I'm on Alpine Melody, page 41. I did Wenceslas a few weeks ago. I hadn't even tried a metronome then so couldn't tell you what speed I played it. At a rough guess it was 1 second= a crotchet. I do play things rather fast me. Maybe try the metronome at 58-60 for the crotchets.
Just played the waltz on page 43 straight off- am pleased- used to take me ages to work out what the notes were. Got sore eczema hands as well but Piano keeps me going!

There's much to be gained from back-tracking, Becca, but you might try doing this while you're working on new stuff, too.

As a suggestion, you might do, say, two or three bars of two or three new pieces, two lines of pieces you're getting better at and two or three pieces you've already done but still need to get more comfortable with.

Get the speed to a point where it feels safe and reliable. The more you play it the faster that will be until you reach a point that feels right for the music or your own technique. Then stay there.

This is the same for pretty much everything you play. Don't try to play the pieces any faster than is comfortable and controllable. If they need to be faster you will get faster from familiarity. You don't ever have to force the speed.

After a couple of years on the instrument your fingers will get faster from regular practise alone. Once your velocity develops you'll be able to apply it to all your pieces. So don't worry about speed, it will come naturally in its own good time. Stay comfortable. Forcing the tempo is just an easy way of introducing errors that are exceptionally hard to correct.

Here is a repost of the bpm's of the songs in the Self-Teaching book's CD. Remember it's often a good idea to learn them at a much slower pace and then bring them up to speed.

100 - Ode to Joy
100 - Aura Lee
100 - Rock Along
132 - Mexican Hat Dance
100 - Au Claire de la Lune
120 - Tisket, a Tasket
116 - Rockin' Intervals
112 - Good King Wenceslas
100 - My Fifth
120 - Jingle Bells
124 - Brother John
116 - Here's a Happy Song
120 - Merrily We Roll Along
086 - Largo (Going Home)
132 - Mary Ann
120 - Rockets
090 - What Can I Share
160 - When the Saints Go Marching in
110 - Love Somebody!
096 - A Friend Like You
124 - The Donkey
125 - Money Can't Buy Ev'rything
130 - The Cuckoo
100 - Harp Song
114 - Beautiful Brown Eyes
100 - Alpine Melody
096 - Thumbs on C
104 - Waltz Time
100 - Good Morning to You
100 - Happy Birthday to You
102 - Standing in the Need of Prayer
086 - The Gift to be Simple
116 - Alouette
116 - Lavender's Blue
100 - Kum-Ba-Yah
128 - London Bridge
100 - Michael, Row the Boat Ashore
116 - Blow the Man Down
100 - Lone Star Waltz
106 - Café Vienna
124 - Rock it Away
122 - Joy To the World
096 - Cockles and Mussels
097 - Got Those Blues
104 - On Top of Old Smokey
162 - Can-Can
116 - Marines' Hymn
096 - Why am I Blue?
120 - Little Brown Jug
152 - Chiapanecas
088 - O Sole Mio!
124 - Jericho
103 - Greensleeves
094 - Go Down, Moses
102 - Scarborough Fair
100 - Raisins and Almonds
116 - He's Got The Whole World In His Hands
110 - The Entertainer
100 - Amazing Grace
090 - Over The Rainbow
062 - At Last
126 - Singin' in the Rain
100 - Laura
076 - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Currently, I'm trying to learn the bridge part of At Last. I've also decided that I will temporarily skip the next to songs (Singing in the Rain and Laura) so as to try to get Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas learned by Christmas time. So that's up next.

BeccaBb, how does this version of the song sound? Loreena McKennit - Good King Wenceslas

My own copy of Alfred's came with a CD, but most of the songs have accompaniment besides the piano and it's really distracting. I sometimes like to listen to 'real' versions of the songs for a little bit of inspiration

Or the first post in this thread has a link to someone dutifully playing everything on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUklaqGw7Ss

Edward: 60 is about where I start (that's my good pace without mistakes.) Congrats on your waltz piece!

