Before you read the post in its entirety, do know that there are giveaways for PianoBookClub’ers and non-PianoBookClub’ers alike 🙂
If you’re a member of PianoBookClub, then you already know that Trevor and I release a new piano book to our members every single month.
Which means that, just last year, we released 12 different piano books for kids and teens, for a total of 80+ piano pieces!
Now, as is the case with our children, Trevor and I love all of our PianoBookClub books equally. But we often wonder… what are your favorites? Or, if you’re not already a member, which ones would most likely be your favourites?
So we figured… we might as well ask!
And since it’s the season of award shows we decided to ask you to vote for your favorite PianoBookClub books from 2015 in a series of “Award” categories.
Why this is much more than an “Awards” Post…
As you probably guessed, this post isn’t so much about the awards as it is about getting your feedback and using it to guide the direction of PianoBookClub through 2016 and beyond.
And when we say beyond, we mean waaaaay beyond. The coming years of PianoBookClub will see the release of some of our most inventive titles to date (our “brainstorm book” currently has 173 potential titles just waiting to be brought to life!)
But right now… let’s get on with the voting!
Below we have included the title page images of each of the 12 books that we released in 2015. In the comments section at the very bottom of this post, we would like you to tell us these three things:
- Which book from 2015 was your favorite?
- Which book from 2015 was your students’ favorite?
- Which book from 2015 was most useful to your piano students’ development?
And hey! If you’re not already a PianoBookClub member you can still participate! In the comments section below tell us…
- Which book would get the most use in your studio?
From all of the people who comment, five current PianoBookClub’ers and three not-yet-PianoBookClub’ers will be selected at random to receive their choice of three PianoBookClub books published within the last two years (and if you already have them all… we’ll find three different Teach Piano Today products for you!) 🙂
And the Nominees Are:
Note: The books below were released in 2015 and are now retired. However, every month (in addition to a new release) we bring one book out of retirement and make it available for purchase by current PianoBookClub members only.
My favorite Guardians of Arranmore, my kids loved My Teacher Thinks She’s a Ninja. But Silver Screen Playbook and Vamp Battles are a big hit with my older students! I think How to Babysit a Brontosaurus was perfect for my younger kids working on expression. I have them all so this was a hard decision!
My students would love My Teacher Thinks She’s a Ninja. They are into silly ideas such as that in the books they read and tell me about.
My favorite was pop waltz.
My students favorite was the Arranmore
Most useful was Arranmore because they liked it.
I am book Club member.
Vamp Battles was my favorite and the favorite for my teen students! The Beatbox Manifesto is awesome in teaching steady rythyms. I love all the ones I have so far.
1. My favorite is knock knock and Pop Waltz
2. students’ fav is Intervalactic
3. Best is knock knock. I use it for theory.
I am using Pop Waltz Prophecy for a couple of teen students. I am even getting compliments from my family when I play them. So Pop Waltz Prophecy is my #1 favorite and Silver Screen Playbook comes in at a close 2nd. I do look forward to receiving my new book each month. The 12th of each month is like Christmas morning opening surprise presents. Keep them coming!
I have to say that Rhythmic Haunting wins a clean sweep. I personally love Rhythmic Haunting because the students enjoy it while I watch their technique and counting skills improve.
My students love Rhythmic Haunting because of the fun story that goes along with it along with fun songs. Many of my students ask if they can play the songs from Rhythmic Haunting at their recitals.
The reason that I feel that Rhythmic Haunting has been the most useful is first, this book has such great technical exercises. The second is because my students love it. And third, and most importantly, I can use this book to help my students that are struggling with counting and rhythms. I was a book club member but had to go on hiatus due to financial difficulties. I want to thank you for creating such wonderful music!
I just joined the club this year so I guess I qualify mostly as non bookcluber and in that case I would say that given the fact that I have a lot of younger students right now, I would probably use the nuts about notes. However for my older ones, I know they would love guardians of arrenmore. Just as a side note, I LOVE how these songs are simpler than what they sound. It is so great for my students to be able to learn a song relatively quickly but sound great in the process. It does wonders for their confidence! Thank you!
I joined at the very beginning. The books most in use right now are Intervallactic ( using it to reinforce intervals and counting) and Pop Waltz Prophecy( my intermediate students love the pop sound of the harmonies and can master the LH patterns easily) Sheldon was extremely popular in September for the elementary level students to get going and actually review and have fun at the same time. I think duets for the intermediate students would be helpful or more for playing with a non musical partner. Oh yes- the Ninja book went over very well. I love all your books really. Can’t wait for the 1st to see what I can use next month.
