I Can Do It! Piano Book: First Book of Favorite Songs [With CD] [Spiral-bound]

Christine Bemko Kril (Author), Patricia Carmody (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

Review

...a delightful, simple, FUN introduction to music via the piano or keyboard. The children love it!! -- Old Schoolhouse Magazine, May 13, 2006

From the Back Cover

You can do it! Easy to understand keyboard and fingering charts show you how. Created especially for beginners who wish to learn to play fun songs and enjoy making music on the piano right from the start. Now you can play the piano even before you learn to read notation!

"My friend and I have hours of fun with this book. We love it!" R. Sullivan (17) and B.F. (12), Virginia

"Everyone is very impressed with the book. Teachers are asking where they can buy it. One teacher tried it with a child who is a bit restless and it worked exceptionally well..." Dr. Jewel A. Smith - pianist & teacher, Ohio

"I have always encouraged my daughter to play piano, but she was frustrated. When she tried this book she was greatly encouraged because she could play right from the start. She wants to know when the next one is coming!" M. Snyder - flutist, Virginia

"I found it to be the best book for beginners. They just keep playing. Easy and fun!" C. Hoffmann - piano teacher, Hawaii

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Spiral-bound: 80 pages
• Publisher: Kapok Press (August 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971847703
• ISBN-13: 978-0971847705
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #405,843 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars not a music reading book, April 10, 2008

By 

Rachel Sissel - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I Can Do It! Piano Book: First Book of Favorite Songs [With CD] (Spiral-bound)

This is a good book for a child that wants to be able to play a few songs on a piano and say "I can do it!"
Parents take heed though, no child will learn to read music with this book. It doesn't even have music in it. It is simply colored hands with letters on them, so the child memorizes what color is what finger and possibly what letter it is on the keyboard. While the child does make music this way, and through a process of association learns the letters, they won't be able to pick up sheet music of any level and play it on their piano.
Like I said, it's a good book for someone that is satisfied with their child being able to play a few simple songs so they can say "I can do it!" but if you want your child to progress into being able to play more than the "I Can Do It" series music, it would be wise to skip the finger color matching and just get a piano book that teaches basic music reading.

My recommendations:
John Thompson's Easiest Piano Course Part One
Teaching Little Fingers to Play: A Book for the Earliest Beginner (John Thompsons Modern Course for The Piano)

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic begining book for young child, August 31, 2007

By 

Y. Pian "the Farmer" (New York, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I Can Do It! Piano Book: First Book of Favorite Songs [With CD] (Spiral-bound)

I purchased a bunch of beginner books for my 4-year old, who had no piano experience at all. After I got the books, I reviewed them first, and found this one is the perfect one for young child, because it uses the letters and finger chart instead of the intimiditing music notes to illustrate the popular children's songs. So, I presented only this one to my daughter. Amazingly, she was able to follow the book all by herself, which made her very pround of herself!!! She loves to play piano now, and loves to give piano lessons to us too!!!

Highly recommend this book for parents who want to introduce their young child to the world of piano.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book!, August 14, 2007

By 

MKB "a reader" (VA, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Can Do It! Piano Book: First Book of Favorite Songs [With CD] (Spiral-bound)

I hadn't touched a keyboard in 20+ years prior to picking up this book. But it is so simple & easy that I was quickly able to play the simple, child friendly tunes: Ring Around the Rosie, Hot Cross Buns, Mary Had a Little Lamb etc...contained within. Not only is the teaching system very, very "friendly" & easy, the book is also a pleasure to read & look through, thanks to the lovely illustrations. I highly recommend this book, for beginner adults & for children!