Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum how long to finish bastien beginner's older piano book.

Im sure a lot of you have one of these or a similar one that you are learning with. I understand the different skill levels and they can range, but I would like to know how long it took to get where you are in the book.

I got through the first 2 Bastien Older Beginner Books in about 8 months along with their supplemental "easy" method music books. For the life of me I don't remember the titles but one was a black cover Level 1 and the other pink level 2 with pop pieces like "The Band Played On", "Turkey in the Straw" and venerable classics such as Gunoud/Bach's "Ave Maria", Saint-Saen's "The Swan" from Carnival of the Animals, the 2nd movement from Rachmaninov's 2nd Concerto etc. The first level supplemental had several of the pieces in the 1st Method Book and abbreviated versions of Brahm's Hungarian Rhapsody, Rimsey-Korsakov's "Song of India", etc.

I knew how to read music prior to starting piano in late December 2003 so learning to read, timing and rhythm weren't issues but putting both left and right together were.

jax, I am at the end of the book now. learning fur elise and the entertainer. it has been slow going and took me since august with not playing nearly long enough.

oh man, you guys are quick. i better speed things up. anymore?