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I've put my Book 2 aside for a while to play other things - partly because I've really struggled with the last few pieces, and partly because too many Mexican type pieces in a row made me want a change. As I am not really gifted musically, and am working without a teacher, I sometimes hit a wall for a while and need to take a break with some easier music before moving on. I still think that Alfred AIO is a great method, and do fully intend to work my way through books 2 and 3 at my usual slow pace.

Going back to the sitting position question, I sit in the centre of the piano bench which is roughly centred in front of the piano. I have never paid attention to where this is relative to the keys. It seems to me that it wouldn't make much difference whether your navel is in front of C or D, given the range of movement you have with your arms and upper body.

The distance between the bench and the piano is probably a lot more important, plus that you don't sit too far back on the bench.

After I wrote this, it began to seem increasingly wrong to me. I measured my piano, which has a standard 88 key keyboard, and the center of the keyboard is actually somewhere between middle E and middle F. So, I'm not sure the reason for Richman's advise to sit at middle D. Middle C would seem to make more sense, given that it's at least the center of the grand staff.


My piano sits on a patterned rug. When I first found the ideal spot for my piano bench, I noted where the bench sat relative to the markings on the rug, so my bench always sits in the same location when I'm at the piano. Also, I like to sit somewhere between the front 1/2 and front 1/3 of the bench.

I agree but with some of the pieces that I am on in the book the right hand thumb is on middle C and left hand pinky is on next C to the left and its kind of unconfortable. But I can always lean back and to the left to make it more comfy. I'd imagine on future pieces it won't matter as much.

Perhaps try sitting further away from the piano. It shouldn't be uncomfortable. Other pieces may require your hands to go even further to the left.

I have a question about the 5 finger position method used by Alred's. I'm in the all in one level 1 book and making good progress. I've played piano a bit on my own my whole life but never had any formal training and never could play with both hands at the same time. So I'm really loving being able to do that.

My question is about the position method. I read a lot of criticism about the 5 finger position method. Teachers say their students can't play other pieces which don't fit in 5 fingers, etc. Is this really a problem?

And when I play sometimes I am not using the right fingers for the notes. Is this a problem if the notes sound right? Sometimes I just instinctively move my hand and play the notes but not using exactly the same fingers.

So I'm thinking if some books don't worry about the 5 finger approach then maybe I shouldn't worry about it either? But then I think I'm using the Alfred's book so I should go by their system and make sure the right finger is used for each note.

I'm curious what others think.

cunparis - As you proceed further in Book 1, you'll learn to move your fingers around a bit more, which will slowly wean you off of the 5-finger position mentality. I think many teachers and method book authors use it to establish a "comfort zone" for beginners and then slowly expand it to extended hand positions and whole hand movement. This takes time, but you'll eventually leave home base!

I've read a lot of the same criticism. For example, some piano teachers are critical of piano methods that rely on five finger positions because transfer students who previously relied on these piano are unable to identify notes on the grand staff. I've read cases of such students who, when faced with music that lies outside of a five finger position (i.e. C position, G position, etc.), become completely stymied because they don't know where to place their hands when beginning to play the piece. Now, I would imagine this is a problem that only children would face, and probably young children at that. I doubt that any adult whose first piano pieces are in five finger positions is going to be completely unable to read notes as a result.


Another criticism I've read about five finger positions is that some children come to believe that each note on the piano is associated with a given finger. For example, such a child might believe middle C must always be played by the right hand thumb, middle D must be always be played by the right hand second finger, etc. Again, I would think this is a problem exclusive to children. Also, I'm inclined to think if you are not using the "right fingers" for pieces that are in a five finger position, it isn't necessarily a bad thing. It suggests to me you're comfortable with the topography of he keyboard, which is an important skill to develop. (I'm not however saying that fingering isn't important; I realize it is.)

I dropped Alfred's for quite a while, but decided that I'd like to finish the book. Since it's been such a long time I'm restarting it from the beginning, I should be flying through the first pages rather quickly.

I'll try to post here occasionally with a short progress report and see if I can keep playing the book 'till the end this time.

I didn't really care for most of the music in the book that much, but I guess it contains valuable lessons, so it's worth doing I guess.


Edit; On the whole where to sit debate, I always habitually sit at middle C. Simple reason is that it always works well enough, whether I play 88 key piano, 85 key, harpsichord or anything else with a different range.

