Today we’re taking a close look at My First Piano Adventure piano method books.
If you teach piano lessons, you know that young beginners need something special to help them start their piano journey.
There is something magical about the imagination and creativity of little ones age 4, 5, and 6. A rigid and methodical lesson book just won’t do!
We want to foster their creativity, spark a love for music that lasts a lifetime, while also establishing a solid foundation for piano theory and technique.
Is My First Piano Adventure the answer to all of these needs for young beginners? Let’s dive in deep to discover what makes this piano method book series unique.
What to Look For to Find the Best Piano Method Books
When looking for the best piano method books for a young student, I like to compare using a set of criteria. Because many piano method books are very similar to each other at first glance, it helps to have specific categories.
The categories for comparing piano method books are:
- Pacing
- Positions
- Notation
- Theory
- Technique
- Levels/Path
- Aesthetics
- Song Selections
- Pricing
- Availability
Please check out this blog post where I go further in-depth on each category to fully understand what to look for when checking out a new piano method book.
My First Piano Adventure vs. Faber Piano Adventures
The Fabers publish a few different piano method book series to suit the needs of various beginners:
- My First Piano Adventure is intended for ages 5-6
- Piano Adventures (Basic) is made for ages 7-11
- Accelerated Piano Adventures is intended for beginning piano students ages 12-17
- and Adult Piano Adventures is designed for adult beginners ages 18 and up
If you are interested in learning more about a piano method series for ages 7-11 (Basic Piano Adventures), be sure to check out my blog post and video review of Faber Piano Adventures!
My First Piano Adventure Piano Method Books: An In-Depth Review
My First Piano Adventure is written by Nancy and Randall Faber, the authors of the popular Piano Adventures piano method books.
The Fabers have created this series of three levels to replace their Primer Level Piano Adventures books for young beginners who need a slower start to their piano journey.
According to the authors, My First Piano Adventure series is designed for beginning piano students age 5-6. Personally, I have used it successfully with 4-year-old beginners as well.
Ready to take an in-depth look into the series? I’ll use my ten categories of comparison listed above to see how My First Piano Adventure stacks up to other young beginner piano method books.
Pacing: Average Pace
If we were comparing My First Piano Adventure to other regular method book series, I would say it moves at a slow pace. But for comparison purposes, I’m going to rate the pacing of the series in comparison to other young beginner series.
For a young beginner piano method series, My First Piano Adventure moves along at an average pace. I find that the “average” beginning piano student in kindergarten will find this series just right.
Students work through three leveled lesson books to get to an elementary music-reading level. Once completed, a student could join the standard Piano Adventures series Level 1 books.
We’ll discuss pacing more in each specific category to come.
Positions: Black Keys Right to Scales
Book A
In My First Piano Adventure Lesson Book A, students spend a lot of time (most of the book) on the black keys.
This is great for young minds and little fingers. I find that repetition and lots of songs on the black keys helps young beginners:
- Navigate the keyboard
- Internalize finger numbers
- Learn note values and rhythm
- Master some finger independence
before being asked to place their hands in full-on positions or read notes on the staff.
However, I find that the transition from black keys to white keys to be abrupt.
At the end of Lesson Book A, students are given a few songs in semi-positions on the white keys (one hand plays four consecutive keys while the other is assigned just one key). While I understand these few songs are meant as transitional, I find that students are confused by these semi-positions.
After these few transitional songs, students are asked to place their hands in a full five-finger C pentascale. In my experience, this transition is difficult and I usually supplement with my own materials at this point in the book.
Read on for an alternative method that handles this positions transition better, in my opinion.
Book B and C
In My First Piano Adventure Lesson Book B and Lesson Book C, students rotate positions. They are asked to find a different position with nearly every new song.
Here are the positions students will rotate between:
- C pentascale (both hands on C-D-E-F-G)
- Middle C Scale (thumbs share C)
- “Neighbor Notes” Middle C Position (which is my name for Middle C Scale when one hand is asked to move over one key…the thumbs end up as “next-door neighbors”)
- Right Hand thumb on E (this position is used to teach the line notes of the treble staff)
My Opinion
My First Piano Adventure’s approach to positions works well for a kindergartner who is up for varying positions, has good finger independence, and a parent helping at home.
Notation: Logical Progression Introducing Notes on the Staff
A Bridge to Reading Notes on the Staff
There are many reasons to love the notation “plan” in My First Piano Adventure piano method books. A clear and logical progression appears from level to level guiding students to read notes on the staff.
In Lesson Book A students are not exposed to any on-staff notation. The entire book is pre-reading or off-staff notation. I like this plan for young beginners as it helps them develop critical technical skills, grasp the concept of rhythm and note values, and explore the sounds of the piano before having to learn the language of staff notation.
