Dogs and Birds - Book 1 (Animal Notes Edition)

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1. sing and play

   My youngest pupils and I are very much enjoying using Dogs and Birds. It is the perfect transition from my initial Kodaly/ Dalcroze/improv based lessons for 4-5 year olds. The children who have used it so far have instantly been able to sing and read the little tunes. The most able boy "wrote" "Rain rain go away" with the tiles on the big board. They love talking about the pictures on every page when they need a little break from concentrating on "music" and the supplementary ideas are great to jog my memory as to how best to encourage their wider musicianship skills. Alison Davies on 23rd Jun 2019

2. Great method for little children

   I love this method and my students do as well. The only downside is the printing notes, as sometimes stems are too close to the barline and is difficult to distinguish them. Ana on 24th Oct 2018

3. Children love the animal characters

   I have used the animal notes edition several times. Children can play simple tunes right from the first lesson and enjoy its colourful layout and the animal characters. It is an excellent resource for using with young beginners. Janet L on 17th Oct 2017

4. Wonderful resource for teaching young children piano

   this book has been a wonderful resource for me - I am a piano teacher who mainly works with young children and this book has been particularly helpful with my just turned 4 year old, who was struggling with my other materials due to her shorter attention span.
   The animal characters and stories incorporated in the book really helps to keep her attention and she loves her lessons, and in addition is making good progress too. Thank you very much! Anna Loomis on 10th Aug 2017

5. Very appealing to young children

   My four year old pupil is making good progress with this method and loves the pictures and stories. The red and blue staves are a good idea for children who struggle with left and right. caroline on 26th Jun 2017

6. Love it- so easy to use and great fun

   Been using this book with my daughter since age 3 and she loves it. Yesterday I removed the tiles and she knows where all the notes are....I was surprised! Ready to move on to book 2 now. Also started using these books for my teaching and with the same results we'll have happy kids and happy parents. Sue Ross on 2nd Oct 2016

7. Wonderful, fun method for the young beginner

   Dog and Birds Book 1 is a clever and fun way for young children to begin their piano studies. The Des Moines Symphony Academy (Des Moines, IA) has been using this method for four years. We like that the students sing the music before playing, developing their inner ear. The range is suited to the children's vocal range and the melodic movement excellent, starting with a descending minor third (sol - mi).
   
   The pieces move in a logical and sequential progression, appropriate for children as young as three years old. Each piece adds one new concept at a time, allowing the student to master it in their own time. Students can practice independently and successfully.
   
   The Academy uses this method for their Group Lessons for Young Beginners program. Students have 45 minute lessons weekly in groups of 2, 3, and 4 students. We use the supplementary materials for Dogs and Birds as well as other materials.
   
   Thank you for creating this wonderful method.
   Sarah Davis Early on 13th Dec 2015

8. Fantastic books!

   This is the first time I'm using Dogs and Birds with my 3 year old daughter and we both love it! She's been able to identify the notes on the staves, thanks to the animal system and she enjoys looking at the pictures and discussing the storyline before learning the piece.
   
   The length of the pieces are just right - long enough to learn the note and short enough to hold her attention and feel a sense of accomplishment.
   
   I'm now venturing into the blank note edition and I've just ordered the staves and tiles. Its an amazing, holistic approach. Joyce on 17th Apr 2015

9. Great products

   I love the Dogs & Birds books for young beginners - they provide such a visual and story-based method for teaching them the notes, and children quickly pick up the way the notes repeat in a pattern across the piano, so they are not as constrained as with five-finger methods. Mich Mazzocco (piano teacher) on 6th Apr 2015

10. review- the method i use for young children

    I've used this method for young children (age 2 and up) for a couple of years now- it is the only really successful way I've found to teach young children the piano, before they can read. I usually avoid doing too much on the rhythm exercises until they're at primary school ,as I find they pick it up really quickly by the time they reach the age of 4+ whereas most struggle before then with the counting however I teach it. But we do lots of other exercises- eg marching, clapping etc to develop a sense of rhythm.
    
    I use this method with children with various learning difficulties (seems to work well for children with dyslexia), very young children, those with short attention spans and have been known to get adults started with it too!
    
    I would highly recommend this method to anyone looking for an alternative to the inappropriate old school methods (think John Thompson etc, or the American style Piano Adventures etc which again, really don't work for very young children. Catherine Jones MA (Cantab) PGCE EYPS MISM on 5th Jan 2015