Piano Bears Musical Storybooks

Cynthia Marie VanLandingham is the Author of Piano Bears Music Education Storybooks and Piano Resources

2007-02-10T02:09:29-05:00

Hi!

I'm Cynthia Marie VanLandingham, author of Piano Bears Musical Storybooks and Piano Education Resources for young piano students, their parents, and piano teachers, and founder of www.PianoBears.com

My Piano Bears Music Club for piano students features Technology for Today's Piano Students where students from around the world see their music published on iTunes.com. My piano resources include Mrs. Treble Beary's Piano Activities on CD as well as wonderful Piano Bear Character Gifts

My piano resources are based on my Piano Bears Musical Storybooks that show young piano students what lessons are all about in a fun way. I hope you enjoy reading Little Bear's Musical Garden with your child or piano students.

I have been teaching piano in Tallahassee, Florida for 20 years, am a member of the American College of Musicians National Guild of Piano Teachers, President of TallyPiano Enterprises, LLC, and a graduate of the Florida State University College of Education. Please visit my piano studio online at www.TallyPiano.com and subscribe to my newsletter, Piano Matters, filled with free piano music and special piano resources that you can trust.

Thank you for reading Little Bear's Musical Garden!

Best regards for your child's musical success,

Cynthia Marie VanLandingham

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Thank You For Reading My Story!

2007-02-10T01:47:35-05:00

That’s how I, Albeart Littlebud, began my exciting Piano Adventure in Musical Acres Forest. In my next Piano Adventure Story, Little Bear's Piano Goals, I learn how to set goals to help me reach my music dream. I hope you’ll read this wonderful story and learn how I won Mrs. Treble Beary's Pot of Honey Award!

Also, don't forget to Join My Piano Bears Music Club
featuring Technology for Today’s Piano Students.

You can get Our Club Music Free at iTunes.com by clicking here: My Piano Bears Music Club

Little Bear Visits Grandpa's Clock Shop

2007-02-10T00:23:04-05:00

The next day after piano practice, Little Bear went outside to check on his garden. He got down on his paws and knees, and put his nose close to the ground, looking for the tiny new leaves he expected to find. But, he didn’t see anything because his Impatiens hadn’t sprouted yet! After practicing the next day, he checked again, and again the next day, and again the next. Little Bear thought this was taking a very long time.

After about a week, the tiny leaves finally poked up through the ground. Little Bear was excited, but then became impatient and started growling at the leaves to hurry up and grow!

Little Bear was impatient with his piano progress as well. When two whole weeks had passed, the flowers still weren’t fully grown, and Little Bear still hadn’t learned how to play everything on his piano. He went to his mother and cried, “This is taking too long. I know it will take time to learn how to play, but how long is that going to be?”

Mamma Littlebud put down the book she was reading, and smiled at Little Bear. She said, “My, Albeart, you are in such a hurry! I think you need to talk with your Grandfather. He can help you understand how long time is and why it’s important to be patient with yourself.” Grandpa Bear was a master clockmaker and had a workshop in his house.

Little Bear loved going to his Grandfather’s house and seeing all the beautiful clocks he was building. There were tiny clocks that fit inside of watches, and great big clocks that he could almost crawl inside (although Grandpa said this would be a very bad idea). Grandpa had cuckoo clocks too, with little birds that flew out and whistled each hour, and clocks with tiny, toy bears that waltzed out and danced to a pretty tune.

Little Bear wandered through Grandpa’s workshop and found him repairing a cuckoo clock. Little Bear said, “Hi, Grandpa. I’ve started taking piano lessons, but it’s taking a very, very long time. I’ve been playing for two whole weeks, and I still don’t know everything! Since you know all about time, I want you to tell me how much longer it will take!” cried Little Bear, with his paws on his hips.

“Slow down there, Little Bear,” replied Grandpa, looking up from his work. He was surprised to see Albeart standing there with such an impatient expression on his face. “You don’t have to worry that it’s taking some time. We all need time to learn and grow. Time can even help you learn to play the piano if you use it wisely.”

“But, I don’t understand, Grandpa,” said Little Bear, shaking his head and covering his eyes with his paws. “Time takes so long, so how could it help me learn to play? How long did it take Grandma to learn?”