I am a new member, so Pop Waltz Prophecy is the only book I have tried with my students so far. My young teens love the pieces! I am definitely looking forward to receiving new music each month.
I am part of Piano Book Club, but only joined recently. PopWaltz Prophecy was my favourite because it actually SOUNDS good while still reinforcing skills. My students loved Intervalactic. PopWaltz Prophecy was the most useful, and out of the 12 titles, it would get the most use, particularly by my older students.
I’ve only been a member since October. My favorite from that time is pop waltz prophecy. My students love Intervalic.
My favorite is silver screen
My students favorite is a brantasaurus for my birthday
The one that’s gotten the most use so far I would say is a tie between gaurdians and brantasaurus
I must confess that I haven’t yet had a chance to use them all but would really like one similar to gaurdians or silver screen but for smaller hands. I have pre teens that can’t reach an octave but that love the songs in these books. Keep up the creativity my students love it. Fearless fortissimo is a huge hit as well as lap tap clap revolution. Also looking for a composition book with chords in the lh for some of my older beginners (8-12yo)
I joined the PBC kinda late in the year…so not sure I really should answer all 3 questions. My favorite and most-used with students is Nuts About Note Reading. (That’s when I joined.) Really wanted to use Vamp Battles for recital, but my students for that were not available at that time. Since then we’ve had piano contest and Christmas. Time for me to break out Intervalactic and PopWaltz Prophecy!
My teens just love Vamp battles while my little ones love Ruby Wrigglesworh’s rhythmic haunting. I use it for rhythmic dictation and ear training and weehave so much fun playing
For my teens Vamp Battles while the little ones just love the rhythmic haunting of Ruby Wrigglesworth!
My favorite is probably Guardians Arranmore but that’s because I haven’t had a chance to try Vamp Battles, The Silver Screen Playbook, or Pop Waltz Prophecy with my students yet. I have 2 students who are just entering the level that they can try these out. But I love the music in all of them.
My students had two favorites (most of mine are beginners to having only played 1 year): Nuts About Note Reading and Intervalactic.
The one that was the most helpful this year was Nuts About Note Reading for my youngest students. I had this one young girl in particular who fell in love with the story and it was light a switch turned on for her. She just started Intervalactic at tonight’s lesson and the flat didn’t throw her at all!
I love all the books I’ve gotten so far and can’t wait to see what 2016 is going to bring!!
I’ve used Nuts about Note Reading and Tinker with good success (the real winner was Fearless Fortissimo, but it’s not in the running). Getting ready to pull out Intervalic on these kids next (they love the dramatic and suspenseful styles you guys do, and, yeah, the cartoons hold their attention). What I’d love to have is Beatbox!
I’m not a member yet, but the Silver Screen Playbook would definitely get a lot of use in my studio! My students love anything that sounds like its from the movies.
My favorite Book of the Month is The Silver Screen and I suspect it is the favorite of my students. It has been extremely helpful in octave practice.
My entire studio, from Elementary to Late Intermediate students, is using The Mutterwump Masterpiece right now as an introduction to a unit on theme and variations. The goal is to learn those pieces as quickly as possible, discover ways to vary a theme and then for each student to create his own set of variations from a theme of his choice.
Book of the Month Club is fun, fun, fun!
Thank you, Andrea and Trevor!!
My teens loved Three Ships and Bright Sky, so now I must join the Piano Book Club!
Vamp Battles and Pop Waltz look like winners for my teen students…..
Can’t wait for my first month’s book from Piano Book Club!
1. Mutterwump Masterpiece
2. Guardians of Arranmore
3. Intervalactic
I joined the Piano Book Club in July, so I don’t have all the books, but my students’ favourite is Nuts about Note Reading, since I have a lot of beginners. I think I like the Vamp Battles the best because of the idea behind it. And, I find the Rhythm Monster book most useful for my students’ development because it really got some of them interested in rhythms and thinking about it more.
The PopWaltz Prophecy has inspired my teenage students like nothing else! It’s genius, and i find myself playing it all the time. Thank you!
That’s quite a compliment Amy – pleased as punch to hear you’re playing them yourself too 🙂
1) My favirite: Silver screen playboy
2) student favorite: Guardians of Arran more
3) helped student development most: My piano teacher thinks she’said a ninja
The favorites that have stayed at the top of my pile this year are PopWaltz Prophecy, Arranmore, Silverscreen, Mutterwumps, and Nuts about Notes.
Beatbox, Ninja and Intervalactic were the most helpful in more targeted lesson planning. In particular, my upper elementary age boys enjoyed pieces from these – yay!
