Alfred's Basic Piano Library Lesson Book, Bk 1A

by Willard A. Palmer

This easy step-by-step method emphasizes correct playing habits and note reading through interval recognition. Lesson Book Level 1A begins by teaching basic keyboard topography and fluent recognition of white key names in relation to black keys. It focuses on simple rhythms and prepares students for intervallic reading with entertaining songs that focus on same," "stepping up" and "stepping down." It then introduces lines and space notes in treble and bass clefs, melodic and harmonic intervals of 2nds, 3rds, 4ths and 5ths, and graduates to reading on the grand staff. It also introduces the flat and sharp signs. This course is most effective when used under the direction of a piano teacher or experienced musician. Songs Include: Balloons * Batter Up! * The Donkey * A Friend Like You * Hand-Bells * A Happy Song * Horse Sense * Totem Pole Song * It's Halloween! * Jingle Bells! * Jolly Old Saint Nicholas * July the Fourth! * Just a Second! * Love Somebody * Merrily We Roll Along O'er the Deep Blue Sea * Mexican Hat Dance * My Clever Pup * My Fifth * My Robot * Old MacDonald * Old Uncle Bill * Play a Fourth * Raindrops * Rain, Rain! * Rockets * Rockin' Tune * Rock Song * Sailing * Sea Divers * See-Saws * Skating * Who's on Third? * Willie and Tillie * Wishing Well * The Zoo"

Genres: Music, Childrens

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 31, 1981

About the author

Willard A. "Bill" Palmer (1917 – April 30, 1996) was an American music scholar, educator and composer.

Dr. Willard Palmer wrote nearly 800 published works, including an accordion method, several piano methods, a method for Hammond Chord Organ, a guitar method, hundreds of solo pieces and many choral works for the Alfred Music publishing company.

Reviews

[Devon Flaherty]

We used level 1A this year. If we were better at practicing (or enforcing practicing), we could have done more than that. There is a lot I like about this series. If you buy the whole set (which I did), the student is introduced to theory at the same time. Starts super-basic, which we needed. My only complaint is that you have to do a little snooping around in the books to figure out how the four of them weave together. I just made a chart, so that I only had to do this once and then refer to the chart for each lesson. Recommended. But do yourself a favor and make a chart.

[Whitney Buckley]

My kids have started teaching themselves how to play the piano. I will be purchasing the next few books for all of us.

[Sara]

The only person I’m teaching is myself but I did find it helpful to have explicit direction on what each lesson was teaching.