Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course: Greatest Hits, Level 1 (Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course Series) [Paperback]

Morton Manus (Author), E. L. Lancaster (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course Series | Publication Date: July 1999

This series answers the often-expressed need for a variety of supplementary material in many different popular styles. What could be more fun for an adult than to play the music that everybody knows and loves? When the books in the Greatest Hits series are assigned in conjunction with the Lesson Books, these appealing pieces reinforce new concepts as they are introduced. In addition, the motivation the music provides could not be better. The emotional satisfaction students receive from mastering each popular song increases their enthusiasm to begin the next one. With the popular music available in the Greatest Hits series (Levels 1 and 2), the use of both books will significantly increase every adult's interest in piano study. Two selections from this book are featured on the Royal Conservatory of Music Popular Selection List (2007 Ed.): The Rainbow Connection * Nadia's Theme.

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Alfred Pub Co (July 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0739002813
• ISBN-13: 978-0739002810
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,542 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Entertainment > Music > Musical Genres > Popular
  • #2 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Entertainment > Pop Culture
  • #39 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Entertainment > Music > Instruments & Performers > Percussion

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Harder than Expected, March 28, 2008

By 

M. Matthews - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course: Greatest Hits, Level 1 (Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course Series) (Paperback)

I am using the Adult All-In-One piano course book (which is great, by the way) to learn piano. I bought this book when I reached the point in the course book telling me I was "ready" to play more songs. Wow, this book is much harder than expected. Although the course book tells you which pages you're ready to play, you haven't really reached this ability. It's taken me a while but I finally learned the first song! I wish a CD was available as many of these songs I don't know (yes, the song can be searched online to figure out the basic beat, but a CD would be more convenient and practical). Overall, I was disappointed with this book because I eagerly anticipated being able to play more songs than the ones I had learned in the course book and really wanted to practice before moving farther along. As an adult, it's hard to find books with easy songs that aren't kids songs. I've found a few online, but in the meantime I will keep working with this book as I do like a challenge.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great accompaniment to basic instruction, June 24, 2009

By 

Aubrey Louw (Chicago) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course: Greatest Hits, Level 1 (Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course Series) (Paperback)

I am using the Greatest Hits book to round out the lessons in Alfred's Adult All-in-One Course. The latter suffers a little from not having enough full-length scores to really practice the material. One or two verse ditties only go so far and everyone else in the house gets tired of Jingle Bells or The Saints Go Marching In much much sooner than the piano student him/herself.

Even though the book claims that students are ready at page 44 of All-In-One to attempt the scores in Greatest Hits, I have my doubts. The opening song is very challenging and I still am nowhere close to mastering it. It is only when I got to around page 72 of the teaching material that I felt comfortable returning to Greatest Hits and trying some of the other arrangements. In particular, My Heart Will Go On is a very satisfying piece; it never really leaves middle C and the basic beat is familiar to most people.

I highly recommend this as an accompaniment to the All-In-One course. I subtracted one star as I think it could have included at least one more easy arrangement at the start of the text. After all, students buy these supplementals to practice, and encouragement - especially for those teacing themselves - is crucial.

Note that the book does not include a CD; even though most of the pieces are well known, it still would have been a nice touch.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Overall a decent product by Alfred's, August 14, 2007

By 

J N "Harshrealm112" (Scottsdale, AZ) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course: Greatest Hits, Level 1 (Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course Series) (Paperback)

I had just started learning piano at a late age, with no piano nor musical background whatsoever and the Alfred books make it learning almost effortless. This book is harder than the level 1 adult course book I'm at but I enjoy learning piece #1, Love Me Tender.