A Dozen a Day. Pre-practice technical exercises for the piano Paperback – 1 Jan 1961

A dozen a day hip hip horray....... I am starting to learn keyboard but i do remember my brother using this as a kid to learn how to play the piano. This is a book of exercises to get your fingers warmed up but also teach you some of teh techniques used in piano play so it is very good if you are larning to play the piano.But, this book brings back so funny memories mainly when my brother was lerarning to pay the piano. one day i came back from school and me and my mum were in the kitchen. my brother starts to play the song at the end of the book like he had done before except this time he belloowed and sang at the top of his voice "a dozen a day hip hip horray......" Me and my mum just creased up.the next time he sang it was at christmas when the tree was being put up. My day secured the tree to the wall with a nail not upto the job. Next thing the string snaps and the tree pins my nan and brother to piano with his still playing and singing "a dozen a day hip hip horray......"You could not make it up but the fun we have had with this book was wonderful and brings back to find memories..

I bought this book several weeks ago and have still not got to the end of it. It has been so helpful in helping me work out finger patterns and also with sight reading.Ignore the fact that it seems to be written for children. It is suitable for anyone really.Some of the exercises seem a little pointless but those are the fun ones. The ones which have you crossing hands in the first lesson might not be recommended by your teacher but those are the fun ones and all of it helps you to increase your confidence on the keyboard.One thing I found especially helpful is that it only uses a small selection of notes at first. You quickly learn these and the patterns that each exercise uses so there's more time spent actually pressing keys rather than trying to work out which note it means.Also there's a gradual introduction to a lot of different aspects of music notation and you absorb this almost subconsciously as you work through the exercises.They start very simple and gradually become more complex. Each section ends with a little song which gets a little more complex for each of the groups.If I am trying a new tempo or am trying to learn a new key I often go back to the beginning of the book and start with the familiar easy ones again. That makes this book well worth the price and when I finally outgrow it I will definitely buy the next one.

As a rather mature beginner these exercises are proving to be invaluable in freeing up stiff fingers bringing some flexibility. As I progress I can see that they will have huge benefit in providing me with the technique I need to move forward with playing more complex pieces.

These are fantastic study books for beginners.There is no clear list of which book is next in the series after Mini Book. This Preparatory Book is exactly the same as Book One: Primary so don’t be fooled into buying both.My copy did NOT come with any trace or mention of a CD.

This series is just a must have for anyone old or young playing the piano. Such good exercises, made clear and purpose able to be internalised by analogies with the stick figures (legato=walking, hopping = staccato etc). Whole range is great. Most in C major, hand position middle C RH, Octave below for LH apart from some that include larger arpeggios. Although mostly in C, can be useful to use as transposition practise in different keys as are nice and simple!

A good set of exercises for the younger student. Technique is the bread and butter of everything so make sure you buy a book like this if you are learning piano!

Should be used to supliment every lesson. Not only does it gradually tackle early stage technical development but the simplicity of exercises can give the teacher a springboard for transposition, improvisation and so on.I have all three books - couldn’t recommend more

I have used this series with my students for years and am always delighted at their enthusiasm to conquer the technical demands introduced by the matchstick figures.