What is some cool piano/keyboard music...

[luckybaer]

... that would appeal to a juvenile mind?

As parents, asked our son if he wanted to take music lessons. He said, "OK" with some enthusiasm, but his first choice was guitar. LOL, he's 8. After a lot of discussion with forum members, friends, family, etc., we agreed that piano would be best to start out with, and that he could migrate to something as he got older - thanks to a good foundation with piano.

Well, unfortunately, I was listening to some Joe Satriani the other day, and my son came bounding into the basement playing the air-guitar and then moving towards the ground a la the limbo while still doing the air-guitar thing. After he got up, he said, "That rocks. I wish I could play guitar." Sigh... to be 8-years old again...

So, is there any piano music out there that would capture his fancy? He starts playing "air keyboards" when he listens to some Steely Dan stuff or Donald Fagen's "Morph the Cat," album, but I was wondering if there was some kind of piano or keyboard work in which the piano/keyboard was the center of attention.

Genre isn't such a big deal, although I would imagine Jazz or Fusion would make up many of the suggestions.

Thanks for your help.

 

[hembergler]

I remember starting off, getting me to practice was quite the chore. But, there were a few songs that I remember liking. Most of them were fast, and jumped around a lot. I didn't really care how it sounded, so long as it was fun to play.

 

[K2Grey]

Uh... how about one of those CDs with the most overplayed Beethoven sonatas; namely, Moonlight/Waldstein/Appassionata/Pathetique? I find them to be the most accessible piano stuff I've heard so far (please note I don't have great experience).

 

[Ahriman4891]

maybe he'd rather take guitar if that's what he wants?

of course, he'll have to go through some pain (literally) but...

 

[rodentdog]

Some great keyboard players...Bob James, Joe Sample, Jonathan Cain

 

[jagorev]

Quote:

Originally Posted by K2Grey Uh... how about one of those CDs with the most overplayed Beethoven sonatas; namely, Moonlight/Waldstein/Appassionata/Pathetique? I find them to be the most accessible piano stuff I've heard so far (please note I don't have great experience).

The only on there that's really overplayed is the Moonlight...which nevertheless is still very nice to listen to.

I'd recommend the Waldstein sonata in particular, simply because it's such beautiful music. Kempff does a good job on it, but there are many others. The opening movement of the Hammerklavier (try Pollini) might also appeal - though some of the remaining movements are not really "accessible".

 

[Bunnyears]

What's wrong with letting him start on the guitar? I don't really see what the problem is, unless you think that he's going to become a serious musician? If you really want to go into piano and you want something that will appeal to him, why not try Billy Joel? or even better, some Jerry Lee Lewis. After that get him some Johnnie Johnson (the original Johnny B. Good) recordings. After that, his teacher can spoon feed him the classical.

Btw, if you do decide that he should go the classical route rather than the rock and jazz route, get Leif Ove Andsnes' recording of Grieg's Lyric Pieces. Those are the pieces that kids play at the age of 8, 9 and 10. I know that's what I was playing.

 

[Dusty Chalk]

I always enjoyed learning Joplin when I was a young'un. Mapleleaf Rag, The Entertainer, etc. Also, my pinkies ended up being really strong when I practised those pieces, and my octaves were always spot-on.