give_me_a_latte Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 I'm looking for something fun to teach us how to play piano/keyboard. None of us has any experience with reading music or playing instruments, so it needs to be very basic. Lots of handholding. Kinderbach used to be very popular on here, but I don't see it mentioned much anymore. Is there something newer and shinier out there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocelotmom Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 I haven't tried it yet, but I'm looking at http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982311508/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=UAMZFC4WJBL5&coliid=I23LM9FQSK3XPC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nature girl Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 How old a child is this for? We've been working through Music for Little Mozarts, and love it, I'd say it's great for ages 4 to 6 or 7. The books incorporate a story and a number of animal characters...We actually bought a couple of the characters and I use them to teach. SO much fun. It does require the teacher to be able to play the accompaniments (although I've seen a thumb drive on Amazon that includes them.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 We have Faber Piano Adventures and the Music Ace software. I have to say that Music Ace has been more successful in teaching basic music theory. Neither of my kids have shown all that much interest in the piano. Oldest DD recently started studying the viola and DS says that he wants to start the violin in the fall. I have no experience with string instruments so that teaching needs to be outsourced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegs Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 It does require the teacher to be able to play the accompaniments (although I've seen a thumb drive on Amazon that includes them.) How difficult are the accompaniments? Could a musical adult with no keyboard experience pick them up quickly, or would one need tuition and much practice first? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nature girl Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 How difficult are the accompaniments? Could a musical adult with no keyboard experience pick them up quickly, or would one need tuition and much practice first? They're not hard, I don't have to practice the pieces before playing them with her (I have a decent amount of piano experience, but haven't played much since I was in high school and didn't have any problem picking them up.) But you'd need to be able to sight read on a keyboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taryn Schnugh Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 Google Hoffman academy. Free online lessons, we enjoy it very much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
give_me_a_latte Posted June 9, 2014 Author Share Posted June 9, 2014 It would be for my 5 and 7.5 year olds. And like I said, I have zero experience with reading music or playing an instrument. Definitely needs to be fun and engaging. Some of these look promising! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluemongoose Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 My young kids like Childrens Music Journey. It is a computer program that connects with a midi keyboard. There are lessons and then games that encourage practicing. The classes are taught by composers so they learn a bit of information about the different composers as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyful Journeys Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 Many thanks to Taryn for the Hoffman recommendation! I just watched two lessons, my daughter will love this. I wanted her to do piano, but she's not really interested now and the cost is just too much now anyway for private lessons. I think those cute little puppets will suck her right in LOL. Can't beat free to get her feet wet! I can sit the tablet right in front and we can learn together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 The Piano Maestro app is pretty good, if you have an iPad. You can try the free version and see if she likes it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
La Condessa Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 Pianimals Phonics 4 Piano has worked great here. My five year old prefers to do it mostly independently. After about four or five months of working on it very, very gently, she could open the book to a new song and play it (not perfectly, but recognizably) within a few minutes. It uses finger numbers still at this point, and has not transitioned to reading music yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taryn Schnugh Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 Many thanks to Taryn for the Hoffman recommendation! I just watched two lessons, my daughter will love this. I wanted her to do piano, but she's not really interested now and the cost is just too much now anyway for private lessons. I think those cute little puppets will suck her right in LOL. Can't beat free to get her feet wet! I can sit the tablet right in front and we can learn together. Only a pleasure! I'm pretty pleased with myself, that the first time I've added a little value to this amazing hive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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