“Well, Little Bear, did you know that Grandma started playing piano when she was just your age?” said Grandpa. “She learned a lot when she was growing up, but she is still learning new things even now. Look at this old photograph of Grandma with her piano teacher.”

Little Bear looked down at the photo on Grandpa’s desk and exclaimed, “What! Grandma’s piano teacher wasn’t a bear like us? You mean people can play piano too!?” said Little Bear, astounded.

“Yes, sure, people can play piano, and she was a wonderful piano teacher! Her name was Mrs. Marktime. She taught Grandma how to follow a steady beat and keep time in her head.”

“I have to learn to be a clock?” asked Little Bear, looking even more worried. “How do I do that?” He put his arms out and pretended to be a clock showing the time.

“Not like that, Little Bear,” laughed Grandpa. “That’s not what I mean. A clock is a machine. It can keep time, but it can’t grow or learn new things, or think creatively. Look at this big clock I’m building for the town hall. It looks complicated, but it’s really pretty simple. It can only do one thing – keep the time with a steady tic-toc, tic-toc, tic-toc. That’s all. It can’t change, or grow, or have new ideas, or play soccer with its friends.”

Little Bear still looked confused, so Grandpa continued to explain…

“Time is important because it helps us pace ourselves. It lets us keep track of how fast we should play a song, or how long to practice every day. But, there is no such thing as how long it takes to learn everything. Instead, you learn something new every day, Little Bear. You know more today than you did yesterday, and you will learn more tomorrow than you know today. Some piano skills will take only a few minutes to learn, while others will take you much longer. But just like your mother doesn’t measure your growth after every meal, you shouldn’t try to measure your piano progress every day!”

“I’ve grown four whole inches in the past year,” said Little Bear, proudly. “But you’re right; I don’t try to measure my height every time I eat. That would be silly!” he laughed.

“Sure, Little Bear, you are a wonderful creation. Your growth isn’t measured by minutes or hours, but by seasons and years,” said Grandpa. “Each day you will grow, and change, and laugh, and play, and learn something new. That’s why for bears, and people, every day can be a brand new adventure!”

“Your piano skills are like the strawberries we planted in the garden from tiny seeds last Spring. It took all Summer, and we had to tend them, but now they are full of blossoms and give us lots of yummy fruit! Your musical talent will grow the same way. By the end of the year you will also have a harvest of beautiful music!”

“I think I understand, Grandpa,” said Little Bear. “I’m not like a clock you’ve finished building. I’m still growing. I guess I just have to be patient. I do know how to play things on the piano that I didn’t know how to play last week. While it seems to be taking a long time, I just have to keep working on it every day. I guess that must be how you learned to build such beautiful clocks, Grandpa?”

Grandpa reached out to give Little Bear a great big bear hug and said “That’s exactly right, Little Bear! Now you have the idea! Grandma Melody and I are looking forward to hearing you play at your first piano recital at the end of the year. That’s an important measure of time, and you will know lots of piano skills and songs by then.”

“Thanks, Grandpa,” said Little Bear, smiling. “I’m going home to practice my piano lesson now. I bet I learn five new songs before my new flowers blossom! Bye, see you beary soon!” waved Little Bear. Grandpa waved back, “Goodbye, Little Bear. Keep working in your musical garden!”

Little Bear Visits Mr. Green Bear

2007-02-09T23:48:43-05:00

After he finished his first piano lesson, Little Bear rushed over to visit Mr. Green Bear, who was in his garden as usual.

“Hi, Mr. Green Bear,” waved Little Bear. “I’m learning to play the piano. Mrs. Treble Beary said you can tell me how to grow my musical talent like you grow your garden. How can I do that?” asked Little Bear, curiously.

“Hi, Little Bear. I’m so glad that you’re taking piano lessons,” said Mr. Green Bear. “Learning to play the piano is a lot like working in a garden. Let me show you something. Look at these tiny new leaves just peeking up from the soil. I planted these Impatiens from seeds just last week, and they’re already coming up! In time, if I take good care of them, they’ll grow into a beautiful part of my garden.”

“I can see the new leaves. They’re really tiny, but what do they have to do with my piano lessons?” asked Little Bear.

“Well, Little Bear, your music learning will grow just like these tiny leaves,” explained Mr. Green Bear. “I need the right tools and environment to care for my garden. I plant the seeds where there is enough sunlight, give them plenty of water, and use my tools every day.”

