Did you know that animals can help your child learn to play the piano? It's true! Squirrels, chipmunks, bunnies, and bears are just a few of the animals that can help your child learn to play the piano. By giving human characteristics to animals, anthropomorphic literature and learning aids create an adventure for children to explore new ideas and develop character traits needed to succeed. No where is this more true than with learning to play the piano. So don’t be surprised if your child tells you his piano teacher is an animal!

Here’s a learning aid you may remember from music class - Great Big Dogs Fight Animals. This was meant to help you remember the line notes of the bass staff. But how interesting is that? And what meaning does this sentence have to little Timmy or Susie in piano lessons anyway? Come on…surely we can come up with something more interesting than that! And thankfully creative piano teachers have, by giving context and meaning to learning aids with stories that delight, inspire and inform.

Here’s an example of how stories can teach piano students. Imagine a young bear named Beary Ann, who likes to dress nicely and always wears a ribbon in her hair that matches her dress. Beary Ann loves music and is learning to play the piano. One day at her piano lesson she starts to worry. While starring down at her shoes, that also match her dress, Beary Ann complains to her teacher,

“I’m having soooooo much trouble remembering the line notes of the bass staff! How will I ever learn?” Her teacher (also a bear) suggests a fun sentence to help Beary Ann remember the bass staff line notes. “I bet you can remember this, Beary Ann: Gorgeous Bears Do Find Accessories!” Beary Ann looked up with a smile beaming on her face, “That’s easy, Mrs. Treble Beary! I can remember that!” Beary Ann went on to learn the line notes of the bass staff and all her new songs in G position. At her piano recital she wore a cute matching outfit and played, “Ode to Bears” and “Elise’s Fur,” by Beartoven. Then she had her picture taken with Mrs. Treble Beary to keep in her piano scrapbook.

See what a great piano teacher an animal can be! Even middle school boys chuckle at this silly story and learn their notes.

For great home piano activities parents can use to help children ages 5 to 11 develop their musical talent, visit Piano Adventure Bears Music Education Resources You’ll find a treasure box filled with piano resources to create an exciting musical adventure for your child - right in your own home! Visit their website and subscribe to their f’ree internet newsletter so you can download f’ree piano sheet music and mp3s of original piano compositions.

These exciting stories, games, piano lessons, and inspirational gifts feature the Piano Adventure Bears, Mrs. Treble Beary and her new piano student, Albeart Littlebud. Young students follow along with Albeart to learn what piano lessons are all about in a fun way that kids readily understand appreciate. Click here to visit PianoAdventureBears.com For a wealth of information about piano lessons, visit tallypiano.com

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