Customer Reviews

Alfred's Basic Piano Library: Lesson Book Level 1A

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I chose this book to teach a 6 year old new student. It's a wonderful book because it progresses slowly- each page introduces one new concept and has the child practise it in small steps. It is perfect because the child does not become overwhelmed. The illustrations are really nice too. And the print is big and spacious-looking. You can also get it with a CD that goes along with it for $1 more.
After ordering the Usborne book here and finding it crowded and confusing, I went to my local music store and picked this book out of all the beginning piano books. It's a really nice one.

I have taught piano lessons for over 20 years. During that time, I have found that Alfred's Basic Piano Library Level 1A is great for young beginners. When children are about 5-6 years old, they have trouble controlling their hands, as well as multi-tasking. So, learning to use fingers correctly, count, and learn letter names can be very frustrating. In ABPL Level 1A, children do not have to learn the names of the notes at first. They merely play the notes according to the numbers of their fingers. The notes go up or down the scale, but they are not on a staff. So, they learn fingering and counting, but not letter names for the first several weeks.
Level 1A also introduces C D E first and then F in the bass. This is better for the children because they often mistake B below middle C for D above middle C. They also mistake A for E, and G for F, and vice versa. B A and G in the bass clef (right below middle C) are not introduced until later in the series.

I have been using this book with young students [...] for the past 8 years. It moves at a comfortable pace and introduces good musical concepts. I definitely recommend the accompanying Theory Book to reinforce the concepts over the time between lessons. My students have had good results and advanced quickly with this as their start. I have been very happy with it.

I'm a general music teacher and I've been teaching piano lessons to beginners for two years now. I've looked through a bunch of beginner piano books to try to find what I think is the best. This book and whole series works very well for all of my students and their different learning styles. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to buy a beginner piano book for a child.

While Alfred's has been popular for years and this book moves at a good pace for the young beginner, I stopped using it a number of years ago. I recently purchased another as I've been reviewing new and old piano methods as I continue teaching. There is far too much time spent in limited hand positions so that students learn to associate certain notes with certain fingers, there isn't enough time spent on musicianship, and the student doesn't learn to be comfortable with the entire keyboard, etc. Better methods are out there. For the young beginner, the Music Tree does a lot more for the student (it's on Amazon, here http://www.amazon.com/Music-Tree-Musical-Frances-Students/dp/0874876850 ), and for the slightly older beginner there are other methods. For 8 & up beginners, the Robert Pace books http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_5_11?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=robert+pace+piano+method&sprefix=robert+pace are much stronger. Amazon doesn't carry all of my favourite methods, but has these two.

This book is simple to use, and attractive and appealing for my 7 year old son who is learning the play the piano. As you know 7 year olds have a short attention span, and they like text, graphics, etc. that is inviting and fun. This book does just that. My piano teacher is using the book, and its working for the 30 minute lesson.

This lesson book is very appropriate for a beginner. My granddaughter, age 6, has enjoyed learning the basics and the little songs included in this book. I'm glad I purchased it.

This book contains very simple lessons for the new beginner piano student. Get all the basics down from the very beginning and play some easy fun songs.

I teach piano and I ask my students to get this book along with the Theory and Recital books. I have found the Alfred series to be the best for teaching children piano. I like the use of interval training, and the songs are great- a mix of recognizable tunes with new ones that have fun/helpful lyrics.

Most teachers I know seem to prefer the Faber Piano Adventures books, but I find them overly conceptual and the sequence is illogical and difficult at times. The songs are also more boring than the Alfred ones. So if you were debating between the two, I most definitely recommend Alfred!

This book works well for me. It starts out with the very basics and introduces the fundamentals of piano. Then it offers great practice pieces. My piano teacher turned me on to this book and I love it.