Audio Now Available in the Player App!
Get free, easy access to My First Piano Adventure audio files in the Piano Adventures Player App for iOS devices.
My First Piano Adventure comes to the Player App
The wait is over! My First Piano Adventure audio tracks are now included right inside the Piano Adventures Player app for free. The fun lyrics and energetic voices of children are a hallmark of this course, so we built a special audio playback mode to ensure the full listening experience. Learn more and update your […]
Scales and Transposition: An Invitation for Improvisation
Playing 5-finger scales has significant value for early-level pianists. Randall demonstrates how this innovative book helps students chart progress through all major and minor 5-finger scales, cross-hand arpeggios, and primary chords. Engaging teacher duets for each key are used for scale exercises. Students also enjoy improvisation activities for each key with creative prompts to inspire […]
A Musical Martian Language
These aliens walk carefully, often repeating before they continue stepping up or down. Checking to see where the notes repeat prepares Patrick to play the piece. Imagining tiny Martians under his palms reminds him to play with a rounded hand position. Because his hands are in place before he begins, he can keep his eyes […]
One Musical Barnyard!
Establishing a natural, curved, strong, and flexible hand position is the basis of keyboard technique. Playing with a braced third finger is an effective approach. Both arch and fingertip are supported. Using a non-legato touch at the beginning helps direct the arm weight from the shoulder. “The Pecking Rooster” and “The Pecking Hen” explore the […]
Birthday Train
Nancy introduces the “Birthday Train” song through playfulness and imagination. The twins gaze at the pictures in the lesson book and catch the excitement of Carlo’s birthday celebration. As the audio track is played, the girls are engaged with active listening, as they pair body movement with lyrics. From My First Piano Adventure, Lesson Book A, […]
Let’s Make Cookies!
As Nancy guides the twins through imaginative play, they learn and practice their finger numbers. The girls are intrigued from the start, as they are handed brightly colored play dough to make blue and pink cookies! As they press their finger tips into the pretend cookie, every tap creates a chocolate chip on the play dough cookie. […]
Maple Leaf Etude
This etude doubles as an arpeggio exercise as well as a preparation for the hand-crossing pattern within the “Maple Leaf Rag.” Philip is taught this etude by rote and quickly has it memorized so that he is able to focus on his technique. As he increases the tempo, he becomes familiar with the C-minor i-iv-V-i […]
Princess or Monster?
How easily a princess can become a monster! Rests were introduced on the preceding page, and a tryout on the closed lid highlights the bits of silence after “monster” and “dungeon.” Since the melody has many skips, checking the finger patterns prepares David for the coordination required. A monster demands a more ominous accompaniment, and […]
Relaxing in Contrary Motion
In this video, Nancy coaches Philip on his 16th note, 2-octave contrary motion scales. The 8th note added in between allows the student to be mindful of relaxing the wrist while playing fast 16th notes. Often times, scale practice focuses solely on fast fingers, however we see artistry displayed along side of technique as Philip phrases […]
Go Team, Let’s Win!
Vivian has fun responding to the challenge of the chant. She begins to expect the rests to follow a pattern, but catches the change. That’s careful listening! When she plays the chant on the piano, it’s clear from her body language that she’s feeling the rests. Playing “Come On, Tigers!” is easy and full of energy […]