In Lesson Book B students are introduced to the grand staff and start learning to read a few notes on the staff. This book focuses on stepwise motion on the staff. I like this approach for young beginners. The accompanying Writing Book reinforces drawing notes on the staff.
In Lesson Book C students continue to read more notes on the staff and start reading skips on the staff making the songs more interesting to the ear but a bit trickier to read.
Guide Notes to Teach Notes on the Staff
Like Faber Piano Adventures, My First Piano Adventure uses a guide note system to introduce notes on the staff.
What is a guide note system? This is the methodology that introduces students to key notes far apart from each other on the staff. The idea is that, once memorized, these guide notes (or landmark notes) serve as anchors and students can figure out any adjacent notes they may not recognize.
My Opinion
While I see the logic of the notation progression in the My First Piano Adventure piano method books, I personally find that the guide note approach does not work well with my young beginners.
In my experience, it feels like fighting their instincts with reading notes by encouraging them to memorize certain far-apart notes on the staff. I know many teachers may love guide notes and disagree with my opinion and that is fine!
When using My First Piano Adventure with my young beginning students, they have struggled with Lesson Book B and Lesson Book C. It was too many new notes too fast for them. And the guide note approach was confusing rather than helpful.
Keep reading for suggestions on methods that introduce notes in a different way that may serve your young beginners even better!
A is the Top Line
I will say that the Fabers attempt to make the guide note system fun and accessible to this age group. One example of this that I love to use is a little song with hand motions about the bass clef.
The song reminds students that the top line is A, and if you go up, you get B. If you go down, you get G. One of my fifth-graders quietly hummed this song to herself in a lesson recently to remember bass clef B. So cute!
Theory: Separate Writing Book for each level
Writing Books
My First Piano Adventure offers a Writing Book to accompany each level’s Lesson Book. I like that the Fabers chose to name their theory book “Writing Book” which is a more accessible word for this age group!
I like that there are a variety of theory assignments, from note recognition to meter to dynamics to creativity. I also like that the assignments asking students to draw notes are designed with kindergarten-level pencil skills in mind.
Music History
Composer stories are introduced a little bit in Lesson Book B and Lesson Book C so young beginners are exposed to some music history from the start.
My Opinion
Overall, I do like the Writing Books very much.
I have not had great success having students complete the assignments at home, however. Unless they have a very vigilant parent, the instructions are not obvious or consistent enough for independent work.
The easy solution to this problem–we simply complete the Writing Book assignments within our lesson time together.
Technique: Great Balance
No Technique Book
There are no dedicated technique books to accompany My First Piano Adventure Lesson books.
However, technique is worked into the Lesson Book periodically.
Technique Made Fun
The Fabers make technical concepts fun for ages 4-6. There are a few cute songs included to encourage important technique motions such as posture and finger curvature. Accompaniment tracks are included with all lesson books so you can let loose, sing along, and make technique really fun.
My Opinion
For this age group, I find the amount of focus on technique to be perfect.
Levels/Path: 3 Levels / Primary-only series
My First Piano Adventure offers three levels:
- Lesson Book A (with Writing Book A)
- Lesson Book B (with Writing Book B)
- Lesson Book C (with Writing Book C)
Students end the series at an early elementary level.
If students keep up with the note introduction schedule in Book B and C, they should be reading notes on the staff from C3 to B4 with ease (and some exposure to higher or lower notes).
After completing Lesson Book C, a student would transfer to Faber Piano Adventures Level 1 books.
Aesthetics: Bright colors, Memorable characters, Cute songs
The Fabers did a great job capturing the interests of this age group when creating My First Piano Adventure.
Colorful
Every page in a My First Piano Adventure book pops with bold, saturated colors and stylized animated scenes.
The book is very inviting for this age group, from cover to cover.
Characters
In My First Piano Adventure Lesson Book A, you’ll meet a whole group of friends that will join you through all three levels of the series.
Mrs. Razzle-Dazzle heads up the gang as the animal-loving piano teacher. Other characters include Marta, Millie, Carlos, Dallas, and Katie. Animal friends include Tucker, the dog, and Mitsy, the cat. And then there’s Tap, the firefly, shows up on nearly every page.
Oh, and some famous composers make an appearance as well!
If you decide to use these piano method books, be sure to check out pianoadventures.com for some cool printables to make these characters really come to life.
Songs
Each song title, picture, and song lyrics help students get to know these characters a little better. Song subjects are relatable for this age group with such titles as:
- Katie Scores (soccer)
- Oh! I Love Snack Time
- Hot Chocolate, Whipped-Cream Day
- Bedtime Boogie Woogie
- and more.
My Opinion
Kindergarteners will love this series through and through. From the colors to the characters, they’ll be engrossed in these books.