“I see you use a shovel, a rake, a hoe, a wheel barrow, and a watering can for your garden,” said Little Bear. “But, I can’t play my piano with those tools, and watering would just get my music all wet!”

“Of course not, Little Bear. That would be silly. You’ll need other types of tools to play the piano.”

Mr. Green Bear continued to explain, “Each lesson, Mrs. Treble Beary will teach you something new, like how to read music, how to play rhythms, and how to sit at the piano and use your body correctly. Using these tools will help you develop your musical talent. Playing your piano is how you tend your Music Garden, Little Bear. And, doing your lessons at home each day is as important to your musical growth as water is to my garden,” smiled Mr. Green Bear.

“Right now your piano skills are like these tiny new leaves coming up. They’re small and fragile, but over time they will grow strong. Just as it takes time for my garden to grow, it will take time for your piano skills to grow.

Did you notice that Mrs. Treble Beary has a vase of flowers on her piano?”

“Yes,” said Little Bear. “They were roses, and smelled nice.”

“She keeps them on her piano to remind her students how much their musical skills have blossomed since they began taking lessons,” said Mr. Green Bear.

“But, there is so much to learn,” cried Little Bear. “I just had my first lesson and there is so much I still don’t know!”

“Don’t worry so much, young Littlebud,” said Mr. Green Bear, patting Little Bear on the shoulder. “You will learn something new every day. When I work in my garden, I don’t fret over how much it grows each day. I just take patient care of it, and know that at the end of the season I will have a harvest of beautiful flowers and lots of yummy fruits and vegetables to share. You have to be patient with your learning, Little Bear, and give yourself time to grow, just like I have to give these tiny flowers time to grow.”

“Here are some Impatiens seeds like the ones I planted last week,” said Mr. Green Bear, putting a small package of seeds in Little Bear’s Paw. “Take them home and plant them in your own yard. Remember, though, you’ll need to water and tend them every day right after practicing your piano lesson. It will take time for both these flowers and your musical garden to grow. But at the end of the year, Little Bear, the flowers will be all grown and beautiful, and you will be amazed at how much your piano skills have grown, too. Mrs. Green Bear and I are looking forward to hearing you play at your first piano recital next spring!”

Little Bear took the seeds home and planted them right after he finished practicing his piano lesson. Then he went inside and washed up for dinner.

Little Bear's First Piano Lesson

2007-02-09T22:52:16-05:00

The next day, Little Bear was worried about meeting his piano teacher. The fur on his nose wrinkled up, and he asked Papa Bear in a worried voice, “What if Mrs. Treble Beary doesn’t like me? What if she thinks I don’t know enough?”

Papa Littlebud assured him, “Don’t worry, Mrs. Treble Beary loves teaching piano to young bears, so I’m sure she’ll like you. I’m also sure she doesn’t expect you to know how to play yet; after all, that’s why you’re starting lessons.”

After meeting Mrs. Treble Beary, Little Bear felt a lot better. He thought she was very nice.

She showed him how to round his paws over the piano, and stretch each fingertip down to the keys and tap gently. It sounded pretty, but when Little Bear imagined playing all those keys, he got worried again.

He threw his paws on his head and cried, “The piano is so big, and I’m so small. My arms won’t even reach all the keys. And my feet are too short to reach the pedals. Oh, no! I’m just too small! This will never work!”

Mrs. Treble Beary was very patient and reassured Little Bear. “Don’t worry. I’ll show you a way young bears can sit on the piano bench so they can reach all the keys and they can reach the pedals when they need to.”

Little Bear felt better, but then he had more questions. “So, after my lesson today, will I know how to play everything on the piano? Will I be able to play everything I hear on the radio? Can I start my own band and be on TV? Grandpa said my Uncle Max went to New York once to be on the Teddy Sullivan Show!”

“Well, you won’t know everything after just one lesson,” smiled Mrs. Treble Beary. “It will take time, Little Bear, for both you and your musical skills to grow. I know two bears that live right here in Musical Acres Forest who can help explain this to you. Do you know Mr. Green Bear, the Gardener?”

“Yes, Mr. Green Bear is my neighbor!” said Little Bear. “He won first prize for his flowers and vegetables. I like to talk with him and help him in his garden.”

