WP200 - Bastien Piano Basics - Primer Level

by James Bastien

Piano is the main lesson book in the Bastien Piano Basics course. The carefully graded, logical learning sequence assures steady, continual progress. Original music by the Bastiens includes a stimulating mixture of pop, folk, classical, and contemporary styles. Full-color illustrations throughout entertain and reinforce musical concepts along the way. The gradual multi-key approach takes students through all 12 keys -- 3 in each of Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4. Each page is carefully correlated page-by-page with Theory, Performance, and Technic. All in all, a dynamic way to introduce students to the marvelous world of music!

Genres: Music

Paperback

Published November 30, 1991

About the author

The American piano pedagogue and musician, James (Jim) W. Bastien, was born to a musical father, Clarence, who played the violin, and to a mother, Dorothy, who was a writer and a high school Latin and journalism instructor. After living in Seattle and Florida, the family moved to Portland, Oregon, where James began his piano studies with Frances Mulkey North. Subsequently, he studied with the late Ariel Rubstein, the late Louis Artau, and the late György Sándor. He received his undergraduate and masters degrees from Southern Methodist University.

James Bastien was a former member of the faculties of Notre Dame University, Tulane University, Loyola University (New Orleans), and the summer faculties of Tanglewood and the National Music Camp at Interlochen, Michigan.

James Bastien met his wife Jane Smisor in New Orleans in 1960. They performed as the duo-piano team, Smisor and Bastien. In addition, he was a Columbia Artist accompanist whose collaborative career included appearances with Richard Tucker and John Alexander. During this time Jim and Jane started writing music to address the needs of their students. This was the beginning of the Bastien piano books that have inspired so many piano students and teachers.

The Bastien piano books have been published worldwide by the Neil A. Kjos Music Company since 1963 and are now translated into 14 languages. In 1999, The Music Teachers National Association presented Jim and Jane with the Lifetime Achievement Award, the association's highest honor, in recognition of their outstanding career in music and contribution to the music profession. During his long career, Jim became internationally known through his contributions to piano teaching, composing, writing, adjudication, and performing. With more than 300 publications to his credit, the Bastien name has become synonymous with innovative piano pedagogy.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned on the Bastien books when I was a child. I started with the Primer Level at age 6, and when my boyfriend's daughter expressed an interest in learning to play the piano, I dug out my old Bastien books. Imagine my delight when I found that my beloved piano book is still in print after 25 years and I was able to get her her own copy for Christmas :) We only have her twice a year, for Christmas and summer break, but all she wants to do when she is with us is play the piano from these books. I would highly recommend these books for piano teachers. Based on my experience, this book is appropriate for children as young as 5 to learn from. (When my parents tried to enroll my little sister in piano lessons at age 4, she was not able to pick up the concepts or concentrate long enough to get the most out of her lessons.) The series has a collection of main books broken down by skill level, as well as supplementary technique books for each level. I remember hating the technique books (technique is so BORING when you're a kid) but I am extremely thankful for them now.

[Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this book when I started learning piano around age 8. I have also now used it to teach my son the basics of piano, which he has understood. It is set out in an easy to follow way for young children and lots of fun illustrations per tune.
Starting one handed and then moving to both hands together. I would highly recommend this book for anyone starting to learn, especially for younger children who may not be able to read properly yet, as it starts off using numbers rather than letters.

[Benita Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used Bastien Piano Basics for Levels 1 and 2 and whilst I HATED them back then, now that I'm beginning to teach I think they're excellent. There is one flaw which really stands out for me: the pictures. They're really cheesy and little-kiddy, and even as a five- and six-year-old I remember thinking they were stupid (and being distracted by them).

Unlike other options I was looking at for my students, Bastien introduces concepts quickly but not TOO quickly. Beginning with simply numbering the notes, and then labelling them with letter names, and finally using normal staves, it really makes the process of learning to read music feel natural. Overall, I believe this is one of the best books you could start a student with.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, technically, this isn't really a book, it's piano instruction, but I HAD to enter this after putting it on hold for someone! This series is the one upon which I first learned how to play at the piano (or should I say, Yamaha keyboard) and all the cute cartoon-ish pictures in here brought back great memories of practicing the little songs. Great stuff.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely the basics. Sitting at the instrument, finger numbers, piano keyboard, hand positions, songs such as: The Three Little Pigs, Old MacDonald, Caterpillar Crawl, I'm a Little Teapot, etc.

[Heather Ligman · Rating 4 out of 5]

piano book