO LESSONS 
Click here to read the article IS PRESCHOOL A GOOD AGE TO START PIANO?
Click here to read the article BRAINS, CHILDREN AND PIANO
Click here to read the article WHY THE PIANO IS THE BEST CHILD'S MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 

ARTICLES ABOUT PRESCHOOL CHILDREN AND PIANO
Click here to read the article TEACHING PRESCHOOL CHILDREN PIANO
Click here to read the article PRESCHOOL PIANO ACTIVITIES

ARTICLES ABOUT CHILDREN AND READING MUSIC
Click here to read the article HOW TO HELP KIDS FIND MIDDLE C
Click here to read the article WHAT KIDS REALLY UNDERSTAND ABOUT SHEET MUSIC
Click here to read the article WHY DELAY READING MUSIC
Click here to read the article AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY FOR KIDS LEARNING TO READ MUSIC

SPECIAL EDUCATION AND PIANO
Click here to read the article AMAZING MUSICAL ABILITIES OF AUTISTIC AND ADHD CHILDREN
Click here to read the article HYPERACTIVE KIDS AND PIANO 
Click here to read the article PIANO BY NUMBER FOR A SEVERELY DISABLED GIRL 
Click here to read the article DOWN'S SYNDROME AND PIANO BY NUMBER 

ARTICLES ABOUT CHILDREN AND PRACTICING
Click here to read the article WHY NAGGING YOUR CHILD TO PRACTICE WON'T WORK
Click here to read the article RULES FOR PIANO PRACTICE
Click here to read the article DON'T CALL IT PRACTICE, CALL IT PLAY
Click here to read the article SETTING UP A CHILD'S PIANO PRACTICE REGIME
Click here to read the article WHY CHILDREN SUCCEED AT THE PIANO

ARTICLES ABOUT CHILDREN AND PIANO BY NUMBER
Click here to read the essay THE PIANO WHISPERER 
Click here to read the article STARTING TO PLAY PIANO BY NUMBER
Click here to read the report USE PIANO BY NUMBER WITH SCHOOL CHILDREN
Click here to read the article BUILDING A CHILD'S CONFIDENCE WITH NUMBERS
Click here to read the article TURN YOUR PIANO INTO A TOY

ARTICLES ABOUT ADULTS AND PIANO
Click here to read the introduction to EASY CLASSICAL PIANO BY NUMBER
Click here to read the introduction to TEACH YOURSELF PIANO, an excellent guide to important self-teaching points.
Click here to read the article RULES FOR PIANO PRACTICE
Click here to read the article TIPS FOR ADULT PIANISTS
Click here to read the article PIANO FINGER STRENGTH IS CUMULATIVE
Click here to read the article THE PIANO ZONE
Click here to read the article MAKING EVERY MINUTE OF ADULT PIANO PRACTICE COUNT

ARTICLES ABOUT THE PIANO
Click here to read the article HOW GOOD ARE TOY PIANOS?
Click here to read the article ORIGINS OF THE BLACK PIANO KEYS
Click here to read the article HOW TO BUY AN INEXPENSIVE PIANO OR KEYBOARD
Click here to read the essay WHY GRAND PIANOS ARE BETTER THAN UPRIGHTS
Click here to read the essay PIANO WARS: EVOLUTION OF THE PIANO IN AMERICA
Click here to read the essay THE GREAT PIANO CRAZE OF 1910
Click here to read the essay THE BALLET OF THE PIANO HANDS
Click here to read the essay A PIANIST'S MEANS OF EXPRESSION
Click here to read the report HUMIDITY AND YOUR PIANO

ARTICLES ABOUT PIANO TEACHING
Click here to read the article HOW TO FIND A GOOD PIANO TEACHER
Click here to read the article SO YOU WANT TO BE A PIANO TEACHER
Click here to read the article MY CHILD WANTS TO QUIT PIANO
Click here to read the article WHY KIDS NEED FREEDOM TO LEARN PIANO
Click here to read the article PSYCHOLOGY OF HOMESCHOOL PIANO
Click here to read the article THE PIANIST WITH TWO BRAINS
Click here to read the article YOU CAN ONLY ENJOY PIANO MY WAY
Click here to read the article TEN WAYS TO BE A BAD CHILDREN'S PIANO TEACHER
Click here to read the article KIDS SONGS FOR PIANO
Click here to read the article TEACH YOUR CHILDREN PIANO
Click here to read the article ARE KIDS PIANO RECITALS HARMFUL?

