John W. Schaum Piano Course Pre-A: The Green Book

We purchased this for our 6yo who has just started her piano lessons in January 2017. The lessons are very simple but come with quite detailed instruction to help along beginners of any age. She is almost at the end of the book and at times can read her notes on her own and play the songs required for her lessons without assistance. Some pieces are bit more difficult and will require a parent/guardian to help a student along but even with those with no musical background can help. Perfect accompaniment for any beginner and highly recommend. John W. Schaum Piano Course Pre-A: The Green Book

This was the perfect introduction to piano for my nine-year old. This is aimed towards younger learners with no prior experience in piano playing. This should take the learner from total beginner to a level where Graded learning could begin (in other words, this book is pre-Grade 1). The learning is progressive and steady. Not rushed or too drawn out.On a totally trivial note (excuse the pun), I'm curious to know why this book is printed in landscape orientation but all the other books in the course appear to be printed in portrait! Hmmm!

I am teaching my daughter to play the piano and bought three different piano courses - the cats and dogs kodaly method, the Pauline hall ten little fingers book, and this John W. Schaum course. I found this to be the best - I have dipped into the Pauline hall book, but for me this has the most structured approach. It is very clear for children, with a diagram of the piano above the staff on each page to show where to play, and lively colourful illustrations that are appealing but not too childish. The tunes are interesting, with words to sing along with which helps the child to keep the rhythm. The best thing about the book is the methodical progression that it uses. Each lesson my daughter learned two or three new songs, with a small progression in skills each time that was manageable and enjoyable. By the end of the book she is reading music across two octaves; moving her hand position as she plays; playing and recognising crotchets, quavers, minims, semibreves and their related rests; playing tied notes; playing sharps and flats; using legato and staccato; playing the scale of g with separate hands; and beginning to play with hands together. I hope to teach my other children as they get older, and will definitely use this course. The only drawback that I have found is that it uses american terms, such as quarter note instead of crotchet. I didn't find this to be a problem, I just pointed out the British terminology as we went along.

I teach piano and use this book with quite a lot of my beginners unless they are very young (say 7 or under). It introduces notes and music for both hands from the start and the pieces, although very easy, are quite nice. The book progresses at good speed and is never boring. The layout is very clear and the only reason I have given 4 stars not 5 is because John Schaum is American so the notation is American. For example a crotchet is called a quarter note, a minim a half note etc. Otherwise it is my favourite beginner's book.

Advised by daughters piano teacher to buy

My son use it a lot, and it still looks like new, very cheap

Good quality

This is the book I started learning to play the piano with as a child so when we got a piano, I naturally bought the john w. Schaum books to teach my children to play with. They are really good for children of all ages, and if you can look past the childish nature of the book, it would be perfect to teach an adult too.