My only caution is to be careful when assigning these books to older kindergartners or first-graders, ages 6-7. Because of the juvenile look of these books, some students may actually dislike or be embarrassed about the “little-kid-friendly” vibe. Just be sure to meet with a new student first to get a sense of their maturity and their interests. Age alone is not always a perfect gauge!
Song Selections: Adorable originals and Familiar classics
My First Piano Adventure offers a great balance of original song titles and familiar tunes.
Original Songs
Cute titles, lyrics, and pictures will capture your young beginner’s imagination. These songs sound good in all three levels. And the backing tracks (included with all three lesson books) sound great and are easy to use.
Familiar Tunes
Students will get some familiar children’s songs as well.
Some examples of children’s songs are:
- Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (Lesson Book A)
- Mary Had a Little Lamb, renamed “Mary’s Rockin’ Pets” (Lesson Book A)
- Old MacDonald Had a Farm, renamed “Old Pig-Donald” (Lesson Book A)
- If You’re Happy and You Know It (Lesson Book A)
- Eensie Weensie Spider (Lesson Book A)
- Hush, Little Baby (Lesson Book B)
- Alouette (Lesson Book B)
- Go Tell Aunt Rhodie (Lesson Book C)
And classical melodies are included as well.
Some examples of classical melodies are:
- Ode to Joy, Beethoven (Lesson Book B)
- Russian Folk Dance, Traditional (Lesson Book B)
- Variations K.455, Mozart (Lesson Book B)
- Kakadu Variations Piano Trio Op. 121a in g minor, Beethoven (Lesson Book B)
- Bagatelle No. 1, Op. 33, Beethoven (Lesson Book B)
- Sonata for Four Hands K.19d, Mozart (Lesson Book B)
- Con Brio, Haydn (Lesson Book C)
- Hungarian Dance, Brahms (Lesson Book C)
- Sinfonia in F KV.112, Mozart (Lesson Book C)
- Trio in E-flat Major Op. 70, No. 2, Beethoven (Lesson Book C)
- Swan Lake, Tchaikovsky (Lesson Book C)
- Symphony in D, KV.95, Mozart (Lesson Book C)
- Three Intermezzi, Op. 117, Brahms (Lesson Book C)
- Surprise Symphony, Haydn (Lesson Book C)
- Waltz from Swan Lake, Act II, Tchaikovsky (Lesson Book C)
- Symphony in D, KV.202, Mozart (Lesson Book C)
Pricing
Publisher Prices
At retail price, the set of two My First Piano Adventure books are priced at:
- Lesson Book, $9.99
- Writing Book, $8.99
For a total price of: $18.98 + applicable tax.
Ways to Save
Amazon
Amazon often has a deal on one or all of these books when purchased separately. Check out their current prices here:
- Lesson Book – Check Amazon Price
- Writing Book – Check Amazon Price
SheetMusicPlus
SheetMusicPlus.com offers occasional sales on piano method books as well as 8% cash back rebates for music teachers.
On top of the 8% rebate, you can also earn 4% back on all SheetMusicPlus purchases through Rakuten, my favorite no-fuss cashback browser extension that pays you to shop online. (Check out Rakuten here.)
You will pay shipping on SheetMusicPlus purchases, but it is reasonable.
Here’s a link to check out the prices at SheetMusicPlus (and see if they are currently having a sale!):
EveryMusicBook
A “best kept secret” in the piano teacher world–EveryMusicBook.com! Here you can get 35% off all Faber Piano Adventures piano method books! Free shipping when you spend $25 on their site. With the 35% discount, you can get My First Piano Adventure books for:
- Lesson Book – 35% off
- Writing Book – 35% off
Local Music Store
And your local music store may offer a discount for piano teachers as well. It’s great to connect with your local music store anyways! Often they will offer workshops for piano teachers and other promotional events.
Availability: 10/10
Faber Piano Adventures is the most popular piano method book series and is readily available wherever music books are sold! You can purchase Piano Adventures books at:
- Your local music store
- PianoAdventures.com
- Amazon.com
- SheetMusicPlus.com
- EveryMusicBook.com
- HalLeonard.com
Other Young Beginner Methods to Check Out
While I do think My First Piano Adventure is a great choice for young beginners, there is another lesser known piano method series I use more often than My First Piano Adventure!
Chances are you’ve never heard of it before! It’s called Piano Made Fun For the Young by Kevin and Julia Olson.
Check out my in-depth review of that piano method book series HERE.
And have you heard of Wunderkeys? This series offers a lot of the fun and color of the My First Piano Adventure books, but without a guide note introduction to notes on the staff.
Check out my in-depth review of the Wunderkeys series HERE.
And the authors of Wunderkeys also created a series just for preschoolers! If you are interested in teaching ages 3 or 4, check out my review of Wunderkeys Piano for Preschoolers.
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