Description
Book SynopsisA guide to scale practice for young musicians (grades 1-2). It features scales and arpeggios that are accompanied by Dinosaur footprint maps, indicating finger patterns, with tips including rhythmic variants.
Trade ReviewThe page layout is clear and the pieces carefully chosen to link with the scales. Some of the pieces are familiar, such as Donkey Riding and Blow the Wind Southerly, and some are less well known or are composed specially for the book. There is a good mix of serious and more popular music.
This is an interesting and exciting book which should enable pupils to link the scale with the key signature and hence the finger patterns required to play in each key. It should encourage pupils to practice their scales!
Ensemble Magazine, September 2008
The saurian theme is maintained with rhythm games, a ‘footprint map’ for fingering each scale (though not the arpeggios) and a helpful practice tip like memorising fingering like phone numbers or practising ‘backtofrontorsaurus’. Minor keys are melodic form only, but teachers can easily use the format to introduce the harmonic form desired. The cover illustration and line-drawings are appealing, and the approach should liven up practice sessions for a lot of young dinosaur-loving pupils.
European String Teachers Association, Autumn 2008
Mary Cohen is well known for her original approach (and humour) in teaching various aspects of both technique and musicianship…. Both forms of the minor scale are provided for, and there is a delightful glossary at the back of the book giving a list of 'Little-known dinosaurs’, and the causes of their extinction (to enjoy this page you will need to buy the book). Every teacher and pupil needs one!
Music Teacher Magazine, July 1995
