Simply Music?

I highly recommend it.  I have used it with my daughters starting at about Christmas time (they were 8 and 6 years old).  We are taking a break over the summer but I have been very impressed so far.  I bought both Levels 1 and 2, and we are about half way through Level 1. 

Your 11 year old daugther would probably move through quite quickly at least at the beginning.  At her age she would probably be able to do it mostly on her own.  I don’t think that she would find them “too cheesy” – even as an adult I don’t feel like I’m being talked down to.  My daughters are a little younger so I watch the video with them, help them to do the short piece a few times and then I let them practice several days on their own before we move on. 

Before having my own children I taught piano lessons, but I used the more traditional approach of teaching students to read music and fumble along with just their right or left hands until finally letting them put both the left and right hands together.  I tried this approach with my oldest daugther and it was torture for her.  Simply Music doesn’t teach students to read music right away, instead they teach what I would call patterns (or music sentences) and within the first few lessons they are playing with both hands and playing music that sounds quite advanced.  They enjoy it so much more, but if they continue to go on eventually I will teach them read music.  I wish Simply Music sold more than the first two levels in video format.  By the way, you can buy it right now at the homeschool buyers co-op for such a great deal.  I paid regular price but I still consider what I paid to be a bargain.

I hope that helps!

Sue

Looks great!  I’ll have to talk to my dh about this one!  He’s been trying to learn himself!

Melissa – Don’t feel bad I had my videos for about a year before I cracked them open as well! 

HeidiS – I have a lot of impulse buys as well, some I haven’t even tried.  Why does something seem so urgent and important until it gets into my home I’ll never know! 

And like learning anything else consistency and practice is the key.  When life gets busy it is a lot easier for my family to be consistent about subjects like math than music. 

Just to make things confusing another video series that I have read about is Learn and Master Piano by Will Barrow.  It is intended for older children and adults.  I will consider using this after we are finished with Simply Music, but if your children are older you might be able to skip Simply Music all together.  I don’t have any personal experience with Learn and Master Piano.  By the way Learn and Master ALWAYS has a big sale on – so don’t feel rushed into buying because of the latest “great deal” – there will be another deal next week!  There are quite a few reviews of Learn and Master Piano online.

Sue