If you are as you say a VERY newbie, why are you working at the end section of Alfred Book 2?

I have this ear worm of Julie Andrews singing:

Let's start at the very beginning
A very good place to start,
When you read, you begin with ABC
When you sing you begin with do re mi...

I don't mind; you can do whatever you want, and play and struggle as much as you like on whatever suits you. It seems an interesting choice though.

The songs sound better near the end.

A number of your questions actually have answers in the book. Your most recent question was about a C7 chord that had Bb C played together. The top of the book showed I IV V7 I being written in, so it seems that this is what was being taught, and the C7 was the V7 being featured.

The point of method books is not to teach you songs, but to give you the skills and information that you need to play. The songs are ways of practicing that. If you don't work through the material in the way it's intended, then you miss the point and you'll keep being lost.

+1

I would also add that unless you make sure there is no answer in the book before posting another one of your "newbie question! how do I do ____" threads, people will begin to get fed up with answering your questions. I imagine some are already.

And of course, insisting on continuing to lose yourself by trying to move ahead in the course without learning the basics, and then expecting us to help you after we have told you it is better to go sequentially, seems a little illogical does it not?

There are two ways to do it really...follow the method which would probably be easier, or pick random pieces appropriate to you level and then use the internet/books to find answers to any theoretical/notation questions that may arise and experiment. The 3rd and best option is just to get a teacher. But asking every single bit of information from others every time something new comes up is inefficient for learning, you should use the opportunity to motivate yourself to read and learn a little bit, there's enough theory and information available free on the net.

If you are not really interested in learning but only to be able to play songs, there are ways for that too, demonstrations in the net where you only press the keys that are shown to you...works if you have good memory I guess...

Well yes, getting a teacher is obviously the best. And what's the first thing the teacher will do? Start you on a method book...from the BEGINNING.

(if they are a good teacher that is)

Actually I don't think so...some very good teachers seem to teach without following a method book...but most do I guess.

It may not seem like they're following one, but even a teacher who isn't having you use the method book yourself is very likely using one they own to plan your lessons.

Some experienced teachers seem to have their own method, they don't use method books as such, although they may select certain pieces from several...

Completely true. However, you must ask yourself what your goal is.

Is your goal to struggle to comprehend material way over your head?

Or is your goal to learn to play the piano?


If your goal is to learn to play the piano, focus on the learning part. We all must learn to walk before we run.

Adak, you have a lot of people giving you the same advice. You are-by your own admission-a "newbie" and we are experienced pianists. Just things to think about....