Australian Animals for First Year Pianists: Elementary Towards First Grade

This book is not a primer but a collection of pieces to be used in conjunction witha traditional primer to introduce, in an imaginative way, new musical concepts. What we're aiming for is stimulating students' imaginations while progressing at the piano. We have, however, tried to place the pieces in order of difficulty. For example, the first piece "Eddy Emu", although written for the black notes, could just as easily be played initially on the white notes instead. It is such a simple piece yet the words suggest the dynamics and a touch of humour. We have written words to all the pieces, not only to suggest the feeling intended, but also to help the student find the rhythm, phrasing, as well as the melody. We suggest that learning the words by rote first, then clapping the rhythm to the words, will lead to an innate sense of the rhythm. Singing the melody with the words should follow. Where there are two notes to one word syllable, we have added a slur but you can make a choice as to whether it is played. Fingering has been added to assist teachers and students. When the time is right, learning the piece should be easy.