Richard: Thanks for the encouragement. I was kinda feeling silly backtracking but my rhythm went completely out the door and my touch was non-existent since I switched to my Roland. I tried everything but it was only getting worse. Figured the only way to correct myself and get back to where I was was start over. Faber's is flying by I believe because I did it before. Alfred's I didn't start at the beginning so it's all new.

So I am doing new material just easier than where I was. I injured my wrist so I don't want to tax it while I heal. Hence my focus on basics again.

Beginning of this summer, I could get songs up to 120bpm. Right now it's around 90 (except the King W song.) Would you recommend I work myself back up to the top speed I can do without mistakes?

Johnny: Bless your heart! That is exactly what I need! I don't have the cd, so thank you! And no worries, I start slow and make my way up depending on being able to keep it correct.

I'm also considering working on the few Christmas tunes for the next while and then going back after. I would like to play some songs for my family this year.

Allard: that song won't play in Canada (we don't have permission or some stupid thing. I forgot all about the youtube videos. Thanks!

Thanks Beccab!






How'd you injure it? I hope it is on the mend.






Aww bet they'll like that!






That's odd- us in Britain can watch it. Shame you can't see it Becca- I play it same speed as the you tube poster. I was talking to a Chinese student yesterday- she told me they can't get you tube in China. Apparently they have a you tube alternative. I couldn't do without you tube now- it's great for music and so many old dramas!

I have carpal tunnel and reinjure it in my sleep every once in awhile. I have a bad habit of folding my hand towards my arm then rolling on it in my sleep! LOL I usually sleep with the brace on but forget sometimes and I start the cycle all over. I can still function with it but have to take it easy to let it heal.

I've noticed that more and more keeps getting blocked. I think it has to do with copyright laws here but shudder at the stray thought that we are being censored. :| I wish I could have watched it, it's by one of my favorite musicians!

I would recommend, Becca, that you use daily drills like scales (when you get round to starting them - and there's no hurry) for building velocity and keep pieces at a pace that feels comfortable for the entirety of the first volume of Alfred's.

Music is music whatever the speed. Concentrate instead on your rhythm and dynamics. Keep the metronome at a speed you can follow. You'll find that you can play faster without the metronome than with it but, paradoxically, your playing will get better and faster more quickly by playing with it than without it!

I start at a speed that's too slow for a metronome. Until the thing is clicking at 60 or so it's too slow to know when the next click is coming. When there's a difficulty I sort it out mechanically without regard to time. Only when I'm comfortable with the movement will I start playing rhythmically and only when I'm up to a fluent tempo will I add metronome.

For me, metronome is most useful when:

a) just starting a piece with rhythms that are complicated and I need help keeping track of where beats really are
and
b) when I am playing the piece through but my tempo is wildly inconsistent. Rushing, dragging, losing track of downbeats, etc.

I hope your wrist gets better Beccab- sounds painful. Weird about you tube- we seem to be able to get most vidS here in Britain (as yet!). TOUCH WOOD!

I like to listen the CD and the recordings made by other students.

WOW this is a great forum. What a great group of people! I just joined and love what I am seeing. I too am on Alfred's basic book 1 without a CD. This info regarding the BPM (let alone the rest of the posts on such varied topics)for book 1 that was posted here is just awesome. I have books 2 & 3 although I would love to be that far along, I have to have patience and just wait till I get there.. (although its hard to LOL). Does anyone have the BPM listing for books 2 & 3? It would be really nice to have that reference as well. I have wanted to play forever it seems. Well at the early age of 56.8 here I am and going to do my best to play just because. No other reason than my desire. I could go on for a while but I am such a noob (I originally played by ear and not well either). I will admire the rest of you and just keep practicing & learning. Maybe I can share something someday. Thanks for chance to be part of your community!

Welcome jpf!