“Great! You can ask Mr. Green Bear to tell you how your musical talent will grow like his garden. Also, your Grandpa Bear builds clocks, so he can tell you all about how time works,” said Mrs. Treble Beary, with a twinkle in her eye.

“Thanks!” said Little Bear. “Mr. Green Bear knows everything about gardening, and my Grandpa knows everything about time!” he said, proudly. “I won’t have any questions after I talk to them!” Mamma and Papa Littlebud just smiled at Albeart, knowing he would probably think of even more questions after that.

Little Bear Plays Grandma's Piano

2007-02-09T22:40:37-05:00

One day Mamma and Papa Littlebud, and Little Bear and Baby Kisses went to visit Grandma Melody, who loves to play the piano. They all sat in Grandma’s piano parlor while she played them a song. Little Bear tapped his toes to the music and Baby Kisses swayed back and forth. When Grandma was finished, Little Bear said, “I want to play the piano! Can I sit on the bench too, Grandma?”

“Of course, Little Bear, hop up here next to me and play something,” answered Grandma Melody.

“Oh, Boy, this will be fun!” said Little Bear, rubbing his paws together. He sat next to his Grandma Melody and pressed some of the white keys, and then he tried some black ones. Pretty sounds came out, but then Little Bear thought of LOTS of questions.

He scratched his ears and said, “It sounds nice, Grandma, but it isn’t really a song. How do you know what keys to play? Why are there white keys and black ones? Why do keys on this side of the piano sound low, like Daddy’s voice, while on the other side, they sound high like Baby Kisses? And how do you read music when it doesn’t have any words? I want to play the piano, Grandma, but I don’t know where to begin. How will I ever learn to play?”

“Little Bear, you aren’t supposed to know everything yet. You’ll need a piano teacher like I had when I was a young bear,” said Grandma Melody.

“We’ve been hoping you’d want to take piano lessons, Albeart,” said his mother. “Tomorrow, Papa Bear and I will take you to meet Mrs. Treble Beary. She teaches piano to lots of young bears at her studio in Musical Acres.

“Oh boy! After tomorrow I’ll know how to play the piano!” said Little Bear. “I can join a band and be on TV!” Mamma and Papa Littlebud just smiled, knowing it would take time, and many lessons, for Little Bear’s music learning to grow.

Meet the Piano Bears!

2007-02-09T20:23:39-05:00

Welcome to Piano Bears Musical Storybooks
Where kids can read this beautifully illustrated piano story online

Little Bear's Musical Garden
A Free Piano Resource for children ages 5 to 11 from
PianoBears.com

I'm Cynthia Marie VanLandingham, author of Piano Bears Musical Storybooks and Piano Education Resources for children ages 6 to 11. Please read Little Bear's Musical Garden and meet the Piano Bear Characters, Mrs. Treble Beary and her new piano student, Little Bear, and his family and friends. Children everywhere want to know how to reach their musical dreams and love following Little Bear to Mrs. Treble Beary's Piano studio in Musical Acres Forest. Here they learn what piano lessons are all about in a fun way that kids readily understand and appreciate! While I hope you enjoy reading this free onine, they are even more fun to read in print and view on video! Click the link below to preview this Video.

NEW! Piano Bears Musical Storybooks on Video

CD ROM with Quiz for Computer
DVD for television viewing (great for classroom use!)
Printed Publications now at reduced prices

PREVIEW Video of Little Bear's Musical Garden

Don't wait to share this story with a child you know who would like to play the piano. Then get the next Piano Bears Story, Little Bear's Piano Goals

Use the easy URL below to link to this story blog to your site and share it with your friends.
http://www.Piano-Class.com

An Introduction from Little Bear:

Hi, I’m Albeart Littlebud, but everyone calls me Little Bear, and this is Mrs. Treble Beary, my piano teacher. I’m going to tell you the story of how I learned to play the piano.

When I first started, I was really worried because there was so much to learn, especially for a little bear like me!

But then I discovered all it takes is time and patience. Maybe you have some worries about learning to play the piano too. But if a little bear like me can do it, so can you!

Click on the link in the sidebar that says, "Chapter 1" to begin reading my Piano Bears Story, Little Bear's Musical Garden.