ARTICLES ABOUT PIANO LESSONS
Click here to read the article DISGUISING REPETITION IN KID'S PIANO LESSONS
Click here to read the article PIANO LESSONS FOR CHILDREN: HOME OR TRAVEL
Click here to read the article PIANO METHOD BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
Click here to read the article GUITAR OR PIANO: WHAT'S BEST FOR A SIX YEAR OLD?
Click here to read the article TEACHING GUIDE DOGS IS JUST LIKE TEACHING KIDS PIANO
Click here to read the article HOW COME MY KID HATES PIANO?
Click here to read the article USING FAMILIAR SONGS IN CHILDREN'S PIANO LESSONS
Click here to read the article HOW KID'S COMPUTER TIME AFFECTS PIANO LESSONS
Click here to read the article PIANO SOFTWARE OR PRINT BOOKS: WHICH IS BETTER
Click here to read the article FOLLOW THE CHILD'S PACE WITH PIANO LESSONS
Click here to read the article TOYS YOU SHOULD BRING TO A CHILD'S PIANO LESSON
Click here to read the article THE TRANSPARENT PIANO LESSON STRATEGY
Click here to read the article WHAT KIDS LIKE ABOUT PIANO LESSONS
Click here to read the article WHY CHILDREN FAIL AT PIANO LESSONS
Click here to read the article ATTENTION SPAN, CHILDREN AND PIANO
Click here to read the article PIANO FOR KIDS
Click here to read the article CHILDREN'S HIDDEN PIANO TALENT
Click here to read the article SELECTING CHILDREN'S SONGS FOR PIANO
Click here to read the article KIDS MUSIC AND THE PIANO
Click here to read the article CHILDREN'S PIANO POSTURE
Click here to read the article SHOULD PARENTS FORCE CHILDREN TO TAKE PIANO LESSONS?

ARTICLES ABOUT PIANO STICKERS
Click here to read the article WHY PIANO NUMBER STICKERS WORK FOR CHILDREN
Click here to read the article WHY PIANO STICKERS WORK FOR READING MUSIC

ARTICLES ABOUT PIANO GAMES
Click here to see the game QUARTERS: A PIANO GAME KIDS LOVE
Click here to see the piano game FUN PIANO GAME WITH A PAIR OF DICE
Click here to see the piano game MOZART'S FAVORITE MOVIE 
Click here to see the essay BASEBALL, KIDS AND PIANO
Click here to read about PIANO CHORD GAMES FOR KIDS
Click here to read about VISUAL PIANO GAMES
Click here to read about THE FUTURE EFFECT OF KIDS PIANO GAMES
 
MUSIC HISTORY AND HUMOR
Click here to read the article PIANO LESSONS WITH PAPA BACH
Click here to read the article PIANO LESSONS WITH FREDERIC CHOPIN
Click here to read the story HECTOR BERLIOZ AND THE TRAIN WRECK
Click here to read the story TCHAIKOVSKY'S GREATEST FAN
Click here to read the story STRAVINSKY'S GOOD LUCK
Click here to read the article CHOPIN'S SINGING TONE
Click here to read the article MUSICAL FEUDS
Click here to read the article MUSICAL GENIUS
Click here to read the story FRANZ SCHUBERT: THE FIRST BOHEMIAN
Click here to read the story BEETHOVEN'S RAGE OVER A LOST PENNY
Click here to read the story MOZART'S LAST DAYS
Click here to read THE STORY OF HUGO WOLF
Click here to read the story THE WORLD'S LARGEST BLUE DANUBE WALTZ
Click here to read the story BEETHOVEN WAS NO BEAUTY
Click here to read the story VLADIMIR HOROWITZ GOES TO THE RACETRACK
Click here to read the story EINSTEIN'S GYPSY VIOLIN
Click here to read the story IGOR STRAVINSKY LOSES HIS COOL
Click here to read the story ARTUR RUBINSTEIN WAS A VAMPIRE
Click here to read the story EINSTEIN'S PIANO
Click here to read the essay WHY BRAHMS MUST HAVE BEEN FAT
Click here to read the article PIANO HANDS
Click here to read the article THE MASTER'S HANDS
Click here to see the article TAKE YOUR KIDS TO THE OPERA
Click here to see the article GEORGE SAND KILLED CHOPIN
Click here to see the article I MEET AARON COPLAND
Click here to see the story CARL TAUSIG COOKS HIS CAT

CULTURAL CRITICISM
Click here to read the op-ed opinion column WHY AMERICA IS LOSING THE CULTURE RACE
Click here to read the op-ed opinion column WHAT KILLED THE GOLDEN AGE OF PIANO
Click here to read the op-ed opinion column AGAINST FILM MUSIC
Click here to read the op-ed opinion column CARNEGIE HALL STARTS IN YOUR LIVING ROOM

CHORDS AND MUSIC THEORY TUTORIALS 
Click here to read the tutorial ROOT POSITION CHORDS
Click here to read the tutorial FIRST INVERSION CHORDS
Click here to read the tutorial SECOND INVERSION CHORDS
Click here to read the tutorial THE SIX BASIC CHORDS FOR CHILDREN
Click here to read the tutorial TWO NOTE CHORDS FOR KIDS
Click here to read about PIANO CHORD GAMES FOR KIDS
Click here to read the article WHY CHILDREN SHOULD LEARN ABOUT PIANO CHORDS

 

 

Piano Is Easy and the Piano by Number series are written by John Aschenbrenner, a noted children's music educator, Emmy Award winning composer, and Broadway veteran.  Click here to view his distinguished academic background. John is actively involved every day in inspiring children to take a happy interest in the piano using Piano by Number and simple piano games. You can, too!

 

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TOPICS OF INTEREST TO PARENTS:

"What is a good age to start piano lessons?"

"What are the benefits of playing piano for my child?"

"How can I help my child read sheet music at the piano?"

Piano Lessons: A Child's Point of View

Visit the WALDEN POND PRESS ARCHIVES and read articles about children and piano

 

Click here to read the entire tutorial HOW TO TEACH YOUR CHILD TO READ MUSIC

LET US HELP YOU FIND AN INEXPENSIVE ELECTRONIC KEYBOARD TO GET YOUR CHILD STARTED!

THE COMPLETE PACKAGE

THE COMPLETE BOOK PACKAGE: ALL 6 BASIC  BOOKS  

#WCS 001 Price: $89.95

THE COMPLETE BOOK PACKAGE: 

1. 107 page illustrated THE CHRISTMAS CAROL KIT Book with 44 songs, Play Along Audio CD, and removable stickers   

2. 107 page illustrated PIANO IS EASY Book with 44 songs, Play Along Audio CD, and removable stickers 

3. 50 page I CAN READ MUSIC Book 

4. 132 page TEACH YOURSELF PIANO STEP BY STEP Book, 56 minute DVD Video and removable stickers 

5. 141 page THE BIG BOOK OF SONGS BY NUMBER Book with 130 songs, and removable stickers 

6. 88 page EASY CLASSICAL PIANO BY NUMBER Book with 10 songs, and removable stickers, and 29 minute Play Along Audio CD 

6 BOOKS, DVD AND 3 PLAY ALONG AUDIO CDS 

Our BOOK PACKAGE price: $89.95

Free USA Shipping and Handling!

You can also purchase individual books with CD $24.95

Download and print any book. $9.95 Start playing today!

Click Here to Play Piano by Number Online Using Your Computer's Mouse!

PIANO BY NUMBER® BOOKS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE HERE IN OUR ONLINE STORE

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FREE USA SHIPPING AND HANDLING ON ALL ITEMS

Our most popular book package! 

Everything you and your child need to start having fun at the piano:

PIANO IS EASY BOOK PACKAGE

INCLUDES:

PIANO IS EASY (ISBN # 0-9718936-1-6) Sturdily bound, durable, colorful 107 page illustrated song book with 44 songs such as Jingle Bells and London Bridge, Play Along Audio CD and removable numbered stickers 

PLUS

• Every order of a PIANO IS EASY book package includes a copy of I CAN READ MUSIC!  This fun, easy-to-understand music activity book is the best way to start children reading music.

PLUS  

·         Every order of a PIANO IS EASY book package also includes a FREE copy of the 56 minute DVD video from TEACH YOURSELF PIANO  This video will have you playing chords (three piano keys played with the left hand) and fun, familiar songs with both hands right away! That's a $16.95 value free!

2 BOOKS,  PLAY ALONG AUDIO CD and DVD 

Click here for a list of songs.    Click here for sample pages.

PIANO IS EASY BOOK PACKAGE $39.95   

 

Free USA Shipping and Handling!

See also PRESCHOOL PIANO PACKAGE

You can also purchase individual books with CD $24.95

Download and print any book. $9.95 Start playing today!

Click Here to Play Piano by Number Online Using Your Computer's Mouse!

PIANO BY NUMBER® BOOKS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE HERE IN OUR ONLINE STORE

View All Products / Price List

View All Product Descriptions

FREE USA SHIPPING AND HANDLING ON ALL ITEMS

Our Play Along Audio CDs are an important element in making the piano fun for kids, and are produced by Grammy Award winner (Sesame Street) Joe Castellon. 

Our colorful books and videos have been created by Emmy Award winning composer and teacher John Aschenbrenner and are guaranteed to get your child happily started at the piano.

Digitally engineered and mastered, these high quality educational recordings include fun, familiar songs that children love to hear and play along with, and are sure to give hours of musical enjoyment, entertainment and guidance to your child.

Special thanks to these schools recently joining our growing list of organizations using PIANO BY NUMBER:

Primrose Day School, Jumping Jacks Preschool, Valley Elementary, Kid's Korner, Play All Day Nursery School, Children's Development Center,  Springfield Child Time

If you're not sure what book is right for your child, email us at info@pianoiseasy.com and we will be glad to help you.

 

Click Here to Play Piano by Number Online Using Your Computer's Mouse!

 

CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-707-2682

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THE CHRISTMAS CAROL KIT 

Makes a great gift for any child!

Download and print any book. $9.95 Start playing today!

PIANO BY NUMBER® BOOKS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE HERE IN OUR ONLINE STORE

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