All of the books are fantastic, though, (Three Ships and Bright Sky, too!!!) and I know I’ll continue to keep them all in active used for years and years to come. LOVE Piano Book Club!!!
Beatbox Manifesto would get a lot of use in my studio!
Although not a Piano Book Club member yet, I’ve been wanting to for months! Looking forward to joining today! All the music sounds incredible and so much fun for students and teachers! Since I love duets, Vamp Battles would be the one I would want first. Thanks for all the inspiring and creative teaching ideas you share each week.
I am not a member of the Piano Book Club, but would like to be sometime this year! All of your books look wonderful, but I feel like the “How to Babysit a Brontosaurus” would do well in my lessons, as I am having a hard time getting my students to add dynamics to their songs!
I have only been a member for three months. My teens love the Pop Waltz Prophecy and the Intervalactic is a hit with my younger students- especially the boys.
I started my subscription last year but then I had to take a sabbatical from teaching to help my mom. I kept the subscription going in hopes I would be back teaching. January 2016 I started back up! I cannot wait to try my collection with my students. It’s like I have a great hidden treasure that I can now share with the world!!!
1. My Favorite was Silver Screen Playbook.
2. My students loved How to Babysit a B.
3. The most useful was How to Babysit a B.
I’m excited to use many more of the books with my students as they progress. I have all beginners this year. Keep up the great work!
I’ve been a member all year. :).
1. Students’ Favorite: Definitely Guardians of Arranmore. We used it for our summer theme. Kids, teens and adults loved the pieces!
2. My favorite: I’d have to say the same. Arranmore provided sophisticated sounding music for the time of year when my studio switches gears a bit. We analyzed the chord progressions and some composed or improvised their own pieces using the progression in a different key. Used it to train recreational adults to look for patterns.
3. Most useful to my students’ development. I think it’s going to be intervalactic, those I haven’t used it yet, as I’m working with several young ones right now on hearing, seeing, finding intervals. Mutterwump was the very useful also, and kept a couple of young boys engaged when they were fading a bit.
I became is subscriber not too long ago and received a total of 4 books from 2015. I can answer from those four books:
Which book from 2015 was your favorite? The PopWaltz Prophecy
Which book from 2015 was your students’ favorite? The Mutterwump Masterpiece
Which book from 2015 was most useful to your piano students’ development? The Mutterwump Masterpiece and Intervalactic equally.
I am looking forward to more books 🙂
I feel like a little kid waiting for Christmas every month when my “issue date” draws near! I’ve only been a member for a few months, but have been so pleased with all of the books! I am readying my Spring recital music and plan on using music from both Guardians of Arranmore and PopWaltz Prophecy! I can’t tell you yet which of those two my students like the best. I have to say it’s a toss-up for me, too! Both are so appealing and I have a lot of teenagers! As for the Vamp Battles, I feature several duets in my recitals as well, and I can’t wait to put these together with students. I can be as flexible as need as far as how many students and duets to use. The Intervallic is great for sight reading at lessons.
So I haven’t really given a good answer, have I? I could probably do so in a few months once we’re all getting down with our recital pieces, though! And even though this wasn’t a “book”, I have to say, “Three Ships” has been a huge hit with students. Wish I had known all about this site a long time ago!
1. If I HAVE to choose, I think it will be “Arranmore” for the solos, but “Vamps” for the entertainment factor 🙂
2. Students…I can’t decide what they’ll like
3. For development I again am going with whichever pieces the students choose, because in the end whatever they practice/play the most is what they will get the most out of!
Thanks for all the great materials!
1. My Favorite is Nuts about Note Reading, Silver Screen, PopWaltz.
2. My students fav. How to Babysit, Intervalistic, Nuts about Note Reading.
3. The most useful How to Babysit, Intervalistic, Not so Musical, Nuts.
And my student and I have not much time for a higher level of songs. I’m having a trouble to ‘talk’ their parents
for more then 30 min. piano lessons. 🙁 This is sad part of it. Have bought all your books, and I so want to use more of your music in my lessons, but not enough time fo it. 🙁
P.S. Do you have any ideas how to talk parents for minutes?
Hi Anna – thanks for your comments! I think most parents would be apt to consider a longer lesson time as long as they were seeing real progress and passion from their child. I would approach it from a standpoint of being clear what you could accomplish in that extra time, emphasize the progress and potential you’ve already seen so far and be clear about exactly how it would benefit their child. As for finding time for the pieces – often we do supplementary repertoire instead of method book pieces… sometimes for weeks! It’s never done anything but then boost skills once we return to method books (often the book focuses on a specific and needed skill and provides more opportunity to learn it fully and often the student practices more because they love the music!) Hope this helps!
