Read Those Notes!

The Perfect Start by Kevin Olsen is a wonderful book full of exercises to reinforce note reading.

If you want to talk about song stuck in your head, this is it! This book is full of short, eight-measure songs with the cute words and optional teacher duet. Notes are added sequentially to each unit. The first unit only uses middle C and D. The five songs in Unit One talk about ocean waves, new shoes, and a small bird who cannot remember how to fly. The words are very imaginative and often speak of things the students can relate to, such as animals, new shoes, or other things they have observed. The included teacher duets add to the mood of the piece, as well as provide a wonderful steady beat for the student to play with.

According to the inside front cover, this book is designed for either young beginners, busy students who need reinforcement in note reading, any student who needs reinforcement, and students at higher levels who want to improve their sight reading skills.

I have found that struggling students really appreciate using the perfect start books because their short exercise length leaves the student with a feeling of progress rather than frustration.

The first several pages of each book in this series have "a few things to remember about music." This Includes tempo markings, dynamic markings, note values, time signatures as well as where the notes can be found on the piano and staff.

Each unit uses pictures to show where the keys are on the staff as well as on the piano and begins with a four measure exercise with each note written in. Following are several exercises using those specific notes. Further units added one more note to the previously learned notes. Students play harmonic thirds beginning in unit two. Left-hand notes are introduced in unit three. This first book introduces third, fourth, and fits. These are played both harmonically and melodically. The entirety of the Perfect Start Book 1 takes place in the middle C position. Each exercise also offer suggestions for alternate fingering once the above fingering has been mastered.

This first book is meant for even the earliest beginner that has begun his or her journey on the staff.  To that end, you will find only the most basic notes and rhythms.
You will find:
Quarter, Half, Dotted Half, and Whole notes
3/4, 4/4
p, mp, mf, f, 
Measures and beats where the hand doesn't play are left blank
Largo, Andante, Allegro,

Though I have not personally used them, there are flashcards, audio files, and activities at www.theperfectstartforpiano.com.

This book is available for $9.95 at Sheet Music Plus.