Do you have a child in your family who is interested in learning to play a keyboard or piano? I Can Do It! is a delightful, simple, FUN introduction to music via the piano or keyboard.

I Can Do It! teaches beginners the names of the keys, to learn to use all of their fingers to play, to explore the instrument, and have fun doing it....and the most inspiring of all for a youngster...to play songs from the beginning!

I remember being in band as a kid, and we'd go over endless drills. I was always wondering, are we EVER going to play a SONG!? I Can Do It! gets children playing simple favorites easily and keeps them inspired to keep moving forward with learning and to continue to make music through gentle, simple teaching.

Christine introduces children to the keyboard with a "fingering and keyboard" chart, one that is heavy tagboard at the front of the book that is cut out and placed above the keyboard for an easy reference and another at the back of the book. Explanation of finger and hand placement follows the introduction of the names of the keys, and before you know it, you are playing simple songs such as "Hot Cross Buns" & "Up We Go!"

Simple instructions throughout the book, word definitions of musical terminology (such as "Allegro (ah-leh-groh)-this Italian word tells you that this song is fast and cheerful"), and a glossary at the back giving symbol and word definitions make this so easy to teach and learn from! There are 'finger warm ups' and lessons throughout this book, but they are short, as to keep their attention, and so gently placed between the learning of songs that my children don't see it as I did - a drill. They see it as a building block to the next fun song they get to learn! The songs get increasingly difficult as the book goes on, and before you know it, they are playing "Oh Susanna" and "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain"

My children have thoroughly enjoyed learning with I Can Do It! Kapok Press also has an accompanying CD with all the songs that you learn in the book, so children can also learn to 'hear' what they are learning too (and of course sing along!). I Can Do It! is something we work with together as a family, but it is also geared that the children can work on it independently when the 'mood' strikes them!

I would definitely recommend I Can Do It! I love it, and most importantly, the children love it!!



-- Product Review by: Lisa Barthuly & Family, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine