Best Piano Books for Beginners aged 10-13
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I have a lot of beginners in this age-group teaching piano lessons in Cheshire schools day-in-day-out, so I wanted to share my thoughts on the best piano books for beginners in this age group, firstly for families of my own pupils, so they understand what they are getting when I recommend a certain book, secondly for other piano teachers since it’s now really difficult to find a local music book store and wander in to look at the books, thirdly for parents who might have kids at home who want to learn but without formal lessons. Many of these books will be suitable to help youngsters learn to play piano in that situation too.
Like my suggestions last week for younger learners, these are all old but still in print for a good reason. I always supplement these piano books with more up-to-date repertoire – usually my own arrangements of pop songs/film music etc. that the kids request. But having the right method book to progress through to keep us on the right track is really essential in my mind.
So here we go, my top 5…
5. Piano time
£9 from Amazon at time of writing
Visually it looks like this book could be for younger kids, but the content of it takes learners quite far and quite quickly so personally I don’t use it with many kids under 9 or 10. I am definitely an advocate of laying solid foundations and embedding learning thoroughly when it comes to learning piano rather than rushing through a music education just skimming the surface.
With ages 10 plus the first section of this book can be tackled quite quickly, but I would say it’s worth adding in a few extra resources of your own at this stage if you are teaching using this book so that you can ensure knowledge has been retained. I often support learners in some piano composing activities using the notes we have come across so far as well as giving them additional piano sheet music.
This piano book soon has kids reading effectively , using two hands together, using rhythms including quavers and dotted notes, playing with accidentals and in a few simple keys. It does have some lovely-sounds repertoire as you progress further on, though some of my pupils have found it un-inspiring. I think sometimes it is to do with the fact that so many pieces are so short and appear as though they are a series of short exercises on the page rather than a bigger piece that has a sense of occasion about it.
a remedy to this is getting an additional bit of repertoire from one of these extra books all available at £9.95:
4. Piano Lessons Book One by Waterman and Harewood
£8.99 on Amazon at time of writing
I skip about a fair bit in this book and use the first 9 pages as reference to come back to when we need to if I’m honest. It focusses on treble clef for a good amount of time but dives in to hands-together playing quickly. It introduces expression and articulation very early on. There are lots of exercises as well as pieces to play. Piano technique is a high priority in this book. I like to supplement it with extra feel-good, sound-great pieces as soon as possible to ensure pupils stay inspired and satisfied by what they are playing. However, the recital pieces at the end of the book are very impressive and learners who work hard love showing off with these though they can be challenge.
Chords, accidentals, dotted rhythms etc. and some playing in F and G major are introduced by the end of the book.
3. Alfred’s Basic Piano Library, Lessons, Level 1B
£6.50 on Amazon at time of writing
I use this after the Alfred 1A book with younger pupils but I often use it as a first book with this age group. Like Piano Time, it’s illustrations and large notation and font make it look younger than its level really, but in my eyes it’s ideal for piano beginners around age 10. It’s not too wordy and gives them lovely new repertoire on each page, slowly introducing a new concept with each piece. Fixed hand positions for quite some time, but moving from one to another, give kids the opportunity to do some satisfying hands-together playing that sounds great really early on. There are plenty of simple piano pieces in here that are perfect for school recitals.
Again, by the end, pupils will have tackled similar challenges to other books – playing in different keys, using plenty of accidentals, some moving hands. This book also introduces the sustain pedal.
2. Michal Aaron Piano Course, Lessons, Grade 1
£7.95 on Amazon at time of writing
This one looks more ‘grown-up’ – in fact I often use it for older teenagers and adults. But it can be used for absolute beginners. A good balance of theory, exercises and repertoire pieces and well-paced progression. Early on hands-together work, quite a bit of chord work too. This one also goes further than the others in terms of which keys it covers – going on to D major and Bb major and beyond, though I believe a bit more consolidation and embedding of these keys is needed through ‘off-book’ work for sure. It also introduces 6/8 time. If you aren’t familiar with this, it’s a more complex time-signature (a different way of counting the pulse in the piece).
With a bit of supplementation this piano book really can take the pianist quite far. If your youngster is learning to play piano at home without a teacher, you might find additional helpful resources in our free resources section of the website.
There is also a repertoire book designed to be used alongside this book if you prefer – find that here (from £5.41 on Amazon at time of writing)
1. John W. Schaum Piano Course – A – The Red Book
£6.25 on Amazon at time of writing
I use this one perhaps most of all with my pupils. There is hardly any instruction within this book, so it is perhaps difficult to use as a teach-yourself piano book, but it is excellent for use in traditional lesson settings, or if you can get some music reading instruction from elsewhere. The repertoire is very satisfying to learners and the pace is excellent. My students love showing off pieces from this book. One of the most helpful things is the nature of the patterns in the pieces with nice balanced phrases laid out in a very balanced way on the page.
Like with Michael Aaron, a few new, more difficult keys are introduced in a quick succession towards the end of the book and may need additional embedding before progressing to the next method book.
Some of the words and illustrations might seem childish again, but the content of the music is perfect for many of my beginners who are up to age 12 and 13.