Advice

Teaching keyboard in Wider Opportunities? Mike Adcock shares his experiences
Read Mike's article here >>.
How is teaching keyboard different from teaching piano? Find out how to do it: a guide for pianists.
How to teach electronic keyboard >>
Dazzled by the terminology? Here some of the most commonly used words are explained.
How to understand the jargon >>
Want to set up a keyboard group? Find out how Kath Todd did it in Solihull with ‘Keys".
How to set up a keyboard group >>
It is everyone"s responsibility to make sure that health and safety are taken seriously. These safety suggestions have been collected together after many years of teaching electronic instruments.
How to be safe when playing keyboards together >>

Tutor Books

Nancy Litten's electronic keyboard tutor books introduce ensemble playing from the very first lesson. Pupils experience the richness of backings and descant parts supplied by the teacher. The pieces come with an absolute minimum of written instructions, but are carefully graded to include a new note and/or rhythmic pattern in each chapter. The CD is strongly recommended as a tool, both for ease of teaching, and for pupils' practice. The books can be used either for class teaching or individual instruction. A special feature is that repeated notes are largely avoided in Book 1, in order to build a good right hand legato.

Book 1 covers the five notes middle C to G, and note values crotchet, minim, dotted minim, semibreve, and their rests. The chords of C, G and F are introduced. Each chapter has a 'Play your own; write your own' page where the pupil invents a piece over set harmonies. The 'Teacher's copy' includes chords and harmony parts, whereas the 'Pupils' copy' is in large print and avoids confusion by containing only their part. The rhythmic style is indicated, but not the chords to be played by the teacher.

Keyed Up Tutor Book 1 Pupils' copy
Details:
Large print; pupil parts only
Notes C-G
Crotchet, minim, dotted minim,
semibreve and rests
4/4 and 3/4 time
Chords C, G and F
Improvisation pieces

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Price: £6.50add to order >>
Keyed Up Tutor Book 1 Teacher's copy
Details:
Ordinary sized print
Chords
Pupil and ensemble parts

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Price: £6.50add to order >>
Double CD of Keyed Up Tutor Book 1
Details:
All pieces from the book including improvisation backings. Two versions of ensemble pieces: with, and without, additional part.
Price: £3.50add to order >>
Special Offer: Tutor Book 1 (either pupils' copy or teacher's copy) + Double CD - £8.50
by Nancy Litten
Details:
Take advantage of this great deal and get Tutor Book and Double CD for the reduced price of £8.50 - normally £10.00!
Price: £8.50add to order >>
Book 2 extends the range by a 5th to the D above and rhythms to include quavers and tied notes. One printed format serves pupil and teacher, as more chords and key signatures are introduced. By the end of the book, the pupils know the chords of C, G, D, A, F, Bb, Am, Dm and Em. In order to maintain a variety of styles and harmonies, some of the items are still backed by the teacher. Pieces in two or three parts are interspersed with solos.

Keyed Up Tutor Book 2
Details:
The same book serves teacher and pupil
More notes, including sharps and flats
Quavers and tied notes
Chords of D, A, Bb, Am, Dm and Em

Listen to sample >>
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Price: £6.50add to order >>
CD of Keyed Up Tutor Book 2
Price: £3.50add to order >>
Special Offer: Tutor Book 2 (either pupils' copy or teacher's copy) + CD - £8.50
by Nancy Litten
Details:
Take advantage of this great deal and get Tutor Book 2 and the accompyaning CD for the reduced price of £8.50 - normally £10.00!
Price: £8.50add to order >>
Keysteps
by Kath Todd

Kath Todd’s all-in-one tutor book Keysteps is aimed at beginner keyboard pupils in Key Stage 2 and is also very suitable for group tuition. Under suitable teacher direction every aspect of the Programme of Study 1 (NQF entry level/pre-grade 1) of the FMS Common Approach may be covered.
There is considerable freedom to use the material in creative ways, especially in the ‘making your own music pages’. These are starting points for improvisation, which the teacher can extend to suit. The use of keyboard functions such as automatic introductions, endings, fill-ins and specific techniques such as fingering or the understanding of scales/accidentals are left to the teacher’s discretion. Although notation is introduced at an early stage with the use of cut-out flashcards, many of the tunes may be learnt by ear, possibly with the use of rhythmic flashcards and demonstrations by the teacher as well as singing through some of the well known songs.
Price: £6.00add to order >>