Read Those Notes Again!

Kevin and Julia Olsen continue their series on note reading with the Perfect Start for Note Reading
Book 2. This book continues where the previous book left off. (You can read about the previous book here.)

These books are perfect for the young beginner, the busy student, any student to appreciates reinforcement, and higher-level students who want to improve their sight reading skills.
The book begins with a reference pages regarding tempo, dynamics, note values, where the keys are on the piano, and where the notes are on the staff.

Unit One in this book builds on the previous book. The right-hand is in C position, (which is the same as middle C position) therefore using notes the student already knows. The left-hand begins to introduce G and F on the bass staff with fingers 2 and 1 thereby putting the left-hand also in C position. Units two, three, and four continue to introduce the left-hand to C position. Intervals of a second, third, fourth, and fifth are also reinforced.

Units five through eight introduce the students to trouble see position on the C above middle C. Each piece uses a pictorial note guide to show the students where exactly their fingers belong. There are also fun illustrations that go with the imaginative titles and words. Each eight-measure exercise is accompanied by a teacher duet. This is very helpful and helping the students to play with a steady beat.

You will find:
Andante, Largo, Allegro
p, mp, mf, f
4/4, 3/4
quarter, half, dotted half, and whole notes
Repeat signs.  Rests are introduced in the first unit, when both hands stop playing.  When the melody is shared between the hands, there are no rests.

These exercises are not rhythmically or technically complicated to facilitate focus on reading and learning notes.

Some students enjoy these pieces, others say they lack pizazz.  Adding the teacher duet and singing the words does make them much more valuable.  Young students tend to like the imaginative words, but older students focusing on learning the notes tend to think of these as vegetables: good for you, but not especially fun.

You can find this at Sheet Music Plus for $9.95.