Keyboard Musician for the Adult Beginner (Frances Clark Library for Piano Students)

Here is a complete repertoire and textbook for the older or adult beginner. Starting with material appropriate for the first lesson, it moves rapidly through discoveries, music and activities equivalent to The Music Tree and Levels 1 and 2. On completing the book, the student is ready for Level 3 of the Clark Library. The book provides quantities of music, all of it selected or composed to appeal to the older student -- Studies (introducing each of 65 new subjects), Repertoire (155 solos and duets), Accompanying and Transposing (62 melodies to accompany and to transpose to all major and minor keys), Sight Reading (107 one-line pieces that review each of the new discoveries and teach sight reading skills). In addition, the 22 units in 208 pages include: Technical Exercises, Rhythm Exercises, Written Work and Improvising. A Glossary at the end defines all new signs and terms introduced throughout the book.

Customer Reviews:

Adults learning piano

By Bruce Saunders - April 20, 2000

Both my wife and I have been recommending this book for many years to adults wanting to learn the piano. As part-time piano teachers, we found that the lessons progress at an very good pace for most adults. The choice of songs used in the lessons are tasteful mixing both folk and classical traditions. This book also works well for someone with some music reading background but no previous piano playing experience. This book uses the classical approach and doesn't offer instruction on specific styles like rock, jazz, blues, etc. Overall, I still think it's the best adult piano method book that I've come across so far.

Excellent for adult beginners

By Conscientious Consumer - October 22, 2009

Great product for the adult beginner. The pace is pretty quick and doesn't patronize the learner, but you really should have an instructor. It doesn't emphasize learning all the notes from the beginning but key notes that you can build upon. Learning piano can be overwhelming, but this book tells you what you need to know to start and builds on the the basics so it's actually easier to progress faster and really feel like you are learning something. The exercises mix different skills so it will be easier to do music from different books and not be stuck playing twinkle twinkle for the rest of your life. I had a beginner keyboard book and didn't learn anything, but three lessons using this book and I was already excited to start reading sheet music.

Perfect Adult Beginner Instructional Book

By M. Carter "Aspen Runner" - June 7, 2009

Frances Clark's beginner book moves you through a series of exercises that truly help develop both dexterity for the adult learner as well as rapid sight reading improvement. I am very, very pleased with my progress.