Hi everyone. I'd like your feedback on Alfred's Adult Beginner course. I just got a piano student that is an adult beginner. I've never taught piano before, so this is a bit new to me. I posted along these lines in the Teacher's Corner, and several of them suggested that I post over here to see what your thoughts are.

How did Alfred's work for you? What were the weaknesses? What were it's strengths? I would appreciate any suggestions that you might have.

Thanks.
Veronica

Hello, Bflat - I am self taught, using the Adult Beginners course, currently book 2. There are more that one course called "adult" available from Alfred's - suggest you go to their web site to see what's available. I am using the series intitled "Basic Adult Piano Course (three volumes). I like the series I am in for general music, but so far, not so much classical, so I am also working in Humphries "Piano Handbook" for the classical side. Both methods are very good, imo. I like the layout of the Alfred's course. The instructions/lessons are very clear and easy to follow. That said, there are a few other beginner courses that get high marks on this forum, so perhaps you might want to do a search for Method Books or Beginners Books to see what others have to say. I can think of the Faber series that users praise. Couple of others, but I can't remember now what they are. I can't think of anyone having anything bad to say about any of the books I have mentioned here.....let us know which way you go......

I am using the Alfred's books with a teacher, and, overall, I do like them. Yeah, some of the "songs" are not the best or most original arrangements, but they do teach the technique or bit of theory without being a real struggle to work thru. And, as noted above, the intructions and lessons are easy to understand without being to babyish. And if there is something that I really don't like or enjoy playing, my teacher will let it go once I've gotten the idea of the technique or theory bit that is being taught.

I used the Alfreds Adult all-in-one course through book 1 for my first year then I went off on my own. What I liked about it was that included popular music that I knew. What I didn't like about it was that the classical pieces were seriously dumbed down.

There is no excuse for using dumbed down classical music. There is so much out there that is easy and original. If someone wants to play an original piece that is too difficult for them, then easier works that help build the technique to play that piece should be used to prepare the student.

Everything, everything, every thing should be designed so that the student is playing what they enjoy playing. If they're not enjoying what they're playing and practicing, they're going to drop it.

Bob - you hit the nail on the head. Especially the dumbing down of classical pieces.

I kept "hearing" music the wasn't written and it drove me crazy. So my teacher switched to the real McCoy.

Book one was a good start. Book two - in some cases bits and pieces of music and than as you pointed out dumbed down classical music. So I suppose as in most things there are plus and minus's.

Bob had another point I hadn't thought of- the inclusion of songs I was familiar with. I think, especially for this beginner, it really helps if I have some idea of what I am trying to play should sound like. As for the dumbing down of the classical pieces, I guess that really doesn't bother me too much right now. Maybe because I also have a few things to work on that are not dumbed down?

I would call up Patti Music and ask them what other teachers are using. Patti Music was recommended to me by a teacher on this forum several years back. Their web site is below. They have one heck of a catalog.

http://www.pattimusic.com/

I also used the Afred's all-in-one course.

I purchased all 3 volumes so I would have a some continuity as a reference for theory.

I used the the first volume on my own before starting with a teacher. I found the first volume "ok" for starters, but the most of the music in the second volume was a bit too folksy for my tastes.

After about a month with my teacher, following Book 1 on my own, we abadoned method books entirely and went straight to Clementi.

Also, I agree with the comments, that I would much rather play simple original classical scores than watered down versions of more complicated pieces. I get a feeling of accomplishment when I play "the real thing" and have something to look forward to as I progress.

my 0.02

I love my Alfred's Intro to Chopin and Into to Bach. They came complete with a CD. All the compositions within are not dumbed-down. They are wonderful, perhaps some that are not heard as often as others. But still great.

At the beginning of each book is great information about the composer, his style and techniques helpful to play the music. Suggested fingering is shaded in. And the trills are notated out (a great help with Chopin).

Kathleen

Yes, Alfred's "Intros" and "Masterworks" series are fantastic!

Whatever happened to Veronica? Did these comments help? Are we writing to thin air?

I used the Basic Adult Piano Course and it was good but not enough theory. Get some theory books to go with it.