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

Ok since I have All-in-One and the CD I am now back into learning piano.

I learning The Cuckoo. Just to confirm on the first line I am not supposed to hold the G and D7 chords down until the next bar right? Thats what the ties on the second line are for?

I know this is basic but I have forgotten a lot since I had a long break.

You are correct. And on the second line you hold the cords for the addition measures as you indicated.

If you want I can record it for you.

Mark

yes please!!

One thing that annoys me about the Alfred CD is that there is too many other instruments.

Alfred also made MIDI recordings of all the pieces in the All-in-One series. I couldn't find it on their website, but I found where you can purchase them from piano-pal.com .

MIDI is advantageous in that you can:
1. Turn off the accompanying tracks if you want
2. Speed up or slow down the piece to whatever tempo

The sound quality is going to depend on what type of MIDI output instrument that you use.

You can also use MIDI files in software programs like Home Concert Xtreme or Synthesia .

I always wondered where to get the MIDIs. But those prices are far too high! Thanks for the links though.

Here is The Cuckoo:

http://www.box.net/shared/6xs2dqmco8

Disclaimer...I'm a beginner too...

Hi Choppin, The CD is recorded in stereo, so if you can turn off either one of your speakers, or one side of your headphones, you can hear the accompaniment or the piano part which you play in Alfreds.

Hi Choppin, The CD is recorded in stereo, so if you can turn off either one of your speakers, or one side of your headphones, you can hear the accompaniment or the piano part which you play in Alfreds.

Sorry, double post above.

Oh my god!!!!

Thats excellent. Thanks redcoat

Nice recording there Mark But now Im even more confused.

On the CD, you can clearly hear the chords are being held down until the next bar. What do the dots next to the notes mean?

Heres my recording

http://www.box.net/shared/hmh4a12brl

Can anyone tell me if I am playing it correctly? I know the timing is a bit off. I got totally nervous when recording lol.

Dots next to notes means you hold them longer. You play them 1 and a half duration of the notes original value.

For example, half a 1/4 note is an 1/8 note, so when you see a 1/4 note with a dot, you hold it in duration of a 1/4 note plus an 1/8 note.

Or if you like multiplication terms, a dot simply means you hold down the key 1.5 times it's normal value.

Here is a guide:

1/2 note (with dot) = 1/2 note plus a 1/4

1/4 note (with dot) = 1/4 note plus an 8th

8th note (with dot) = 8th note plus a 16th note

Thanks Tuan Vo. I will have to get my head around that

I wish I didn't take a break from piano, I have forgotten a lot of the theory. Then again I don't think Alfred mentioned what these dots are.

Your recording was good. You just need hold some of the notes a little longer. If you work on the note values as Tuan Vo demonstarted it would help a lot.

The dots mean to hold the note (what ever it is) an extra half of its value.

Some of our online teachers will stop by and give you some more detailed info I'm sure...

Thanks for the tips. I will continue to work on it.

I have created a new blog to track my progress.

http://girliehands.wordpress.com/

Its a good way to keep myself disciplined, as I tend to lose interest in things. I am determined to stick with the piano now though!

Also anyone who doesn't have the Alfred CD can download my recordings as I go along I guess.

Following the recommendations of this forum, I ordered Alfred's book level 1 approximately 2 weeks ago. I have already a very basic piano experience, so I went through the book easily. I found that the way Alfred teaching on how to memorize the chords "in blocks" is very good (it saves so much time when reading!). However, the songs in the book are not that amazing (in my humble opinion), maybe cause they're almost all in C-major. Anyway, it took me some discipline to sit at least 30 min/day these last 2-weeks.

Well, I have a couple of questions:

1.-When I play the songs of the book, I try only to "read" and not to memorize the songs. Then, after a couple of times, after checking that everything went OK, I give up and go further. Another additional problem is that once I know the song, I do not read more, cause my fingers goes to the right keys by "feeling". Are these things OK or should I focus more in the technique?

2.- A small problem came when I practice the 6hts (exercise 57: Lone Start Waltz). Playing without looking to the piano was OK till now, but now "jumping" in 6ths is more difficult (for example for bar 8 to 9) and it does not work that nice. Should I have a look to the keys, or do I have only to read a little bit in advance an in this time look at the keyboard?

I read that 6th are very common in the classic music, therefore I would like to learn them properly.

Thank you very much for your help!

Thanks for the comment on my blog Nin

I am working on the Harp Song. I am finding it difficult playing the D7 chord with my right hand. The book suggests to use the thumb to play the F# note. However it is most uncomfortable! I find it easier to use my index finger.

Is it ok to use the index? Or should I really be using the thumb?

I know some things are going to be uncomfortable and might be something I need to get used to. But this just feels downright unnatural!

EDIT: hmm silly me. I always thought to play the note at the bottom of the key. I guess if I use 4&5 horizontal to the bottom of the F# key its fine.

Hi Choppin,

Hope you are doing OK with Alfred's. Do you plan to buy the level 2 when you finish level 1?

The Gymnopedias of Erik Satie are very good to learn to use the damper pedal. They are easy too. Just let me know and I could send you some.

By the way, do you do the mp3s with the computer?

Hi Nin,

I tried to learn Gymnopedias before. I can play it the lazy way. But having to constantly move the left arm up and down the keys was too difficult for me! Maybe I will give it a go now.

I have the sheet music already, it came with my piano. Thanks though.

I'm not sure if I will go with level 2. As you said the music is not terribly exciting. I would rather just stick to classical for now. Hopefully when I find a teacher he/she can advise on which book I will continue with.

Yep I record with a rubbish PC mic and convert it to MP3.