It's more of a habitual thing, really. I don't think it really matters as long as you are roughly in the middle. There are many other aspects of posture, on the other hand, that I think are vital to proper piano playing.

Each piece in Alfred has a new thing to learn. There is no pieces in the book to use just what we have learned before. At least for the very beginning. And it is not easy to find similar pieces out of the book.




I sit just in front of the small LCD Display of my DP (it is in the center)

That should work!
I guess in case of acoustic instruments or digitals without (centered) displays you could just look at the nameboard, that's usually in the middle.

Last week I play a Lindbergh upright that hat the name in the left corner though, so there are exceptions!

Since I have taken a break from Book 2, I've been going back and reviewing pieces from Book 1. Today I'm working on "O Sole Mio". I still can't roll that chord in the 2nd ending fast enough.

Hm, I can't help with that since O Sole Mio is still way ahead of where I am in Alfred's. I started all over from the beginning last Sunday, after taking a break from Alfred's now, and am currently at the Lone Star Waltz.

Rolled chords are really nice if you do them right though, I added one myself in the chord with the fermate near the end of Blow the Man Down.

But the fact that the chord gives you trouble only proves that it's a great idea to revisit some earlier pieces, there's still plenty to learn from them!

Mom3gram, I am a song away from "O Sole Mio", but I think by that time you will be back on book 2

I am in "Liza Jane" page 62. I need to polish "Harp Song". I can play Liza Jane, but play and sing at same time not yet.

I just received a set of books ordered sonetime ago. I will be very busy with all those books . All of them were mentioned here in this thread. Thanks to all for share your book collection and for the suggestions of books to complement Alfred book.


Here is the list:

My First Book of Classical Music: 20 Themes by Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin and Other Great Composers in Easy Piano Arrangements - Bergerac

Scales, Chords, Arpeggios and Cadences: Complete Book - Willard Palmer

Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course All-Time Favorites - Dennis Alexander

Basic Timing for Pianists: 105 Short, Short Exercises, Leading to Thorough and Complete Mastery of Basic Timing Problems - Allan Small

Scales, Chords, Arpeggios and Cadences: First Book (Alfred's Basic Piano Library

Top Hits! Christmas: Complete 1 (1a/1b)(Alfred's Basic Piano Library) - Morton Manus, E.Lancaster

Classical Jazz, Rags & Blues Book 1 Early Intermediate: 10 Classical Melodies Arranged in Jazz Syles for Early Intermediate Pianists (Jazz Rags Blues M Mier)

The Piano Handbook - Carl Humphries

Alfred's Basic Adult All-In-One Course Christmas (Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course)- Dennis Alexander

Wow, fliper, you are set for a long time! I have both of the Christmas ones (Only 1B of the top Christmas Hits), and have been enjoying them for the past week. It sounds like you have everything - scales, exercises, classical, pop, jazz and Christmas. What more could one want!

Busy with O Sole Mio, working on the first 7 bars for now. I love the song, cannot wait to fully play it without the pause of course.

I like O Sole Mio a lot and keep going back to it. I'm not following the suggested pedalling though since it sounds like too much pedal to me at times.

I am stalled at the Entertainer now since I decided it would be a good idea to practice memorizing, partly because of a recent thread on memorization.
http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1550853/memorization.html#Post1550853

The Entertainer is quite simple, a lot of repetition, but I always seem to forget one or two notes, or rather I'm slow to find them. Do you memorize everything in Book #1, some pieces or nothing?

Seaotter, pieces that I like, for example Joy to the world I find easy to play without looking at the score, but those that I have no interest in, I cannot recall at all. Will have a look at the memorization thead.

Alright, my turn.

I've been lurking this forum for the past week or so...ever since I ordered my new Yamaha YPG-635 . It should be here on Wednesday. Yesterday I ordered my first piano book "Alfred's Basic Adult All-in-One Piano Course, Book 1 (with CD)." I should be getting that within the next few days as well.

I've scourged this thread, the youtube vids by pianonoob and a few other threads and I'm quite excited to get started.

A bit about myself: My name is Matt. I'm 28 years old. I come from a musical family. It seems everyone is talented, although not many know how to read music properly. I've been playing the guitar since I was 14. Picked up the drums to play in a bar band with a couple of my relatives maybe 4 or 5 years ago, and now I'm ready for the piano.

I'm interested in learning proper technique and learning to sight read, so, wish me luck. I'll be tracking my progress in the this thread.