Keyboard Kickoff is intended for younger beginners, typically those with smaller hands, who are ages 5-7. The pacing of Keyboard Kickoff is slower, the pieces have more note-name aides, and there is only a limited use of harmonic intervals. In contrast, Prelude is a beginning level book intended for older beginners, has a more accelerated pacing, fewer note-name aides, and more demanding use of harmonic intervals in the left hand.

Students who complete Keyboard Kickoff should then work through the Prelude book. There are a number of concepts, including the introduction of dynamics and accidentals, that are introduced in the Prelude book that are not presented in Keyboard Kickoff. While there is some overlap between Keyboard Kickoff and Prelude there are transition instructions in the Foreword Notes of the Prelude book that detail how to utilize the review pieces at the beginning of the Prelude book. Many teachers find it effective to start using these two books in tandem when the student reaches the halfway point of Keyboard Kickoff.

I usually add Prelude between song 9 & 15, depending on the frustration of eighths for the student. Prelude then follows a little behind their KK progress. If I start siblings simultaneously in Pre/KK, I’ll give one of them Interlude and one Fired Up 1 instead; now I’ll need to consider Mission X!

Not exactly, but it’s pretty close! Each book in the Piano Pronto series includes pieces, explanations about musical concepts and terminology, written music theory exercises, and Pronto Prep sections to help instill the importance of section work. If you want to dive deeper into music theory we suggest using the correlating Power Pages books that include written theory, ear training, technique exercises, composition prompts, and much more. Power Pages books are available up through Piano Pronto: Movement 3.