Abstract
This essay presents a collection of thirty-six pieces for beginning piano based on Peruvian folk music and nursery rhymes. No such collection of Peruvian music exists, in any language. This project harvests the benefits of the use of folk music in music education, particularly in the early stages, as well as emphasize the social role of music in educating children about other cultures. The pieces do not constitute a method book but are meant to supplement other teaching material during the first two years of study, beginning at the pre-notational level. A review of literature shows several philosophies advocating for the use of folk music, including the Kodaly approach, as well as the use of folk music in piano method books and research supporting its advantages. Chapter three describes the method used to collect and adapt the pieces, as well as the pedagogical principles used. In selecting the music, sources have been selected so as to offer the greatest variety. Chapter four gives a broad overview of the many musical expressions of Peruvian culture, describing the history of the dances and the social environments in which they developed. The pieces along with recommendations for teachers are presented in chapter five, including brief descriptions of the pieces and their pianistic settings, as well as suggestions for preparatory activities. A glossary of terms is presented in the appendix.