Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Alfred's Basic and ALL in One Adult Piano Course Book #1

This is the first book I purchased in my attempt to get back into Piano after a 20+ year hiatus. After 1.5 weeks, I'm very happy. For me, it did a great job of slowly introducing notes and chords, and after a few nights of practice, I feel like I am remembering a lot of what has been dormant for way too long.

I'm pretty close to getting Amazing Grace to where I want it to be. The Entertainer was a good lesson in getting different beats with the LH/RH. Great book!

Just finished up with Beauty and the Beast from the Greatest Hits. After playing Rock Around the Clock, where you're hands jump all over the place, BATB was a welcome relief. I didn't bother to memorize it but it's easy enough to read, I think.

Good job with Jingle bells kenny...that one really bugged me. You'll like the saints though...I did

thanks for the welcome

Glad you have conquered Jingle bells Kenny. It is amazing the difference in difficulty in different arrangements . I'd say this book has a rather more difficult version then some others.
That is why a thread working from same book is a good idea.

Book two has arrived, the pieces look more interesting and is great inspiration to get on with book one.
I've completed Lavender's blue and Kumbaya and a couple of others which takes me to Lone Star waltz page 52 in my teach yourself version of the book. I don't have Blow the man Down, but am sure the other pieces in my book must be comparable. Well done Romolo on mastering it.

(My net access has been down, hence so long in replying.)

No "Blow the Man Down"????? How can that be???? You are missing a whole rite of passage for this thread. We'll just have to get you a copy of the music.

I agree... you can't go to the book 2 thread until you have vanquished "BTMD"

I am still working on Chipanecas and Auld Lang Syne.

Working on "Scarborough Fair"

Hello everyone, this seems like an appropriate place to post an introduction! I'm a 26 year old adult beginner; I've been taking lessons for about twenty months. My teacher has me working on the usual fare: scales, chords, arpeggios, Hannon exercises, various Czerny studies (from op. 599), and Burgmuller etudes. As for repertoire, I've been variously assigned some of the simpler pieces from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach, the easiest sonatinas, and assorted "challenge pieces". I must say, I'm rather intimidated by the apparently high level of talent exhibited by many members of the "adult beginner's" board! I haven't worked out of the Alfred-All-In-One adult books, but I'm thinking about buying them, just so I will be able to join in on the discussion with other adult beginners. So many of the other topics at this forum seem to be devoted to pieces that I'm afraid are going to be forever far beyond my abilities!

Welcome, molto agitato.

There is comfort in knowing a group sharing your struggles and triumphs as an adult beginner. However, your previous hard work may have earned you a pass to the AAIO Book Two Thread. You may want to order the Alfred's book two and review it before buying book one.
There are several of us here that are just moments ( well weeks anyway) from earning our Book One wings only to fly into the perils of book two.

I am just finishing up on "Amazing Grace", still not quite happy with the chord changes not being very smooth yet. I am just about ready to "fly into the perils of book two". Looks like a bunch of you will be joining me. Yea!!!!!

I guess I'm going to be left behind again. I'm still trying to get the hang of "Good People", while I spend some time reviewing several of the previous Alfred pieces, as well as working from my Faber Adult and Bastien kids books. I WILL get there though. Good luck to all of you that seem to be on the last pages of Book 1.

Well, I'm gonna be here for a while myself most likely I'll try to keep you company.

Hi mom3gram and kennychaffin,

I haven't had the time to frequent this thread as much as I used to, but from the few brief postings that I've seen, you both are progessing nicely regardless of time. Try not to feel so dishearten, instead rejoice in the progress that you've made thus far. They're certainly still fresh in my mind, the songs and lessons of book 1, and am still glad and grateful that I took my time in learning them.

I'm certain that you'll also join us in due time. In the meantime, it's always nice to have you visit us.

Best Regards,

Key Notes

oh I'll be here a while yet too. I still spend most of my time on scales , chords and arpeggios.
Lol at BTMD, I'm afraid one or two different pieces really doesn't justify purchasing another book, but yes it does seem to be a major piece here. I'll be polishing off Lone Star Waltz and Cafe Vienna today and starting Brahm's Lullaby.

Welcome molto.. I'm new here too.

Not disheartened at all, Keynotes, just a little frustrated with "Good People", but on the whole, I am happy with where I am - after all, I knew absolutely nothing when I started, and now I'm playing piano. :-) My observation that I was being left behind again was meant with good humor. I will get there in my own good time.

I made a copy of "Good People" and divided it into single beats. The only other piece that I did this with was BTMD, and it worked well for that. It's helping some with "Good People" but I'm not making as much progress as I had hoped. I've put it aside a few times, but I don't give up easily.

I can see Chiapenecas is going to take a while. And by the way, mom (if I may call you that), I do enjoy playing Beauty and the Beast.

Yes, I also have to remind myself quite often to know when to let myself and a challenging piece rest. Contrary to my fear of forgetting everything, I've always been glad to find that upon my return I didn't forget everything, but intead have even gotten just a bit better. Quite strange, but I guess it does work. Perhaps loosing focus and concentrations after a certain amount of time plays a major role in my being counter productive.

And another wonderful idea regarding breaking things down into even smaller, single beat pieces to work on. I'll have to remember to borrow this technique sometime down the road. Thanks!

Key Notes

where do i get this book?

I found a version of it at a local music store, but got the real one used on Amazon.com

Try this search:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_g...d+All+in+One+Adult+Piano&x=0&y=0