Thank you EdwardianPiano, I am honored. BTW, my wrists are killing me too. Been reading lots of info on the web and seems I have to tweak my technique. Having had breaks and fractures on my right wrist has not helped to be sure. I keep flexing my wrists laterally left and right when playing now.. not good from what I have seen. Let alone now doing Hanon practice routine #1.. ouch! It's also amazing that I'm not the only one messing my hands up when I sleep. Guess we are all more alike than one would have thought.

Welcome to the noob club jpf!

I would highly recommend that you wear wrist braces at night if your doing what I do! I'm surprised that I'm not the only one doing that!

Where are you in the book right now?

Have you got a teacher? They should be able to show you technique. Hope your wrists don't pain you too much. I had a sort of brain fog tonight when practising pieces from Alfred's- took me a few moments to get into it. I lifted the book off the music stand and turned a page and then a spider ran across the book!!

ps my Mum had a friend when I was little who fell asleep lying on her arm; she must have shifted in her sleep and the numb arm rose and landed on her throat. She woke up screaming thinking somebody had her by the throat LOL!

LMAO Edward! Bet that was really funny.

Well I'm a bad advice taker (sorry Richard.) I just did Good king W at 112 bpm four times in a row baby! I'm just grinning like a banshee.

I just need to finish the Fifths and off to the next page (which I think/hope is Jingle Bells.

Hey All, barely had time to even reply let alone practice today. Guess fun comes after lots of work not related to fun.. (maybe not for some I guess). In reponse to EdwardianPiano and BeccaBb in that order:

-Yeah that was really funny. Scarey too I would think with the idea of being choked!(Kinda reminds me of Dr Strangelove with Peter Sellers.) Make sure those spiders don't nail ya! No teacher, just self teaching since I cant really afford piano lessons rite now but had 1 a few years back but he never commented on my hand position. I am doing the Hear and Play series and anything I can get my hands on (bad pun). So I need to find someone that can set me on the right path. I read lots but there's no live interaction so no correction. I get the drift in my head but my body isn't responsing to well to logic.. I need to retrain and so on. Relax etc. Thanks for the concern though.

- Good job I get really psyched when I feel good about my playing too. what a great sensation! Currently I'm on page 29 (when the saints come marching in)rite after C Major, G7 & F major. I will start wearing my wrist braces again tonite and see if that helps. I type a lot during the day so its a lot of strain with the big picture. But I am not going to stop just because of some pain. I may let up a bit but I NEED to get stronger. What have you heard about finger strength training? Like from this URL:
http://www.fingerweights.com/contact-us.html

I am also reading lots of theory in my no practice time which is really cool after only playing by ear. I also went from a semi weighted keys Yamaha P85 to a Nord Stage2 88 fully weighted.. whoa major difference! I have been dealing with synthesizers for years..fwiw.

Well going to get in a couple hours of practice if I can. Talk to all soon.

Honestly, jpf, I'd stay away from those finger weights. Can we pick up a cup of coffee? Use Keys? I think that is plenty of strength. What we need is technique, coordination and practice!

Going from a non weighted board to a weighted one is a huge difference! I used a "spring action" board for a little while and it felt like my hands had dead weights in them going to the Roland. It's much better now but it's taken months for my hands to feel free with the keys again.

Hope your practice went well!

Thanks BeccaBb, I appreciate your feedback and understand your point 100%. I too was leary of getting the weights without more input from other pianists. Anyhow your other point of the transition to fully weighted key is already an intense workout on a good day. I'll play it safe vs destroying my hands trying to force them to work harder too soon. I suspect it will take months for me to get used to playing on the Nord as it has for you on your Roland.

I just need to have more patience with my physical limitations. There is always another day another time and the last thing I want is to ruin what I do have.

Thanks again and have great day

I wouldn't go for finger weights unless an Occupational Therapist or hand specialist recommended them, although I did use a squeezy thing for a while when my hands got too weak to open a jar.

