Trevor and I are excited to announce the release of WunderKeys Primer Piano Book 3; the third and final book in our primer method book series!
When there are only a few “major players” in the method book world, teachers become accustomed to their resource of choice, and switching books can feel as hard as breaking a lifelong habit.
But we think breaking that habit for WunderKeys will be well worth the effort! Thousands of students are already learning with the WunderKeys Method Books and more and more piano teachers are making the change each and every day.
In today’s post, in addition to a video preview of Primer Piano Book 3 (which you can find below), we wanted to share feedback from teachers about why WunderKeys is the primer piano series of the future.
5 Things Other Teachers Want You To Know About Our Primer Piano Books
There isn’t a note, a rhythm, a sentence, an image, or an instruction in any of our primer piano books that we didn’t agonize over endlessly. Even the tiniest pedagogical or visual detail on any page in any of the books exists for a very specific reason. To say we carefully planned our approach to a primer piano series is an understatement. There were more nights than we can count when our girls would come downstairs in the morning to find that we hadn’t gone to sleep.
We didn’t set out to simply create a method book series; we set out to create perfect method books built on our blood, sweat and tears. So when teachers leave glowing WunderKeys reviews mentioning the specific details that we painstakingly debated, created and re-created… it makes all of our efforts SO worth it!
Publishing WunderKeys has been one of our most rewarding life experiences… but we would be nothing without the community of talented and brilliant WunderKeys teachers who took a chance on us!
If you’re considering giving WunderKeys a shot, here 5 things that piano teachers love most about the books:
1. Perfect Pacing
Pacing isn’t a word that packs a “wow factor”, but it was our number one priority when we set out to make a method book series. Books that move too fast frustrate students. Books that move too slow bore students. Books that move slow and then fast result in kids who hit a wall.
In our WunderKeys Primer Piano Series we worked hard to perfect primer-level pacing and teachers think we hit the mark:
“The sequential presentation is exactly the right pace for most.”
“The pace and and pedagogy behind the series is just right.”
“My favorite part of this book is the pacing.”
2. Seamless Transitions Between Concepts
We worked hard to make sure our primer piano books “just make sense”. Whenever we present new concepts and skills, the transition is as clean and seamless as possible. We use a step-by-step, scaffolded approach meaning there are no gaps in instruction or surprises that cause confusion.
Teachers and students appreciate the comfort that comes with our primer piano books:
“The children are engaged and focused, move along perfectly at their own speed and develop solid understandings.”
“It provides an extremely gentle and seamless introduction to the staff.”
3. Kids LOVE WunderKeys
Piano books don’t have to be boring! We made it our challenge to prove this point. We set out to create books that were so engaging they would turn the heads of people who aren’t even in piano lessons. Given that WunderKeys books are being read as bedtime stories… we think we conquered our challenge!
“They giggle their way through each lesson’s stories and songs.”
“First of all, the kids LOVE the book. The animal friends are fun and funny, and one student asked her parents to read the story section as a bedtime story each night!”
“I appreciate the way Andrea and Trevor Dow utilize stories and characters to convey concepts in ways that are accessible to students, and hilarious to students, parents, and teachers alike!”
4. We Are REAL And ACCESSIBLE
We don’t pretend to be any bigger than we are; we think great things can come from small packages. The WunderKeys books were created by a team of two; just Trevor and I (okay… we had some help with the artwork, nobody would want to see our chicken scratch). No boardroom, no fancy offices, no secretaries, no social media managers… no babysitters… just the two of us, at a kitchen table and a piano… on a simple street… in a small town.
But that didn’t stop us from reaching for the stars. And with WunderKeys now being used in thousands of studios in over 25 countries, we think we might just make a difference in the music world.
Because we are a staff of two, when you reach out, it’s really us sending the reply! This allows us to take all of your feedback to heart, and it allows us to quickly change, pivot, and improve.
“Honestly, this is what makes this series the MOST unique on the market! Join the Facebook group and Andrea Dow will respond personally in almost every case to questions and requests for clarification! She takes insights and requests and will often create a new resource based on feedback on this page.”
“Andrea is always posting supplementary worksheets, games and holiday-specific activities. Oh, and I can’t forget to mention the amazing community of support and the free marketing materials!”
5. Our Books Really Are, “All-In-One”
The WunderKeys Primer Piano Books were created to be an “all-in-one” resource. Your piano parents aren’t required to buy several other supplementary resources to make a complete piano lesson. In every book you receive pedagogical instructions, off-the-bench activities, technical warm-ups, repertoire and even games.
Teachers love how little planning and preparation is required when you use WunderKeys:
“It has a great balance between theory, skill building activities, and fun off the bench learning opportunities.”
“As a teacher, this is my new favorite primer! It’s easy, and fun, to teach from – the lessons are clear, and have plenty of learning activities for on and off the bench.”
Lidia says
II always use this book.It is perfect for 5-6 years kids.
Andrea says
So glad to hear you’re enjoying it Lidia! 🙂
Helen Haynes says
Am I understanding this correctly – students do all 3 of these levels, then move to level 1 of another series, such as Faber or Alfred?
And would these be too “young” for 7-8 yr. olds?
Andrea says
Hi Helen! No they are not too young at all for 7 and 8 year olds – teachers use them even for 9 year olds happily 🙂 Yes, you do all three levels of WunderKeys Primer… and then you can move into WunderKeys Level 1! We hope to have that out by this fall. The transfer to a different Level 1 is also an option, of course (and works).
Vivian Lee says
Where do you go after Wunderkeys elementary 1A and 1B? Where does this correspond with Faber and Faber and RCM?
Thanks,
Vivian
Andrea says
Hi Vivian – we will have a WunderKeys Level 2, but in the meantime, you could transfer into Faber 2A. We also have supplementary repertoire that is a Level 2 our Adventures of Fearless Fortissimo Series starts with early 2 and works through into Late 2 by the end of Book 3 and our WunderKeys Rock Repertoire For Teen Beginners Book 1 and 2 are fun for those finishing WunderKeys 1B. Fearless Fortissimo info: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Fearless+Fortissimo&ref=nb_sb_noss_2 and WunderKeys Rock Repertoire Book 1 and 2: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=wunderkeys+rock+repertoire&ref=nb_sb_noss_2