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I am finishing "Blues for Wynton Marsalis" and starting "On Top of Old Smoky". I liked the blue pieces. I had to practice to put the fingers between the black keys, at first it seems weird.

On Top of Old Smoky seems not very difficult.


Here are the last recordings

063 - Got those Blues
http://www.box.net/shared/cel1h5yfml5k1f4lr0pt

064 - Chasing the Blues Away
http://www.box.net/shared/4n0bc6va53dozezgmieq



and more recordings of older pieces, to complete the "collection"

001 - Right Hand Warm-Up - 2011-07-30 v01.mp3
http://www.box.net/shared/4a1ittzxs85rkokbftjd

003 - Ode to Joy - 2011-07-30 v01.mp3
http://www.box.net/shared/tgnc5hxky0k82np6kpuc

004 - Left Hand Warm-Up - 2011-07-30 v01.mp3
http://www.box.net/shared/y1uj16djhpuoly46es52

005 - Aura Lee - 2011-07-30 v01.mp3
http://www.box.net/shared/90cx5sr4jifzjxz70dnn

006 - Playing on the Grand Staff - 2011-07-30 v01.mp3
http://www.box.net/shared/lqxzrtfumhfd3xve8gza

007 - Rock Along - 2011-07-30 v01.mp3
http://www.box.net/shared/e2mbcj48f0duqogqutlc

008 - Mexican Hat Dance - 2011-07-30 v01.mp3
http://www.box.net/shared/gkoq6imcmvzyixr2q11h

009 - Lightly Row - 2011-07-30 v01.mp3
http://www.box.net/shared/s4zprg7deszivgthi6hs

010 - Aunt Rhody
http://www.box.net/shared/nvcyofxcbkxzlp73fet4

011 - Au Clair the La Lune
http://www.box.net/shared/gotzk8jkpnjlj323gaby

012 - Tisket a Tasket
http://www.box.net/shared/ofu8lvdie2o3chddj2y0

013 - Rockin Intervals
http://www.box.net/shared/nud99q0qzsbhsj9flkhx

014 - Harmonica Rock
http://www.box.net/shared/x8npgmt6ibi4ic7ki7xr

015 - Good King Wenceslas
http://www.box.net/shared/2iifeps40elhy1f0aeu1

016 - My Fifth
http://www.box.net/shared/3keeucptccm23bzp8ptn

041 - Thumbs on C
http://www.box.net/shared/tiy3s8odsdsazk5mih7k

043 - Good Morning to You
http://www.box.net/shared/icyxe6qouk19udvi2ak3

Tell me about it. I felt really confident about being able to belt out over the rainbow/at last for my teacher yesterday only to have everything fall to pieces. I think it's a number of factors, not entirely that I don't know them well enough. Performing in front of an audience, especially critical listener, is definitely a skill in itself. I could forget my own name and address at my lesson when I hear the words "ok let's hear it!"... However, I'm very optimistic for swift improvement!

It's actually a powerful motivator for me when I play badly at a lesson. I have decided to go back through the entire book and make recordings of the all the pieces. I'm sure I glossed over so many things that I think I'm doing well.

Questions for those kind enough to answer:

1. Can someone point me in the direction of some recordings of the pieces in alfred's that use pedaling? (preferably reasonably accurate). I understand the basic concept but haven't really covered this yet with my teacher.

2. Can anyone recommend some non-alfred music that would be skill-appropriate for someone nearing the end of book 1? On my list songs I'd like to learn even the simplest are a bit beyond me. And related to that, for those who have finished book 1, where did you go from there? Straight to book 2? Different series? You're own chosen repertoire? I'd be very interested to know.

I went straight to Book 2, but after the first 3 pieces, I started to really struggle. Plus, I get bored when I stick with just one book. So I supplement with other level 1 pieces. For simple classics, try Masterwork Classics 1-2, or Essential Piano Repertoire, Prep level. For pop music, Faber and Hal Leonard have supplemental books at levels 1 and 2 that are pretty good. You could also do the Piano Adventures Adult Book. I use it as a supplement to Alfred.

Peace-Piece, for other repertoire check out the Classical for Beginners thread. Most of the suggestions there are of course classical, but the Faber and Faber Pretime to AdvanceTime series includes books for a variety of styles. I think you'd be at the ChordTime or FunTime level.

I'm just about done with Alfred AIO Level 1, and not going on to Level 2, but rather into classical repertoire. I've started the Bastien Piano Literature Level 1.

I'm also working on the Faber and Faber Piano Adventures level 3A. I like the music better than Alfred. It's more inventive, and gives the LH more to do than just pounding I-IV-V chords, plus I like the emphasis on good technique.

Why is Blow the Man Down so counter intuitive? It has been one of my biggest struggles in this book so far!

Any tips/tricks to figuring this one out?

Blow The Man Down is challenging because of the different rhythms in LH and RH which are not aligned on beat boundaries.

Practice just the rhythm with the large muscles of your body, moving progressively to smaller muscles. For example, walk the LH quarter note rhythm and clap the RH dotted quarter rhythm. Then pat the rhythm with your hands on your thighs: LH with LH, RH with RH. Then tap the LH/RH rhythms on the closed keyboard lid. Finally play the rhythm. You could play just the rhythm on a single pitch before playing the rhythm with the actual changing tones.

