This book teaches the first nine notes of the keyboard. It gives word stories for each note’s location on the keyboard and the Grand Staff. These notes are the “mother notes of the Animal Note Family.” They are right in the middle of the Grand Staff, just as most mothers are the center of most family groups. Just seven letters of the alphabet are used to identify these notes in the United States, thus each animal name starts with the appropriate letter.

Most young children are taught guitar by having them memorize the chord positions first and then studying various ways to use them. However, this does not teach the individual notes. When I first started teaching Guitar I found this very unsatisfactory for both my students and myself, so I worked on the “Guitar Note Reading Book” which teaches the location of the notes used on the guitar. This is first of the books in this series. More are planned for the future.

The Animal Notes are easily read; there is no guessing what note is to be played next. When a student is beginning music with standard notation it is very easy to count a measure in 4/4 timing like this: 1--2------34, as the student works to identify the note in question. Since the “Timing Book” continues using the Animal Notes” the student is able to concentrate on even counting. There are enough songs to work on that the student has a chance to develop an ear for timing, a gift that will be of great value to them for all their lives.

After all “all work and no play,” makes for boring learning. Let your students enjoy their experience by playing some familiar songs while working through the book on timing. What in interesting about songs we already know, we have not always learned the correct timing. This can be a challenge for the teacher, but a terrific learning experience for the student.

What a joy it is for a beginning student to be able to play Christmas songs as the holiday approaches. The favorite of course is “Jingle Bells.” The timing is relatively simple in this piece so some 4 year olds and most five year olds can play it. That is so exciting for them. Adding Christmas music to the lessons in October will give your student time to learn several of the pieces before Christmas

This book is a sequel to the “Fun Song Book.” It continues to build on the knowledge the student has already gained. There is additional harmony in the Base Clef, and some simple elements of theory, some new and some already learned. It is always good to strengthen one’s ability while enjoying what you are playing. I sincerely recommend using this book. It is a great companion book to "Moving On in Music - Book One."

The “Moving On” books are designed to make the transition from the Animal Notes to Standard music notation smooth and fun. Each song is one page long; written first in the Animal Notes, then on the back of that page the song is repeated in standard music notation. “Moving On – Book One” has simpler songs so a child six years and older will be successful in making the transaction to level one in standard music. It will make the transition a pleasure for both you and your student.

The second book in this series is can follows “Moving On – Book One” to strengthen standard note reading for a younger student and is a must for the older students. It is designed in the same simple way of short pieces first in the Animal Notes, and the second page repeats the song in standard music notation. However, these songs are more advanced. They have more Base harmony, feature additional elements of the basic elements of theory which gives the student a chance to practice them first in the Animal Notes, thus making them easier to apply when playing standard music.

This book was written at the request of a elementary school teacher I have worked with. I was explaining some basic elements of theory to her 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classes. In my teaching I use associative learning as the bases of most of my explanations to our students. She appreciated the way her students understood the material as presented and asked me to write it in a book. It took over a year to complete the project. It is a reference book for your students and gives you, the teacher, additional ways to explain this important material to your students.

This method of beginning music education is based on associative learning. Each note has a fun story that will help the student remember its location on the Grand Staff of music. As each note is introduced, the companion flash card should be used; repeat the word clue for that note showing first the Animal Note and then the standard note. Repeat the word clue for each note. This is so important as you want your student to be as comfortable seeing the standard note as they are the Animal note and the word clues are a firm association.