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

All of the songs from the Greatest Hits book have given me problems so far. I haven't played "Rainbow Connection" for a long time now but I think it took me a while to get it. Beauty and the Beast has been the easiest for me so far because your hands don't move around much. I give it about 2 to 3 times as long for these songs as the ones from the lesson book but I'm just glad to get the extra practice in. The last song I've finished is "On Broadway" and "Jericho" from the lesson book.

Hey everyone, just thought I'd share a link for you guys.
Minuet by Bach...easy version...sounds nice too
So if anyone wants to take a break from Alfred's books...try this
http://www.easysheetmusic.com/view_page.asp?book=popular_classics&piece=bach_minuet

Thanks for that romolo. I'm going to give it a try. I've gotten a bit off track with my focus, but will be back at it soon.

Thanks for that link - I found an even easier version in a book called "My first book of classical music". I can play it really well but, of course, it took me forver.
Kenny, I'm taking lessons so I follow the book. But, I do add pieces that I like.
I'm still struggling with Little Brown Jug - Just CANNOT get it! What is up with that?????
Thanks to all of you for the support.
Tomorrow my Roland RP 101 is being delivered....wooohoooo!!!!

Leon,

Any chance you could upload some of the Greatest Hits songs sometime? I have difficulty finding arrangements that are as simple as the ones in the Alfreds when I want to hear how something is supposed to sound. And of course after I listen to a few more advance arrangements of the same song, I'm disappointed at how simple the Alfreds version sounds, lol.

Barb,

I would like to, but first I have to figure out how. I'm sort of technologically illiterate. Perhaps your request will nudge me to figure it out. I'll see what I can do.

I think I'm gonna go back in the book and work on my left hand a little more before I move on. I'm still having a little trouble sight reading the bass staff. It's not as smooth like with my right hand. And I think I'm gonna go practice G position too. It seems like most pieces are in G position and I think I rushed through that.

After Blow The Man Down everything is going fast. Maybe... too fast! :-)

Now I can learn a piece each and avery day, almost sight reading.

And the other Alfred's Books I have ordered will soon be here. Wooow! :-)

Good for you!

I received my Roland RP 101 last night - it was set up by the guys I bought it from (local). It's really a nice piece of furniture - attractive and very sturdy. I like the sound and feel of it. After practicing for 3 months on a 76 key Casio keyboard, the difference is amazing. I find that I have to really press down on the keys as opposed to the keyboard where the touch was very light.
Also, even though I'm up to Little Brown Jug, I went back and tried to play the songs using the pedal and also the loud/soft accents - yeah right. It's like not being able to walk and talk at the same time.

Congrats Dee!

Congratulations on your new Roland.

It took me a little while to get used to the feel of my DP after playing my 61 key keyboard too, and that's what I did - I went back to some earlier music for a while. Give it a couple of days, and you will be playing your current music without a hitch.

As to the pedal, I'm still working on that. :-)

I'm in the same boat. I'm picking up my YDP-160 today and I'm worried that I'll have to learn how to play all over again. I used a 61 key non-weighted for a year so I'm sure it's going to be totally different. But I can't wait to get it!

As mom3gram says, you guys will be fine. I'm certainly just a beginner myself, but have a couple of different keyboards from completely unweighted up to my Casio PX-320 which is pretty heavily weighted (maybe moreso than some acoustics) and I don't have that much trouble playing on different ones after a minute or to of adjusting -- probably no different than playing on an unfamiliar piano...

This is really a great thread. I stumbled onto the Alfred thread in January of this year and it inspired me to buy the book and start practicing the piano. I spend ~30 minutes on the piano every night during the week and longer on the weekends. Playing the piano has become one of my favorite parts of the day.

I was learning by myself and making good progress until I read the teacher vs. no teacher discussion. This created a lot of self-doubt and stalled my progress at Little Brown Jug. I recently found a teacher and have regained my momentum. My daughter and I are taking the lessons together. She uses the Alfred kid books and I use the Alfred adult books. Self-study was working fine for me, but as the pieces became more difficult I was more worried about building a poor foundation.

Right now I am on the Chiapenacas song from the Basic Adult Course and also Rainbow Connection from the Greatest Hits book. I highly recommend the Greatest Hits book. It is a great supplement to the Alfred Basic Adult course. The Greatest Hits songs take me much longer to learn than the Basic Adult Course pieces, but they are fun to play.

Good for you Mark! Sounds like you're doing great!

Welcome Mark!
I am learning by myself and I try to avoid self-doubt, even if it is not an easy task.
All the best to you and your daughter.

Thanks everybody for the support and encouragement!!!!!
I practiced a little again last eve and you are all correct...after a while, I was able to play the songs I had earlier learned. I'm getting used to it. I love love love it.

Shakesbeer - you will love it - and you do have to get used to it but you will.
The songs sound so much prettier on the 88 key piano than on the 76 keyboard. The music has so much BODY to it - like a fine wine

Welcome Mark!!!!!