Piano Instruction Books
There are many piano instruction books on the market, for children, adults, instruction books that focus on more contemporary music and others that focus on more classical or traditional music pieces.
If you are learning with a Piano Tutor, it may be best to discuss your requirements with the tutor before you buy a piano instruction book. What is needed, is that the tutor book in question is academically correct, but also uses the style of music that you most like – if you have a book full of classical pieces that do little to inspire you, it may be more difficult to retain the motivation to practise!
Below are some of the books I have used for my more recent students.
All Ages
John W Schaum: Piano Course A – The Red Book
A comprehensive tutor series for beginners of all ages. Well presented with color pictures, useful information and guidance material. The aim of the book is to teach in the most natural and enjoyable way, through popular melodies. The method enables the student to progress in a logical fashion through Pre A to F. A recommended and thorough series.
Adults
Book 1 Starting To Play introduces the keyboard, note pitches and values, ties, accidentals, and key signatures. Pieces include Fur Elise, Swan Lake and music by the author Carol Barratt. Every piece has been specially chosen or written to illustrate a teaching point as well as to be enjoyed.
The ideal tutor course for adults, or gifted younger beginners wishing to learn at a faster pace
The Complete Piano Player – Book 1
The only piano course based throughout on today’s popular songs and on famous light classics. Easy-to-follow text and clear demonstration diagrams enable you to progress in the shortest possible time to advanced playing. An interesting and enjoyable course for home use or classroom study.
Techniques include: how to sit correctly, learning the keys, rhythm, the two staves, staccato and accent, rests and silence, and much more.
Young Adults / Children
Piano Time is a hugely successful series for all young beginners, from the very first lesson up to around grade 3. With a complete range of carefully paced and attractive books – tutors, books of pieces of all kinds, duets, and technique books – Piano Time is a highly enjoyable way to learn the piano.
Young Children
Chester’s Easiest Piano Course
A comprehensive and completely up-to-date course written by Carol Barratt, specially written for today’s youngest beginner. The three books of this course are carefully paced to match both the progress of the young pianist, and satifsy the demands of the professional Teacher. The full-colour illustrations, on every page, emphasise the information being taught, and bring new life to learning to play the piano.
John Thompson’s Easiest Piano Course: Part 1 – Revised Edition
This course is designed to present the easiest possible approach to piano playing, complete with an amusing family of characters and illustrations to help emphasise the information being taught. Part one is devoted to developing fluency in reading by note, the biggest hurdle for most young children. The range is purposely limited. Only five notes up and five notes down from middle C are presented and time values do not go beyond crotchets. Each book of the course contains its own writing exercises, sight reading drills, review work and later, technical studies. Accompaniments for teacher or parent are supplied with most of the examples.