WunderKeys Elementary Piano Level 1A

I’ve been teaching piano for 20 years and am always on the lookout for new and exciting material. I had heard and read a lot reviews about the Wunder Keys method. I regret that I didn’t have the chance to look through a copy before purchasing.I cannot fathom using this method regularly in my studio. The book reads like a comic book, with no intuitive direction as to how to use in regular lessons. If I used this book with a student, I would have to spend a huge chuck of lesson time just reading character stories and playing games that require materials (not included) and/or set up. I find that distracting, not productive to learning piano fundamentals. Children are capable of so much more than many give them credit for: why water down the piano experience and serve “junk food?” There is very little content in this method for the average student.Sorry Wunder Keys, but I’m sticking with what’s tried and true and leaving the cartoon stories to Dog Man and Captain Underpants.

***First, I'd like to address that there is a negative review below for this book - WunderKeys Elementary PIano Level 1A - but the review is written about a different WunderKeys book entirely. The pictures attached to that review are NOT pictures of this book. I am attaching actual pictures of the inside of this method book.***I have been teaching piano lessons for over 15 years, and WunderKeys Elementary Piano Level 1A book is raved over by my students! Each unit of the book has a comic telling of a classic fairy tale that runs through each lesson. It's related to piano lessons and they are funny and keep students engaged, while teaching valuable music concepts.Each unit has a sight-reading activity, technical exercises, an ear-training game, and a rhythm duet in addition to 3-4 pieces of music that reinforce concepts just taught through the exercises. Students that I take through this book come out knowing these musical concepts much better than students that I have taken through other method books.This book is great for students who have finished the WunderKeys Primer series or are ready for a Level 1 method book. I find that students ages 8-12 really enjoy this book!If you are teacher, the Dows offer extended support for teaching through this method book series through additional resources on their website and Facebook group. Free materials that coordinate perfectly with the method books. That being said, you do not need the additional resources. This book can (plus book Level 1B) can stand alone without the additional materials. (But you will want them because they're so much fun to teach and students LOVE them!)I would highly recommend this book series!

With the rise of video games and other easy and fun activities these days, kids more than ever, are looking for fun and games and get bored so easy. Traditional piano lessons were often met with parents fighting their kids to practice and even having to drag them to a boring lesson where they were lectured about every technical aspect of playing piano. I was in a place where I was using some traditional piano books, used by many of us piano studio teacher,s and losing kids because the songs were boring to them or the book moved way to fast and they got frustrated. Andrea has found a way to bring pictures, games and stories to life in her book which have my piano students running to my front door with huge smiles on their faces ready to show me what they have learned and so proud of themselves whereas before they were discouraged and ready to quit. Thank you so much for this wonderful series. I am currently using this book with students who have graduated a primer series up to the age of 12 and they love it! These have literally saved my music studio.

I LOVE the WunderKeys books! They are a game changer and have breathed new life into my teaching and my students. With other methods I was constantly searching for supplemental “not boring” songs and activities to keep the kids engaged and every time I said “pull out your lesson book” they would moan and groan. These books are full of everything you need to fill a lesson and are fun, creative and very engaging plus they’re hardly ever any groaning now. Even though they’re cute and colorful, they’re easily adaptable for a wide range of ages and I’ve had nothing but positive feedback from parents and students. I would highly recommend this series!

This is the book that won me over to the WunderKeys Method. I wasn't sure how it would all work for my students who were used to very traditional methods because they included fun things like games and stories to read. How wrong I was as my students showed me from week to week that these units are composed of just enough new material for young people to digest and have fun practicing, and the games (which they all look forward to) were such a fun way to reinforce those concepts. It's great to finish a game and hear "Can we please play it again??"

I am a piano teacher and a parent and I love this book! It highlights FUN, which makes the whole lesson a positive experience for teacher and student. Even though piano practice is hopefully positive, sometimes it feels like pulling teeth, but not with this book! The stories are read each day, so that they are fun and familiar, while also getting all the technical, rhythm, and sight reading stuff accomplished. My child has the same response to the lines she finds humorous and repeats them every day when we get to those lines. She is really progressing well in her technique, which has been slightly frustrating up until this point.This book is broken into units and each unit has an introduction page to the main concept, a sight reading page (and its fun!), a technique page, an ear-training game, a rhythm duet page (love these!), and 2-5 songs, which go along with the story. I've been using this book for 3 weeks now, and have nothing bad to say about it. There is no written theory, so you may want to supplement that, but it is not necessary.

A fantastic piano teaching method, WunderKeys Elementary Piano Level 1A carries on seamlessly from Primer 3. Each unit introduces a new concept or skill framed in the context of a story, and includes sight reading, rhythm practice, skill building exercises and games, as well as new music to master. Some of the pieces are original compositions, some are based on works of famous composers with familiar melodies. Created by Trevor and Andrea Dow, the series comes with access to a fantastic support network provided by the authors, including free supplementary material. Highly recommended.

I've been teaching piano for almost 30 years and have never quite found the perfect method book....... until now! I have students who have worked through the series and are confident, competent readers by the time they reach this book. Each new concept is introduced gently so that pupils are never demotivated by something which is 'too hard'. This book ties in really nicely with Trinity Initial Grade exam and can be introduced here too.

A great music curriculum that moves a students learning step by step covering all aspects of music and learning to play the piano efficiently. Illustrated amazingly where no doubt students will engage with the fun comic style within.

I am completely smitten with this book. It makes the transition from beginner books to RCM prep levels much easier. The activities are built in such a way as to be challenging enough for learning, but short enough and easy enough for students to have a sense of success and accomplishment. The words, pictures and stories add an element of fun. This is the only way to go as far as I have seen, to encourage rhythmic activity, ear training and sight reading at such a young level. All of these elements, again, make the transition to RCM repertoire much smoother. Use alongside, or in place of, any repertoire method you currently use. Andrea has a way of "filling in the gaps" that many "Methods" miss. I love how the activities are built in such a way as to encourage family participation (not necessary, but definitely an option). WELL DONE!!!

This Level 1A is an excellent method book for my students. The unit/story in comic format is immediately engaging. The scaffolding of concepts is outstanding with a variety of ‘playful’ exercises to keep practicing interesting. It is an appropriate choice for both the reluctant or slower paced learner and motivated quick student.