Hello. I am really enjoying using this book. I am using the animal notes version with a little girl aged seven and a half as she was having trouble learning her notes. I do have a question though about something I'm not really sure about and would like your opinion on.

I love the fact that the book has no finger numbers as in the past I have always found myself scribbling over them so the child gets the chance to actually learn the notes instead of relying on numbers. However, now there are no numbers at all I am unsure when or how to start adding them in or even at all at this stage. I know the second books has finger numbers but in the meantime what do you suggest?

Many Thanks!

sherry11

Hi Sherry11

Thanks for your question. We are glad that you enjoy using the book and find it useful.

We understand your concern about fingering. We fully agree with your view that finger numbers should be a guideline and not a system for learning to read notes. That is why there are no finger numbers in Book 1. If the child relies on numbers to read the notes then there will potentially be problems when playing outside the ten fingers. In extreme cases the child might lose interest or even give up the piano at that point because he/she finds it just too difficult. This is a big advantage of learning the names of the notes straightaway using the animals as is done with the Dogs and Birds approach.

We do however find it very important to use the correct fingering in technically difficult passages. Generally if there is any problem I (Elza) will choose fingering together with the child and ask him/her not to change it. I will write this fingering in the book. I will try not to write in obvious fingering. The best fingering will depend on the child’s mental, technical and musical ability – which will of course depend on age. Also I never force the child to use a particular fingering (even the fingering written in book 2) if he/she comes up with an acceptable alternative. I do however ask him/her to stick to the chosen fingering. Suggestions for fingering in some pieces in Book 1 are given in the supplementary notes. There we suggest initially to use the right hand thumb for the Dog and the left hand thumb for the Bird. This is particularly important if the child is very young and does not have the necessary muscles for the correct hand position. More finger exercises are written in book 2, which are particularly focused on the basic use of fingering (chords, scales, repeated note and intervals etc.). Try to get the student to use a good hand position at all times, whatever fingers are being used – this will to some extent depend on the age of the student.

Our suggestion is to be sensible and be as strict as you can with each child’s fingering but not so much as to make the study no longer enjoyable. Do not force the child if he/she is not yet ready.

We hope this helps.

Elza and Chris

I have been using the 2nd finger for the dogs and birds and love the fact the hands move around quite quickly.

My youngest pupil is not 4 until february and in 8 weeks can find the dog on her own and is nearly able to find the birds using which ever finger she chooses.

She follows the book well and puts her hands on the piano perfectly already!