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

I played Alouette a few days ago. It is described as a French folk song, but I thought it was French-Canadian (given that the Montreal football team's name is Montreal Alouettes). Wikipedia describes the song as French-Canadian, first published in a songbook in Montreal but probably of French origin. Apparently used by the voyageurs in the fur trade to make the paddling seem easier.

Too bad that the Alfred's book doesn't include the lyrics (in French) since they are very simple - although a bit gruesome.

I had fun too playing the "Saints" both versions. I also had fun play "I'm Gonna Lay My Burden Down" with LH (as the book) and then with RH too. I really liked this piece.

I don't like the CD too. I read this thread from the begining and I don't remember someone says "I like the CD". But Alfred liked very much because the DVD also have the same songs in mp3 (same version of CD).

As self teaching the DVD help me a lot in details as dynamics and rythm.

Now I am in "A Friend Like You" - Page 51. One more little step further

I just started this week, and can play up to page 30. I know music theory though, and play guitar, which helps. One thing I'm doing right off is playing with a metronome.

Welcome to this thread ChrisTF and keep us informed about your progression.

I am shure that your knowledge about music theory will help you.

I started piano with a keyboard Yamaha PSR413 playing from an old book called "Piano Magic" and from Gil DeBeneddetti web site, but without counting and without capability to play with a metronome.

Now, I started Alfred AIO book and decided to count and play with a metronome. This took me a long time but it helps me a lot to play at correct rythm.

As there are 3 versions of Alfred Adult Piano, can you please refer the piece name instead only the page?

You can find lyrics in French here
http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/lyrics/alouette.htm

I just learned Jingle Bells today, sight-reading. So I'm up to that page.

Jingle Bells is the first piece to play with RH and LH together. For me it is a landmark.


I am not good with my memory, but after decide to count, it is more difficult to me play a piece (even a simple piece) from memory.

I play guitar by ear/memory, so I can memorize pieces, though, I'm really trying to sight read, and not just memorize for now.

I started yesterday, i am at "Jingle Bells" Gosh, it is so hard. I could only play about 15 minute per day.

Ok. I understand now .




Welcome to this thread magicbug.

Play first only RH. Then only LH. Then RH and RH together slowly until you play all notes right. Then you can play faster at up CD rythm.

If you have trouble in one part of the pieace, play only that part until you play it right, do not repeat all peace again and again.

Thanks for the link to the Alouette lyrics. I'm plucking the poor little lark now!

ok jingle bells and a few other simple pieces are done, now at Mary Ann

You are doing well magicbug. Hard pieces become easy fast to you!

I am at Cuckoo - page 59.

Interesting to see that PianoNoobAlexMan do not play the second time "piano" in "Love Somebody" and do not play the second time "LH one octave lower" in "A Friend Like You".

http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=PianoNoobAlexMan&p=r

Hey Everyone,

I decided to pick this up to use as a supplement to my lessons. I just finished Jingle Bells.

Just in time for Christmas. :-)

I just purchased this on Friday night, I was using Fundamental Keys and although it is a great book I was wanting something that was a bit more in depth for somebody not using a teacher. Love it so far, I kinda wish I would have started with it from the begining 6 months ago when I started to play. Like I said FK is a good book with great pieces, it just seems it would go better with a teacher's help, wanted a bit more insight into chord construction, etc. It could be because it seems a bit more geared towards classical study then and all around aproach. If anything the pieces in FK will be great to pair with Alfred's. I've thumbed through ALfreds and so far it looks like it will be right up my alley. Im up to page 42 . Although with already having played for 6 months thats not much of a milestone, lol. I look forward to posting here in this thread. Talk to you all in the future.

One question I do have, and this is more of an all around question. Where do you all sit normaly at the piano, do you sit in the center or do you center yourself at middle C. In FK it is noted to sit with middle C in the middle of your body but i always wondered if this is just done in the begining to familarize yourself with middle C or if it is the correct way to do it forever. I'd imagine its best to sit wherever is most confortable but was wondering where you guys and gals position yourself.

I've always told my students line thier nose up with middle C. Of course, some shifting is bound to occur during certain songs that have sections primarily in the bass or treble.

There is a book by Howard Richman titled Super Sight-reading Secrets. In it, Richman advises piano players to sit at middle D (specifically, he advises players to sit so that their navels are aligned with middle D) because middle D is at the physical center of the keyboard. When I first read this suggestion, it seemed as reasonable as anything else, so I started sitting at middle D.

However, and I didn't think of this at the time, my left arm is a little shorter than my right arm; I would've been in better symmetry had I sat at middle C after all!

But yes, I think it's a good idea, especially for beginners (like me) to always sit in the same spot while at the keyboard. Doing so will help develop a sense of the relative distances of all of the keys from the location at which one sits.

EDIT: The center of the keyboard on a standard 88 key piano is actually somewhere between middle E and middle F. I measured my piano's keyboard!

MartinJB, Spitfire, welcome to this thread.




mom3gram, I'm glad you are still posting here. Are you ok with Book 2?




I sit in the center of piano.