Customer Reviews

John Thompson's Adult Piano Course - Book 1: Book 1/Mid-Elementary Level

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40 years ago I began learning to play the piano with the John Thompson series. Today I teach piano students, some children and some adults. I have reviewed many of the other methods available. I found some very trite and gimmick oriented. After attempting a couple others, I have gone back to John Thompson's method. I supplement with a theory book and a finger exercise book that enhance the learning experience. The Adult piano book 1 goes at a faster pace than the children's books. That is because the comprehension of an adult is greater than that of a child. I have also discovered that Adults apply themselves in practice more than children. They have more invested (they are paying for the lessons) so they want it to be worth their money. The Thompson book is geared toward classical content without being overly classical sounding. Classical was written to challenge the student. John Thompson has produced a method that is easy to understand, challenges the student, methodically teaches the rudiments of piano performance in an attainable way. I would recommend this book and his course to anyone.

This a great book for beginners. It is non-assuming, starts from the very basic, and takes a step by step approach on fingering and theory. It's easy to make real progress with this book.

After I got thru the first half of this book, the pieces in this book starts to become boring. I still used this book for theory, but got other books on classical music made for beginners as practices.

I have been searching for a good book to use to teach adults for quite a while, and I was very hopeful when I found this book and ordered it. I had been using the Alfred Basic Adult Course, which has some good qualities (and I think it's the best of the beginning adult books out there), but I find that Alfred's method of teaching "position playing" means unless I'm very careful in the beginning and assign lots of worksheets and flash cards, most adults have a very hard time learning the notes--the book tells them where to put their hands, and they would rather rely on finger numbers and recognizing patterns to play the song. For children I use John Thompson's Easiest Piano Course, and I love how it teaches one note at a time and stresses rhythm and note values right from the beginning. It moves kind of slow for some students, so I thought it wouldn't work for adults, but I've found that the kids learn quickly just breeze right through the first book in a month and then we get to harder music--but at least I know they have a solid foundation. I was really hoping that since there's already the regular John Thompson course out there, which many adults I know have found difficult to learn from, that this adult course would move just a little bit slower and be more logically laid out. Instead, I found that it moves even faster! Most of the adult students that I have right now would be thoroughly confused if I had tried to start them in this book. I think it would be great for an adult who has had some piano instruction in the past, or who plays another instrument and know basic music theory. I think I will still use this book for some things, it's just not the good beginner book that I was hoping for. What I may do for adult beginners from now on, is start them in John Thompson's Easiest Piano Course, book one, but instead of going on to book two I'll move them to this John Thompson adult course.

Unlike other modern methods of teaching the piano, this book is straightforward with the basics of playing and music itself. Important steps such as proper figering and technique are taught early and the pieces are pleasant to play. It encourages musicality itself unlike other bland books. It doesnt rely on gimmicks in order to encourage the learner. This book does work best if you have a teacher to accompany you.

No singular approach is going to be sufficient to teach everything. But, this does make the attempt and employ good and logical methodology to be worthwhile to consider and include as part of the learning process.

Schaum is a little more straightforward in their adult course books. If you want more depth and detail, Thompson's book does that. But one can be overwhelmed by too much focus on the details than on just learning to play - which Schaum tends to do better.

A good teacher will combine approaches to meet the wants of students - to play - along with the needs of students - to understand the why - of technique and the theory.

Personally, I want someone to have fun; then I'll bring them into the "book smart" side of things, particularly in fingering technique (more than THEORY). They're learning theory anyway, just by the act of learning to play. They just don't know it.

So, yes, this is a good approach, but should be balanced with simpler things and something a little less overwhelming to help people want to sit at their piano and play some cool stuff.

I really feel funny writing a review on John Thompson's piano courses. Come on, everybody is familiar with these courses. They are excellent. Trust me, though, you still need a teacher or you will quickly become discouraged. Playing the piano is somewhat different than just learning the chords to play a guitar. If you really are committed to learning piano, go with John Thompson and you won't be sorry.

the book was as desired and as exspected, the service was quik and I was satisfied. I have never been disapointed when using Amazon.