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Start piano at home with your child

Start with numbers, then read music

Books for Younger Kids      Books for Older Kids      Books for Adults

 

TEACH YOURSELF PIANO 

Reprinted from TEACH YOURSELF PIANO STEP BY STEP

Ó Copyright 2002 by Walden Pond Press

1. Music is an art that builds each step upon the last. Take your time and try to understand each point of each step. The steps necessary for you to learn have been carefully broken down into individual points. Just follow the path between piano lessons.

Once you get going, how much should you play? The answer is: 5 or 10 minutes a day are sufficient. Research shows that it’s better to play 5 minutes a day than to cram all your playing into 35 minutes on one day a week. If you use short play periods, your brain has a better chance of absorbing the information and developing the habits you will need to play.

Pleasure in playing music comes from continuity, and continuity comes from familiarity. You need to allow yourself to thoroughly grasp the physical movements involved, and to do this you need to absorb each step to the point where it becomes almost  automatic.

Don’t play a song only once, and then say, “Oh, it’s too hard.” Play the song 100 times over ten days and then see what happens: you’ll develop habits with your fingers and  eyes, and begin to move faster through the songs.    

Don’t worry about which hand or finger you use. Your first task is to get the “number” information from the page and make any finger play those numbers. Until you become like a robot at translating the written numbers into piano keys (via fingers) all other information (like fingers or timing) is irrelevant. Play the numbers until they are virtually memorized and you can play each song without significant stumbling.   

2. Music is essentially a matrix constructed entirely of chords. Think of individual piano keys as atoms and chords as molecules made up of several atoms (keys.) There are only 12 basic chords: most songs use between 3 and 6 chords.

The little finger of your left hand becomes the leader of the three acrobats (fingers) trying to find each chord position. Since chords are named (and categorized) by the lowest key in the chord, the little finger of the left hand is the most essential and usually is placed on the first key to be played in most chords.

All chords are shaped alike, in terms of the distance between the fingers. Chords, in terms of the hand, are nothing more than a series of physical templates that are  applied to various positions on the piano keyboard.  

Since the distance between the fingers in any chord is basically the same, you should try to move the hand from one chord to the next without significantly changing the distance between the fingers. If you do this, the fingers of your left hand will always be in roughly the correct position, no matter where on the keyboard you are directed to play a chord.

When you see any chord symbol, such as the capital letter C, (for C chord) your first thought should be to immediately direct the little finger of your left hand to the “correct” lowest key of the chord (first C below middle C.)

Take your time. It’s not easy to pick out three keys with your left hand again and again, but with repetition, it becomes easy. Don’t try in once. Try it 100 times and see.

3. Remember the kid’s game where you patted your head with one hand while you circled your stomach with the other? Playing piano with both hands is exactly like that. When you  were four years old, you had to do each hand separately to get the feel of the whole thing.  

One basic rule of pianists is: first play the hands separately so the brain can absorb the information of each hand. With every song make sure you can play each hand (chords in left hand or numbers/melody in right hand) separately (by itself) before you try to combine the two hands. If you have a problem putting the two hands together, play the hands separately for a while and then try again until you can easily combine the two hands. 

Playing the piano with two hands is almost like an Englishman speaking Portuguese and German at the same time: it is an incredible juggling act and you’ll need to do it many, many times until it feels comfortable. Remember that the brain has two sides, left and right, and the LEFT brain controls the right hand, and the RIGHT brain controls the left hand. Any actor given the task of speaking Portuguese and German at the same time would do well to study each language thoroughly before trying to combine them.

The job descriptions of left hand and right hand are entirely different:

Right hand: Play only one key at a time, (the owner’s kid.)

Left hand: Play at least three keys at once, constantly (the workers.)  

4. Try the songs in three ways: right hand only, left hand only, and both hands. Repeat as many times as you can. If one song seems easier or more fun than the others, concentrate on it. If a song becomes tedious, try another. But you must keep playing, a little bit each day.

Think of a song as a little machine, with chord parts and  melody parts. It’s like a three dimensional emotional puzzle with moving pieces: you have to try the moves from key to key and chord to chord again and again until they feel familiar and smooth.

Don’t forget that there are only a limited number of basic chord combinations and even melodic combinations. The chords C F and G, for instance, are used as the entire basis for countless songs. Once you learn a set of common moves like C F and G in one song, the next song will be that much easier and immediately familiar.