I only just signed up for the book club and have the PopWaltz Prophecy. My students are just beginning to use it and so far everyone loves it!
Which book from 2015 was your favorite?
Silver Screen Playbook (would love a sequel to that-maybe at an easier piano level)
Which book from 2015 was your students’ favorite?
How to Baby-sit a Brontosaurus (even older students enjoyed sightreading this one)
Which book from 2015 was most useful to your piano students’ development?
How to Baby-sit a Brontosaurus (only because I haven’t gotten to use the intervalactic and ninja books yet)
And I’d like to give a shout-out to last year’s pieces-My students love Squirrel Appreciation Day and the tunes from Talk like a Pirate Day and other Musical Celebrations–and Fearless Fortissimo, of course!
Both my students and I have loved ‘The Guardians of Arranmore’! This book has such an exciting quality to the music pieces and has been very engaging for my pre-teens and teens to work on mastering mood and feeling as they move from piece to piece – each one telling its own story. Thank you for writing such fun music!
I joined piano book club about 3 months ago. I’ve been thrilled with the things offered so far, but haven’t used too many of them except for Vamp Battles. I saw those and knew I had to use them right away! My students and I love them, and they will be part of my recital program this month! Vamp Battles is the clear winner in my studio!
I’ve only been in for a couple months, but I my favorite has been Vamp Battles. The kids love Intervalactic, which has also been a great motivator to learn those intervals, especially for the boys. It’s also the number one for student development! Love your work, thank you for the wonderful resources.
I’ve only been a member part of this past year but the PopWaltz has been a favorite of both mine and my students. I love that it helps reinforce some of the needed classical skill with fun music. I have upcoming students that I plan on introducing to several of the other packets soon. Keep up the good work.
My favorite and students favorite is nuts about note reading.
Best developmental skills- tinker for composing.
Loved “three ships” at Christmas and so did teen students.
Would LOVE more things that are level 1/ level 2 range!
Thank you!
1) My older students have LOVED PopWaltz. I only have a few at this level, but it’s been a huge hit. And one of my intermediates was so inspired she’s trying Alberti Bass in her Muttzart compositions 🙂
2) I’d have to say PopWaltz is my favorite too
3) Babysit a Brontosaurus has been great for my beginners. I think we are going to do a “How to Babysit a Brontosaurus” theme recital this spring!
I’d like to echo the suggestion for early/easy duets.
Thanks again for all you do!
I was a member for only part of this year, and then got overwhelmed with all the new music! I couldn’t keep up with it. But, my favorite was definitely the Guardians of Arranmore. I even had an 8-year-old play one of the songs for our spring recital. It’s so inspiring, and makes them step out of their comfort zone.
Wow, now I am really inspired, reading all the comments, and want more books!! I started with Wunderkeys, for my wee little people, and that brought me here. I’m not a member of the club yet, but have used your wonderful material.
1. Fearless Fortissimo has been great, and fits with
2. (F.F.) as it has the gradation of learning skills for each piece. Very nice.
3. Yes, Fearless Fortissimo has been super on this point, but Wunderkeys gave my students the characters on fingers that have really stuck, as they mature. I felt like the book was a bit long for the material covered, or perhaps could have gone further in steps, with the number of pages.
I like the ratings on Nuts about Note Reading!
So, looks like I need more books, and though I understand the reach out with boys on Fearless F., I think a “girl” focused theme, with the comics would be great, too!
Thanks so much. I truly appreciate your expertise.
Suzan
I am a brand new subscriber, having only received January’s book. So, I will have have to go with the non-subscriber category!
The title I would me most interested in from 2015 would be Nuts About Reading.
A very, very close second would Intervalactic. I teach all beginner levels and these two, I think, would get the most use in my studio.
Thank you so much for your inspiring tips and ideas. You have made me broaden my goals for growing my piano studio. I am so excited to be able to turn my passion for music into a fulfilling career!
Just signed up and have to say that I LOVE Pop Waltz Prophecy and my students do also! I think that all of your work is amazing though! You all are awesome!
Not a club member but enjoy your posts immensely! I would probably use Intervalactic – kids love space themes and I have a whole family of Star Wars fans!
Gotta be NUTS about Note Reading. It’s saved my bacon many times with the little ones. And the older students are “reading” the book and playing the Teacher Part of the duet. What a bargain for such a low price!