Schaum, Thompson, Alfred. Any advantages or disadvantages with these courses?

[ignaz]

Hello.
I was looking around my closet and found my old Thompsons 2nd and 3rd course books.  I also found my Schaum A and B books. Alfred book was missing cover but looked cartoonish inside and so were the pieces, i will asume the idea was to appeal to the very young beginner.  I used all of these course books around 1970,71 and 72.   I am curious as to what your thoughts are on these course books.  Good, bad or just different?   
Thanks.

[keyboardclass]

It's the teacher that counts.  I much prefer the Fanny Waterman series myself.

[runemeyer]

Personally, I hate Schaum.  Don't like the songs, the adaptions - or anything.  JT and Alfred, I think are much better.  JT is the one I think is the best - with a lot of explanations.  However - that is for classical.  If you don't want classical, then I can not imagine anybody surviving JT.