By all means memorize the music. Think of the music book as the “library” where you go to get information that you will utilize elsewhere: eventually, like an actor with the script of a play, you will enact the play (the song) at the keyboard without reference to the written symbols. An actor in rehearsal may refer to a script but does not look at it except for a quick reference. In the same way, musicians are completely involved in their instruments and only refer to written music for accuracy and convenience, if at all.

Music making lies in the relationship between your eyes, your hands and the keyboard: the written music is only one way to convey the content of music, and a tedious one. Memorize as much as you can so the music can enter your poetic subconscious: this is the real reason for repetition.  

5. Sharps and flats (the black keys of the piano) are road signs that tell you to turn away from the white keys to which you have become accustomed.  There are only a few basic rules associated with sharps and flats. Once you learn the rules, sharps and flats will come to you as automatically as white keys.

Music on a most basic level is a language with but two parameters, up and down, right and left.  Sharps and flats are graphic symbols which command you to move in a specific direction, up or down, right or left. 

Play Middle C and then every white key to the right: that’s one way to move “up” on the piano. Now play Middle C and then every key to your right, including black keys: it’s just another more complex way to move “up” on the piano.

The reason for the use of groups of two and three black keys on the keyboard lies in the construction of the human hand, and shows the genius of the keyboard’s inventors.

Hold your hand with your fingers stretched out in front of you: note that your thumbs are shorter than any of your fingers, including your little finger. Also note that, at the piano, the black keys are shorter than the white keys. The black keys and white keys of the piano are arranged to accommodate the construction of the human hand. Few machines fit human anatomy as well or to such grand purpose.

Put your right thumb on Middle C and the index finger on the black key to the right. Rock back and forth between the two keys. White keys are long to accommodate the short thumb. Black keys are short to accommodate the longer fingers.  

6. Pianists think in visual terms in order to control the huge number of events (keys) they have to produce. Pianists think as they are playing, “Look here, reach there, black key on top there, here comes the white key thingy.” Any visual, verbal cue you can devise is acceptable.

There are only twelve basic chords, and the easiest way to remember them is visually: which white and black keys are used? Since twelve chords is not a lot of information, it is within the realm of possibility to categorize them.

One cannot overemphasize the importance of familiarity with the twelve basic (major) chords. All chords beyond the basic twelve are merely derived from the basic set. All other chords are arrived at by calculating from the “starting point” of the twelve basic chords.

Chords can be categorized in sets of three, both visually and in terms of usage: three chords are usually used together as a powerful unit. Twinkle, Twinkle uses only the unit of C F and G chords, and so do countless other songs.

Three of the twelve chords have all white keys: C F and G. Three of the twelve chords have a black key in the middle: A D and E. Three of the twelve chords have a white key in the middle: Ab Db and Eb.  That’s a total of three groups of three or nine chords: the rest (the other three out of twelve chords) are “exceptions” to this rule.

If nothing else, you should understand that there is a visual order to the construction of chords, and that once you begin using them it will readily become apparent. It all comes down to memorizing a few combinations, six to be exact, of black/white key combinations.  

7. All chords are derived from the  12 basic major chords. The two methods used to derive those chords beyond the 12 basic chords are alteration and addition: you can either alter one of the 3 keys in the basic major chord, or you can add another key, or use both methods.

Minor chords indeed sound sad, and there’s a good reason. There are natural, barely audible vibrations within each musical note (overtones) that are attuned to the structure of a major chord: nature (and music) is constantly broadcasting the shape of a major chord. This is why minor chords sound slightly sour, and are a psychoacoustic   cue for melancholy. The minor form conflicts with the major form, and makes us take notice.

There are many types of chord, but for the beginner, there are really only two, major and minor. Almost all songs can be played using the 12 basic major and 12 basic minor chords. In fact, the beginner’s vocabulary of chords is rather limited: in almost all beginning repertoire you’ll run across, at most, C F G D E and A major chords, and D G A and E minor chords.

At first, always think of a minor chord in terms of the “default” basic major chord that lies behind it. When asked for a C minor chord, think first of the C major chord as a known starting place, and then move the middle key of the chord one key to your left to make a minor chord.

Visualize the whole process. See it in your mind’s eye and imagine the keys moving slowly from one known position to another. If you can think it, and see it in your mind’s eye, you can play it on the piano, perhaps very slowly at first.  

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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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

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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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