Book review: My First Piano Book

This beautifully illustrated 72-page book, complete with two CDs and website support, is part of a series from Naxos which includes the popular title My First Classical Music Book – also by Genevieve Helsby. And it certainly provides a lot for the price tag.

The book is structured with an introduction explaining the main features of the instrument and its mechanics, with dampers, sound board and pedals all fully explained by a cast of 11 animals. The book is then split into two parts: Part 1, ‘Why is the piano so special?’ whose 15 topics include ‘Simple Solo’, ‘Acrobat Fingers’, ‘Playing with an Orchestra’ and ‘Screws and Bolts’; and Part 2, ‘How do I play it?’, which includes 11 pieces (one for each animal) to help get students playing. The progression in these is rapid, and perhaps best used to reinforce teachers’ preferred tutor book, or for sight reading at later stages.

The first CD includes 23 pieces of classical music – such as J.S. Bach's Prelude in C major BWV 846 and Scot Joplin's Entertainer, and chamber and orchestral music including Mozart's Piano Concerto No.21 and the second movement of Elgar's Piano Quintet. The second CD includes recordings of the pieces featured in the book, with the author's guided narration.

Who is this book for? Having done a little trialling with students, I would say that the ‘My First Piano Book’ title needs to be taken in broad terms. A young 7-year-old, just starting piano lessons, might not appreciate or be able to use the book as successfully as an 11-year-old who already plays.

It is a gift for children who have already started their piano-playing journey, making use of their ability to read and fully understand the text, interact with the CD tracks and answer questions to develop their interest in the instrument. As one 11-year-old pupil (who has been playing piano for nearly 3 years) said: ‘Overall the book is really fun. I like how it is not just pieces to play but has so much more information about the piano.’

Naxos Books, £7.99