John Thompson's Adult Piano Course – Book 1 | Beginner to Elementary Level | Classical, Folk, and Original Arrangements | Softcover Piano Method Paperback – Illustrated, July 1, 2005

Just get the book one red book with the silver moniker in the middle that say's 'Book One For Beginners'! It's written for beginners and in my opinion is a better book, if you study and play and practice daily, all the way through it. In my opinion, this older book is one of the best on the market written for beginners! Look inside and I'll think you'll agree. Good luck in your efforts :-)

I am enjoying playing the variety of pieces in the book. However, I do find them "out of order"--i.e. some harder pieces are before the easier pieces. (For example, "In the Swing," which involves leger lines, comes way before "Church Bells" which is just a descending scale). Also, not enough practice is given for mastery. (For example, key of D with two sharps had only one song before moving on to key of A with 3 sharps). More practice pieces would be helpful before a new skill is introduced. It would be helpful if the book could be spiral bound to make it easier to prop on the piano.

The media could not be loaded. Lo compré para dictar mis clases y me llegó en muy buenas condiciones y a tiempo. Es el mejor método para aprender piano, 100% recomendado para comprar en Amazon!I bought it to teach my classes and it arrived in very good condition and on time. It is the best method to learn piano, 100% recommended to buy on Amazon!

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.

Solid familiarity with the keyboard and how to read a piano score are accomplished quickly and thoroughly. Unlike some series of method books, John Thompson does not keep a student in the perpetual state of a beginner forever! Measurable progress occursso frequently, that the student's confidence is consistently heightened. When combined with high energy, whole hand tapping and counting of the score (before looking for and playing the actual notes with correct fingering) there is an overview of an entire piece which the student acquires, that is extremely empowering.The traditional John Thompson Series does not participate in the dumbing-down of our people and This is SO APPRECIATED!

I ordered this book at the request of my music teacher. It came in excellent condition. She highly recommend it.

There is no method that I have found that is better than the John Thompson Piano Courses. (I have looked at & carefully studied many).As a Symphony Conductor, Concert-Jazz Pianist & Teacher, I am always trying to find ways to bring my students to being able to play, to be able to read music, and to stay in time (by counting out loud) in a more efficient and easier way. To date, the only method that I feel gives the student the tools he or she needs to become a fine pianist whether they go into classical, pop, rock or jazz is the Thompson Method which is based on the "Russian School of Music".Yes there are other "schools" out there, but to be a really fine pianist and not just a mechanical artist, this is the book.I have been teaching for the last 45 years and this is still "The Method".My only regret is that I never had the opportunity to meet John Thompson and to thank him for what he had done for pianists the world over.