Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course: Lesson Book, Level One
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Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course: Lesson Book, Level One Details
A beginning course for adults who prefer a chord approach. It teaches chords for both hands so that the student can play more than single note melodies. This course is most effective when used under the direction of a piano teacher or experienced musician. Titles: Alouette * Alpine Melody * Amazing Grace * At Last * Au Claire de la Lune * Aura Lee * The Ballad of Gilligan's Island * Beautiful Brown Eyes * Blow the Man Down! * Brother John * Café Vienna * The Can-Can * Chiapanecas * Cockles and Mussels * The Cuckoo * The Donkey * The Entertainer * A Friend Like You * The Gift to Be Simple * Go Down, Moses * Good King Wenceslas * Good Morning to You! * Got Those Blues * Greensleeves * Happy Birthday to You! * Harp Song * Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas * Here's a Happy Song! * He's Got the Whole World in His Hands * Jericho * Jingle Bells * Joy to the World! * Kum-ba-yah! * Largo (Dvorak) * Laura * Lavender's Blue * Little Brown Jug * London Bridge * Lone Star Waltz * Love Somebody * The Marine's Hymn * Mary Ann * Merrily We Roll Along * Mexican Hat Dance * Michael, Row the Boat Ashore * Money Can't Buy Everything * My Fifth * Ode to Joy * On Top of Old Smoky * O Sole Mio * Over the Rainbow * Raisins and Almonds * Rockets * Rockin' Intervals * Rock It Away! * Scarborough Fair * Singin' in the Rain * Standing in the Need of Prayer * Tisket, a Tasket * Waltz Time * What Can I Share * When the Saints Go Marching In * Why Am I Blue?
Reviews
General Description of the Alfreds Do It Yourself Courses:Although this series of books won't replace a talented teacher, if you have a hankering to finally be able to play that piano (or keyboard) that's been hanging around your house forever, this series will do the trick. You won't wind up playing something that threatens the position of the great piano maestros of our day, but you'll be able to pick up chords and a melody and make a song sound like you wish it to.This series relies on baby steps to teach you a key, or a technique, or a set of chords. You play some simple exercises, then a song or two that emphasizes what you've just learned in the exercises. From time to time you reach a level where you are ready to take on a small song book. I recommend that you get the song books too and play thru them each time you reach one of those levels.If you really want to learn to play the piano, make sure you can allot at least a half hour a day to practice, and an hour is better. At that rate in a very few weeks time you'll be able to impress family and friends, and maybe play the music for singing carols at a Christmas get together. :-)Book One, Level One is 95 pages of lessons and practice songs. It covers:* Learning to sit at the piano* Learning the keys (of the keyboard)* Beginner theory* Learning note lengths* Learning several often needed music Keys and Chords* Pedal usage* Concepts such as rest notes, connected notes, stacatto, and triplets* More complicated key combinations as you move alongYou'll play songs such as:* Mexican Hat Dance* Good King Wenceslas* Merrily we Roll Along* When the Saints go marching In* Money Can't Buy Everything* Alouette* Kum-ba-yah* Michael, Row the Boat Ashore* Blow the Man Down* Joy to the World ("no bullfrog" version)* On Top of Old Smokey* The Can-Can* The Marine Hymn* Little Brown Jug* O Sole Mio* Greensleeves* Scarbourough Fair* He's Got the Whole World in His Hands* The Entertainer* Amazing Grace* several other songs you may not recognize, but which serve as good practice lessons.This songs are all arranged in simple keys: C, F, G, and so forth (at most one sharp or flat). That means that a few of these tunes will not necessarily sound exactly as your ear remembers them from professional performances. That's OK. This is a beginner's book. They very correctly keep things simple, but at the same time give you some music you can enjoy as you learn to play it.Suggested supplemental books you may use as you proceed through Level One are:* Adult Theory Book* Adult Sight Reading Book* Adult Duet Book* Adult Sacred Book* Adult Christmas Book 1* Greatest Hits, Level 1* Christmas Hits, Level 1* Adult Pop Song Book 1* Adult All Time Favorites, Book 1* Adult Country Book 1* Adult Jazz/Rock Course (VERY substantial book)You can safely skip any or all of these supplemental books, and just play the songs in each lesson in this book over and over again until you are ready to proceed. However, each book provides additional practice with new songs, and at the level of skill you have already achieved. They are not expensive, so I bought all but the first four.