BeccaBb--I go through phases where I sleep in wrist splints to keep from mashing up my wrists and fingers too! I have no idea why my subconscious mind wants to wad my arm up into a ball from the shoulder to the fingers!

(Hope you book 1 people don't mind if I stop in to chat here. I think my book 2 people are all too busy practicing to post!)

Hey malkin! I stop in here from time to time too.

BeccaBb, I have "hand issues" too. Most of my hand problems come from either the computer or sleeping, not the piano. I've worn the hand braces to sleep too, (and tried to wear them to type), although I'm not doing it right now. Right now my sleeping affects my shoulders - I wake up in serious pain, but it goes away as the day progresses. If only I could learn to sleep on my back. Spending less time on art and music internet forums would help too. LOL

Hello Malkin and Mom3gram. It's amazing that so many people end up being a form of "sleep contortionists" (If I got the spelling right). I too have used squeeze putty,braces and whatnot as ways of dealing with hand/wrist issues. I think all of you are right in suggesting that unless seen by a trained therapist it could be a real bad mistake to use finger weights. That's why I'm glad to get of your feedback on the thought of it. I hope all your pains diminish and you can spend more time doing things you like. IE: playing the piano, arts forums etc.

As far as the book 2 people being too busy to post, I guess I should get off the forum and get practicing too. LOL.

I sleep great on my back, the trouble is that I just can't breathe! I get enough oxygen allright, but I snore like a freight train, so my husband has to punch me to get me to roll over.

Hey all,
I have started practicing keyboard again. I never made through All In One book 1 last time. I spent the last couple of days
going through the book from the beginning. I am at Blow The
Man Down now. I made it to Chiapanecas last time and hope to
get to Merry Little Christmas by Christmas this time. I set
out to finish this book and this time I hope I will.

-Happy playing.

If a fat fingered forgetful clumsy dyslexic like me can get there, you can.

I'm just amazed at how many of us are damaging ourselves in our sleep! You know what surprises me? The fact that I don't wake up when I have to be in huge amounts of pain!

Welcome Smells! For extra push to practice check out the MOYD thread!

Well I'm on jingle bells. I'm just working on making sure the notes and hand changes are really smooth before I speed it up! It shouldn't take me too long actually. I've noticed the last couple days I'm starting to quickly catch up to where I was early this summer. That's making me quite happy and very pleased that I chose to go back to the beginning. Well worth it.

Made it from Blow The Man Down to Joy To The World last night. Lullaby seem easier this time. Little Brown Jug and Chiapanecas were really given me trouble last time. Not sure why I quit last time but it has been awhile since I played.
Also, I am learning Blues Harmonica and saw a Blues Keyboard
Method on Amazon.com so I ordered it. I have decided to play
from both methods. It said on the back cover of the Blues Keyboard Method that I should have the basic keyboard skills equivalent to Alfred's Basic Piano Lesson book 2. I am not sure
if I am at that level yet.

wow smells like you are smokin across the 1st book, Smells! I had to say that, I just couldnt pass it up. Welcome back and hope you get to graduate book 2 as soon as you would like.

Mom3gram and Malkin, I snore so bad that I may actually may be carrying a tune while sleeping better than on my keyboards. No lie.

Stephen, I wear trifocals aside from my hand/wrist pain issues.. how does that figure vs Dyslexia? Do I have a chance?

Becca, dont ask for pain, be careful what you wish for. There are enough of us that have it for everyone I figure.

I am really taking my time, between pain, lack of practice/time and wanting to be consistant, I should be done with book 1 by the time I'm 85. I figure 30 or so years should do it. LOL

OK I have to ask of all of you. I know this is probably taboo so, sorry ahead of time. What do you all think of playing by ear (thats the way I learned and also thats part of the hear and play method of which I own some of), vs playing exclusively by sight reading? I hear the ruckuss already.. just asking.. be gentle.