Do each of these very slowly before slowly speeding it up and then moving to the next exercise, starting slowly again.

With practice you will get this.

You could also try counting it in six to get used to the rhythm:

1, LH and RH
2, hold

3, LH (RH continues to hold)
4, RH (LH continues to hold)

5, LH and RH
6, hold

Compare in three:

1, LH and RH
and, hold

2, LH (RH continues to hold)
and, RH (LH continues to hold)

3, LH and RH
and, hold

I don't normally actually count the "and" unless a note is changing, so I count this as:
1, LH and RH
2, LH
and, RH
3, LH

Of course the "2 and" is in the space of one beat.

Hooray! Gilligan's Island, Chattanooga Choo-Choo, and Hanon's Aerobic Sixths passed, and now I am done, done, DONE with Alfred's Adult All-In-One!!!

Yippeeeeeee!

I had the same problem just followed the advice that I received here. Take it nice and slow. It took me at least a month before I was comfortable and my teacher would let me leave it behind. I still play it everyday for the practice. As corny as it sounds one day you will just hit the right notes and it will come to you.

Congratulations PianoStudent88!

Congratulations, PianoStudent88! Don't forget to tell Mark so he can add you to the list of graduates.

Hi fliper, I am about at the same spot you are. I'm learning Got Those Blues and On Top of Old Smokey.

I just listened to your Got Those Blues. Remember to pay attention to the Crescendo and Diminuendo signs.

Hi, quick question. I read this about Alfred's method and wonder if its cause for concern.

This method utilizes the concept of position playing, which has a disadvantage that students sometimes do not learn to read the notes, but rather rely totally on position playing. Thus, if they approach a piece of music not written in a Five Finger Position, they are at a loss.

This comment was about the childrens version, but would apply here as well, no?

Thoughts?

Welcome to this thread Johnny.
Thanks for your tip. You are right, I did not play the Crescendo and Diminuendo. Dynamics is one thing that I know I need to pay more attention and practice.

I have two kids, aged 5 and 8 who started lessons at the beginning of the year and they are both using Alfred's. When i watch them play, i can see them reading by intervals. This is quite correct i would think, I use flash cards with them and they know all their notes. As for positions, don't most methods begin this way? I don't think it's anything to be concerned about really. I think positions are used early but you do move on from them.

My teacher just started me on the book last week. I flew through the first seventy pages or so (though it filled in quite a few blanks), but now I'm going much slower and really trying to feel comfortable with each song before I move on. I was worried that there were seven or eight books in the beginner series, at first, but three seems pretty manageable. I like that there's supplementary material, like the Masterwork Collections, to go along with them.

EDIT: Also, I read today that the time between just starting piano and finishing this book should be about one year. Does that sound about right (assuming the person is taking lessons as well)?

I am in "On Top of Old Smoky", page 110 of Alfred All-In-One Adult book, I do not feel that. My learning is a mix of interval reading and notes reading.



I started from the begining of the book about one year ago, as self-learner, practice about one hour per day. I will take much longer than 1 year to finish the book 1. There are people here that finished the book in less than one year.
This depends in how much time you practice per day, your previous skills and, of course your ability to play piano.


Here are more recordings of last pieces. Dynamics must be improved.

065 - Blues for Wynton Marsalis
http://www.box.net/shared/hfg64j8zv7y9tf6ebsxn

066 - On the Top of Old Smoky
http://www.box.net/shared/x4z94deez8bxttxyjes2



I played two pieces with the "Boogie Beat" of my DP
Here are two recordings. This is much more fun than playing with the clicks of metronome.
Last measure of "Got those Blues" does not fit exactelly in the beat due to "ritardando ending".
"Chasing Blues Away" does not sound so good with the beat as "Got those Blues". I do not know how to choose the best beat yet.

063 - Got those Blues - Boogie Beat 78
http://www.box.net/shared/yc7phjructxuy8u4fc3p

064 - Chasing the Blues Away - Boogie Beat 78
http://www.box.net/shared/lq75ktp2mzm6x6rapxfv



I am going in holidays next week. Probably I have to review all pieces from "Jingle Bells" when I get back.

Thanks for the information. I'm glad to hear that Alfreds is indeed a good choice. I'm going to review some older posts and see if I can find some good supplemental pieces to work on. I've just started chords, so I'm not that far into the book yet. But if it does take around a year to get through, it might be nice to change it up once in awhile and practice something different.

Here are some books mentioned in this thread, as supplement to
the Alfred Basic Adult course or Alfred AIO Piano Adult Course

Alfred's Greatest Hits Book 1
Alfred's Pop Songbook Book 1
Alfred's Sacred Book 1
Alfred's Jazz, Blues and Rags
Piano Handbook by Humphries
My First Book of Classical Music
Alfred All Time Favorites

Faber Adult Piano Adventures (Method Book, as Alfred)
Bastien Piano Basics Book 1 (Method Book, as Alfred)


The first two books are the most popular in this thread. Each piece has the piece number of Alfred Piano Book you should know to play it.


See also these threads
Sources for simple music

Classical for beginners

http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/printthread/Board/30/main/114269/type/thread.html

I have uploaded my recordings of Alfred's book 1 here if anyone's interested:

http://soundcloud.com/betapi/sets

I'll be adding the final pieces in the near future. Any comments, critiques or advice welcome.