Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Alfred's Basic and ALL in One Adult Piano Course Book #3

When I was learning to play the Chopin Etude in Alfred's Book 2, I had my teacher's recording as an indication of how to apply rubato. Then John Frank pointed out to me that a "modern" version of the piece was recorded as "No Other Love". I downloaded a Jo Stafford recording and listened to her phrasing, which, with the words, brought another dimension to the piece and especially to the application of rubato. The temporal phrasing, with the lyrics, was lovely, and now when I play I have that sound and lyrics in my head which improves the musicality tremendously.

It must be great fun for you to sing and play.

I'll be away from cyberspace for a month. Hopefully when I return I will have solved my problems with the 1/32nd notes in Fur Elise and I will have "officially" completed Book 3.

I used the same song (adapted in the early 1950s for Jo by her husband, band leader Paul Weston, which became a real big pop hit) to guide me in my own pratice/performance of the Book 2 arrangement of 10/3 - in it's phrasing especially it was very close to versions of Chopin's original which I've seen/heard on YouTube (in adition to being a great song well sung by Jo).

I think as some of us may work our way thru the Great American Songbook eventually that we'll find the same use of a great vocalist's interpretation of many of the best songs as an excellent guide to their performance as an instrumental piano piece.

Regards, JF

OK it's official I'm here

Looking forward to continuing the journey making new friends and catching up with old one :thumbup: Looks like I'm going to be here for at least a year for sure..

So up this week will be the "just for fun" song, catch you in a bit...

TTigg - welcome! - nice to have you with us - there's much in Book 3 to like (and to challenge) - keep us updated on what you're working on and how you're doing - I'm currently working on "Come Back to Sorrento", which is near the end of the first (or Review) section - I'm also working out of two other sources simultaneously: "Essential Keyboard Repertoire" (early intermediate Classical pieces also from Alfred) and "The Definitive Hymn Collection" (intermediate arrangements published by Hal Leonard).

Good luck and have fun!

Regards, JF

Undone pokes his head through the doorway.

“Is this the place where the Book 3 crowd hangs out? I just finished with book 2 last night and will be starting book 3 tonight. Hey, isn't that TTigg sitting over there?”

Undone

Undone - welcome also - I've admired many of your recordings from Book 2 and the way you've always encouraged those studying with you there.

Good luck and have fun too!

Regards, JF

Thanks JF, looking forward to it. Teacher and I did scan the back of the book to see "what's in store" and OH MY!!


It is indeed mate, glad to have you here, timing was impeccable

Wow!! 2 new book-3-ers!!!

Welcome guys!!

Pianolessons just stopped here for a long summer break, so you'll have a good 10 weeks to catch up on me! I'll be mostly working on non-alfred's things, just like last summer. When there's no lessons for a while it's a good time to work on something different, or relatively 'big', at least I found out that for me that's a fun thing to do. Last year I worked on some Satie pieces, this summer it will be Yann Tiersen (don't know if you read through the thread, so maybe I'm telling you nothing new.)

Anyway, I'm looking forward to hear how you guys are going to attack book 3, and I'll be glad to offer support, ideas, a listening ear or whatever....Have fun with the super-special-song!

Ingrid (currently stuck on an unfinished 'unfinished symphony)

Hi to our new member! I have had a time between work and grad course ( which has two more weeks to go). I did play through "Toccata" for my instructor and with only 5 places, she was quite pleased. And so am I. I going to work on those five places and have it ready for perfection:-). My instructor is having surgery so we won't be meeting for a month, but that's okay... I have enough to keep busy. I'm starting on "Moonlight Sonata" and some easier pop tunes such as "Lean on Me" and Hanon. Take care everyone!

Just to keep this thread from sinking too far down the list – My first week in Book 3 is going well. I’m working on both “A Super-Special Sorta Song” (who comes up with these titles?) and “Calypso Rhumba” while going over the theory section that follows. I have both pieces close to being finished but Super-Special is a good one for hitting wrong notes due to “momentary lapses in concentration”, so it may take a bit longer.

Undone

Right there with you bud
Wait, there's theory for this week too? I'm only working on the 1st for this week trying to ensure I get it down so I can move on to the next.... It's going to be good to have a sud o study partner for #3
SC

TTigg – you may have a jump on the theory part. I remember you writing that you were reviewing the circle of fifths at the end of your “Not-All-In-One” Book 2. Well, the All-In-One version did’nt have that at the end, but it’s here in Book 3, right after the Calypso Rhumba.

Undone

Gotcha,
Well for this week (lesson is today) I'm hoping to get my pass on "special sorta song". Then for next week I will work on Calypso Rhumba and the "review of the circle of 5ths".

You're right the first one can be going great and then a quick lapse of concentration (I guess same with any piece) and it turns quickly. So how's Calypso going? I'm hoping easy'sh since we're just getting started with #3..

SC

Yep, I think “Special Sorta Song” is definitely the more difficult of the two. Calypso seemed a little strange the first couple of times through, but quickly started to make sense and has fallen into place nicely.

Undone

Good to know since I did indeed get a "pass" from teach for "Special Sorta Song". Now this week I'm going to be working on Calypso and the first 2 pages of theory..

TTigg & Undone - here's a brief list of what I consider the more interesting and enjoyable pieces in the early part of Book 3:

"Fandango" - not hard at all and a lot of fun to play (I have a recording of this in the June Piano bar).

"Serenade (from String Quartet)" - a little challenging to consistently bring out the melody; tricky left hand pattern change in the middle section.

"A Very Special Day" - good solid piece; nice LH arppeggio workout throughout; interesting tempo change at finishing measures.

"A Classy Rag" - good ragtime piece; lots of hand movements; easy piece to play badly and tough piece to play consistently well; I'm still tring to get a satisfactory recording of this one (something different always goes wrong each time!).

"Prelude in D Minor" - good study piece for arpeggios and hand movements.

"The Star-Spangled Banner" - not everyone here has liked playing this , but I think it's a good arrangement; new technique introduced: the tremolo!

"Swan Lake" - very nice arrangement of a beautiful melody (I recorded this and it can be found in the May Piano Bar (I think?).

"Scheherazade" - another unique arrangement; lovely melody; totally satisfying study piece; you will like this one!

"Come back to Sorrento" - my current piece - absolutely beautiful Italian love song; excellent arrangement; challenging hand movements around the keyboard; wonderful piece!


Have fun!

Regards, JF

Thanks JF,
Very much looking forward to it, working on Calypso this week

Thanks JF,

I've just started working on Fandango and have been enjoying it too.

Undone

See, you've already overtaken me . This week for me is some of the additional (refresh) theory and Calypso...

I came to say hi, but I'm from the Book 1 thread

I've got a question for my seniors. I see that Book 3 has Fur Elise as one of the pieces at the end. Is it the original and complete version or is it a simplified arrangement?