Hi All,

I was just wondering what was the piano level of the Entertainer in Alfred's book 1. I've been working on this book for over 6 months and I am so glad it's almost done.

Also, just so I know, could some clarify for me piano levels. If I continue to book 3 what level will I be on then?

Thanks

Douglas.

i finished book 1 in about 4 months..draggin my ass thru book 2 now..cause of everything else in my life going on..but u should go to book 2 after book 1...whatever level alfred says i guess..they gota chart i believe on there website

Hi Basskid,
When I finished Alfred 1, my teacher started to assign pieces that were labeled "Early Intermediate" and "Grade 2." We decided not to continue with the Alfred books though, so I cannot answer where you would be after book 3 (sorry). All of the pieces in my signature below are at Grade 2, I believe.

Are you asking what level the Alfred version is, or the real McCoy, Scott Joplin's 1902 version?

Hey Cebukid,

The Entertainer in Alfred's. I won't be going near the actual version for years.

I find that the Joplin's version, while not technically that difficult (compared to other rags like it) is really hard if your hands aren't large enough. The right hand specifically, it's too hard to stretch your hand and do the filled octaves quickly.

I don't know about the arrangement in alfreds, but I have played a few easy arrangements of the piece, and I remember the syncopation to be really difficult to learn as a beginner, but it was very rewarding.

i agree..probly my favorite piece to play out of book 1...such a famous song that almost every ice cream truck plays it all summer long lol

SpencerF, yes, the RH octaves are tough. I've got small hands too and can reach a 9th if I really stretch. I do a lot octave scales as part of my practice regimen, since yes, I play mostly Joplin pieces during my 1st 2 years in my return to piano.

There's lots of nice-sounding syncopated arrangements of Joplin pieces that don't use octaves, and I noticed that's the main difference between these other arrangements vs. the full versions.

As for "playing level", one forum member stated that he did "The Entertainer" for his level 7 exam, and I was shocked. I would've pegged it a level 5 piece. Aside from the octaves, I agree that it's not a very difficult piece to learn. "Maple Leaf Rag" is listed ABRSM Level 8. I am currently learning this and had a harsh reality check when I started trying to learn the third section (the trio). I breezed through the A-section in 2 weeks, but still can't play the C-section at tempo after 2 months.

When ice cream trucks go slowly trolling by, I always wonder what Scott Joplin would have thought. In some ways it's the highest possible praise a culture can bestow, to turn your music into an everyday meme.

Every child in this country knows this tune as well as they know Mary has a Little Lamb. And they probably have far better associations with it.

i know it is pretty amazing what people can do..i wish i could write music like that someday...musics a beautiful thing..universal language..i always heard these songs as a child and to learn how to play them now and find out that one actual person wrote them and find about them amazes me...makes me believe anything is possible

There's a lot of things have to line up to play The Entertainer (full version):

• Rhythm (personally with this piece I don't have a problem, but for some people it's tough)
• The octaves (no problem for me but for some folks)
• Having the hands jump all over the place. And that's been a major problem for me. Putting it quite simply I need to watch both hands at the same time

I'm still plugging away and the hands are gradually learning where to go but definitely tougher than some other grade 5 & 6 pieces I've had a go at.

However, I do notice often that when people perform the entertainer on things like YT, they appear to omit the filled part of the octave, so apparently we are not the only ones that have trouble with those filled octaves.

If you treat all the filled octaves as regular octaves, comparatively speaking, the piece is not that hard.

The easiest Joplin I have played yet is the combination march. Much easier than it looks. Certainly not a beginner piece though.

I do it the other way - play the harmony notes but leave out the bottom of the octave. It's just too much of a stretch for me to play an octave fast even without the fills.

Cathy

Just for info, at the end of book 3 of Alfred's the pieces are rated on some systems as level 2. (Prelude in C BWV 846 of Bach)

My teacher thinks that pieces from level 2 to 6 can be learned at that time. Not always at tempo but the basic's are there.