Alfred's Adult Beginner Series

[kilimanjaro]

Hello piano experts,

It seems like everyone here is much more advanced than me, but hopefully someone can still answer my questions regarding this subject.

I have been playing for around nine months now and just finished the first Alfred's adult beginner book after almost 35 half hour lessons (one per week).  The book I have has the Entertainer and Amazing Grace as the final two pieces.  I need to specify that since there are so many Alfred's books out there.

Anyway, I only practice 2.5 hours per week including my lesson time, and probably waste another half hour sitting in front of the piano thinking useless thoughts!  I would like to know how long it takes a typical adult to finish the Alfred's book 1.  Also,
There are a total of three Alfred's Books in this series for adult beginners and my instructor told me that each one takes a year to complete so I am moving along decently.  Remember that a typical adult does not hae much time to practice, especially me since I am 25 yrs old and have too many other distractions!  I know that I could have finished this book in a month or two if I was motivated to practice 5 hrs a day.

My other question is that once someone finishes the three Alfred's Beginners books for adults, what level are they at?  I am spending so much money on these lessons that I hope that I can play at a restaurant or give a mini recital in another three years or so.  Is that unrealistic?

I know I will practice a bit more as I get into more interesting pieces such as the ones I have been playing over the past few weeks.  

Finally, to make things intresting, can someone rcommend to me what I can do on my own time to improve my piano playing skills besides completing what my instructor tells me to?  I want to do something interesting - hopefully available in books at the library?  something to maybe help me improve notereading, or to improve my listening ability my listening to tapes of piano music etc...

Thank you for your time whoever dares to answer so many questions.

[MeLisa]

Hi, Alfred's Adult series are great for adult beginners. The exercises are extracts from the children versions are organised in a nice way to facilitate learning. I have seen ppl finish Book1 in less than 3 months. Book2 in 6 months.  You should also consider getting the  Alfred Adults supplimental books like pop, hymns etc.

The course is great for ppl who like to learn for recreational purpose, At the end of the 3 books plus some supplimental you should have a respectable repertoire to entertain guests and friends.

However, if you are really serious about learning piano, there is no point to go beyond Book1. You should notice that the pieces, even The Entertainer that you mentioned is a simplified version of the real thing. You should notice also that most of the left hand uses chord, broken chords and arpeggios. On one hand it makes the pieces easier to learn but on the other hand, you will find out that even if you have completed all 3 books, you will find difficult playing pieces that does has use chords.

3 years for a dedicated adults should put you in  intermediate level, but it really depends on the student and if he is lucky to have a good teacher. My opinion is, the chances for a student ,espeacially an adult to quit after 3 years lesson is very slim. He will become a pianist.

[BoliverAllmon]

I am not sure how fast an adult would take. I did the book in 2 weeks, but I already had a basic knowledge of music from playing violin and bass guitar. plus I could spend alot more time than 2.5 hrs. a week.

boliverallmon

[MeLisa]

I believe you.. I could do it alot faster too if not for supplimentary books and  theory exercises.

I am not sure how fast an adult would take. I did the book in 2 weeks, but I already had a basic knowledge of music from playing violin and bass guitar. plus I could spend alot more time than 2.5 hrs. a week.

boliverallmon

[amp]

<<I hope that I can play at a restaurant or give a mini recital in another three years or so.>>

Of Course you can.

I would suggest working from the Alfred's as a loose base, and adding reportoire. Try Hanon, it is recommended for students who have been studying a year. This will greatly help your finger strenth...the patterns are easy to memorize and then you will concentrate on that. I'm not sure about this because I don't know your specfics, but maybe you could try the Celmenti sonatina Op. 36, No. 1, and then go from there. Once that's mastered move to the next etc. In a lot of books they print difficulty orders. I'm sure your teacher has that score. It's probably doable for you, but it is a different type of playing, like MeLisa was saying. But, again I don't know for sure if that would be appropriate for you. Discuss this with your teacher. Adults normally have a lot of control over how their lessons go. I would say to be succesful you may have to practice a little more, but NOT five hours, that will burn you out. People here, who you may have read, practicing 5 hours a day are full time students.

[amp]

Just to add, sorry. For the Clementi, I meant the first movement....

[peter2]

I have all three Alfred's Adult Beginners Books. I am 71 years old and started about three (3)
years ago with Book One 0f the Self-Teaching Adult Piano Course. I can play "pretty well" most of the songs in the first book although I have to keep going back over them.
  I am working on the songs in book two of the series and am having difficulty with Arpeggios in general and the "Olympic Procession", "Hava Nagila", and "Canon in D" by Pachelbel.

Most of book three is just to hard for me right now.

I should mention that I started out not knowing for sure were Middle C was on the piano and completely unable to read notes or music notation.
    Also, at one point I stayed away from piano for several months with the idea of getting back to it after consulting with some teaching PH.D's
   I did not take paid lessons but received a few brief charitable instructions from several people that have been teaching for decades. This helped me to go in the right direction; that is finger exercises, fast Sight Reading, Scales, and a wider variety of piano music - even the music I didn't like.
   I hope in a number of years to play "Claire De Lune" by Debussy.
   I am learning the first few pages of Clair De Lune but I am at a stop because I physically can't do the Arpeggio's in Claire De Lune.
   What exercises do I need to do to be physically able to do the Arpeggio's in Claire De Lune? I don't have arthritis or anything like that and overall was a "B" student in college.  My hand is of average size and I wear a large size glove outside in winter. It seems to me finger exercises - I guess???
Help Please!

[huaidongxi]

peter2, youtube offers a variety of piano arpeggio tutorials and drills for beginners, if you feel that is the technique that hinders you on the Debussy piece.

[peter2]

Peter2 requesting scientific findings on brain activity and enhanced learning pertaining to piano.

I've also been researching brain science as relates to piano. Actually,
this has been more helpful than I imagined it would.
If anyone has CD or DVD recommendations as relates to enhancing learning to play piano
please inform me of them.
Thank You for the suggestion of Youtube instructions to develop Arpeggio performance skills.