[Nat]

I'm going to start teaching (private lessons)in UK and would like to ask you what books you use to teach piano children beginners and also Grade 1-3 in UK. Which of them(books) are more popular?
Thanks

[dave brum]

Hello Nat. Hope you're okay

There's a series of books around called 'Chester's Piano Course' and 'Chester's Piano Starters' by Carol Barratt. They both cover the very low grades and they're not at all formal, perfect for kids. I've got 'the Usborne Book of the Piano' which is lighthearted enough, but isn't exam orientated

Good luck with your teaching career, Nat!

[Gill the Piano]

One very good series is 'Piano Time'by Pauline Hall. Seems to be flavour of the month around here for a lot of the teachers, anyway!

[dave brum]

That's the name of the woman that I was trying to bring to mind, but I couldn't. Was gonna say Paula Hall but knew it wasn't right.

She also wrote 'Tunes For Ten Fingers' which you could take a butchers for down the music shop, Nat!

[Gill the Piano]

'Tunes for 10 Fingers' is the book for littler brats, I think. Piano Time is for the older age group. You'd need to lokk at them, as Dave says, to see which ones would suit the kids you're teaching.

[Celestite]

The "Me and my piano" series by good old Fanny Waterman is also very good and popular with kids. There's new stuff coming out all the time so I really would recommend you take yourself off to your local music shop and see what appeals to you. Your own personal teaching style may also influence which books you prefer to use. While you're in there browsing, why not cast your eye over the theory books aswell? The Dozen a Day series is excellent for a bit of sneaky sight reading practice (they think they're using them as warm up exercises and technical development without realising that getting through several exercises a week means they're constantly reading new material! )

[Nat]

Thanks,guys, for your answers! Very useful! I'm going to the music shop as soon as I have time:)

What's about books for Grade 1-3 children? ABRSM series? Any other good books you'd recommend?

Thanks again for your replies!

[dave brum]

Hello again Nat!

Have you ever thought about devising your own little teaching method simply based on a few existing ones? Worth having a go at, as somebody pointed out on 'ere recently, there are oodles and oodles of methods out there that even I've seen - and I've not been playing long.

Probably 'Fly Fishing' by J.R.Hartley has a chapter on learning to play the piano, for all the methods that are on the market!

Have a gawp through the music shop, or maybe use the library (not a good option if you live in Third World Herefordshire), or do what I do, have a fisherooney round your local Oxfam Books and Music store for some ideas.

Or go to the ABRSM website, look at their list of publications, and go to the music shop armed with that info.

Either way, the opportunities are endless. Let us all know how you get on, Nat, and don't forget to advertise in the Teachers section of the UK Piano Page!!!

[Celestite]

Hi Nat
Pam Wedgewood has devised a series of books called "Up-Grade" which are specifically designed to be grade appropriate material to bridge the gap between each grade. You could also look at ABRSM's Keyboard Anthology Series which again is in graded volumes and covers repertoire through the ages from Baroque to 20th century. Another series is the "Classics to Modern" in various volumes. There really is tons of stuff out there!

[Nat]

Hi guys! Thanks so much for all your answers!! I'm impressed with quantity of books here:) I hope I'll make a good choice:)