I know enough about music to know that my kid's piano teacher was not teaching her the fundamentals. I have started trying to teach her myself. Its been really fun, but also getting to be a bit challenging so I am looking for some advice from the muscians.

- Im stressing keeping the tempo. Just getting her to tap her feet and count 1, 2, 3, 4... etc. Im doing this away from the piano and trying to get her to do it for 10 to 15 minutes.

- Difference between quarter, half, whole notes has been challenging... a lot more challenging than I expected. I had her pointing to the note on the paper and tapping along, but its still a struggle.

- I remember the biggest struggle I had was when the notes went off the staff. I think it was just a mental thing. Is it something I should be watching out for?

Other suggestions?

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Son of a bitch. I clicked the link and then I kept trying to click back in the browser but the video kept playing.

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I'd recommend immersing her in a Mandarin Chinese course, Gymnastics, and just for good measure, Fencing. You may wish to consider Tae Kwon Doe just to make sure she is being physically active.
Add this these disciplines in addition to her Equestrian pursuits, the piano will just be something she ingests like a fat kid eating cotton candy at the local Village summer festival.

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@audioidkid

IIRC, I was taught for years with a series of books by John W. Schaum (I think that's how it's spelled .... we're talking 25-30 years ago now). There was that and a series of 'exercise' books called "A Dozen a Day". Find those and with (I assume) your diligence and discipline, that's a really good path to take, I think anyway.

I got unlazy and did a search for those things.

http://www.amazon.com/John-W-Schaum-Piano-Course/dp/0769236014

http://www.amazon.com/Dozen-Preparatory-Technical-Exercises-Piano/dp/0877180245

That was a little bit of fun ... the Schaum books look much nicer now, but the Dozen a Day look just like I recall them ... neato keen.

They are both series of books that over time become more difficult/sophisticated in what they want the student to do, so there's not only the teaching help that's there but also a built-in sense of accomplishment when you decide that they have executed the 'song'/'exercise' well enough to continue to the next exercise to practice.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

Thanks. I am pretty dilligent when I want to be. I made her cry a bit tonight, but showed her that even I have problems (can't play with my left hand). Told her that being ambidextrous will be a huge benefit I never had and not to fear failure.

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You can use the left-hand problem thing as a way to teach her the importance of technical ability - not just separate hands but also the ability to read music.

Lots of parents just want their kid to play a "real" music piece as soon as possible ... that's the siren's call to Suzuki method ... making a monkey that can play a technically more difficult piece than other kids their age, but put music in front of them, and they don't know their ass from a hole in the ground.

It would seem you appreciate the value of being able to read .... it's gotta be a slow process otherwise it'll just be another one of those childhood diversions that ends up having been a waste of time, money, and energy.

One last note: Nobody has ever said "Oh how I regret having learned to play the piano".

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

My goal is to avoid being that type of parent. Always believed that reading music was as important as playing it.

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Not real keen on the foot tapping .... you're asking her to learn to move her hands independently and now tromp like a horse. Counting out loud, with the aid of a metronome, is much better, especially in the long term. Over time she can begin to internalize her sense of tempo, and she won't have to do something physically to find her 'comfort' in keeping tempo. Also, I reckon utilizing a metronome will free you up from having to think about tempo and be able to concentrate more on other things (hand position, correct fingering, etc.).

Trying to rack my brain .... I think I recall the teacher had a flash card sort of looking thing wherein she could move the one note up and down the staves, though obviously flash cards (plural) would be just as useful.

Is she learning on a real piano? A real one is ideal not for the reasons I would necessarily want for myself, but because of the necessity of learning the fine art of finger strength and building up the forearm muscles not just for stamina but also dynamic touch. If one were to use, say, an organ or keyboard without a hammer-like response, that'll never happen.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

Its a real piano. Just found a metronome app on my phone. Thanks for the suggestion, ill try it.

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I agree with Doug. If she is doing the Irish Dancing and horseback riding, piano might end up being too much on her plate.

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all of the above is true. Spoken like a true musician.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

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I would not try to teach my daughter how to play the piano unless I wanted her to hate me.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest