Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Thompson's Modern Course for Piano or Faber Adult

Which ones are better? Any opinions on difficulty, pacing, or whether you liked our disliked either of them?

I'm not too familiar with them but from what I've seen they appear much the same. Personally, if you are looking for a course like that, my personal favourite is the Hal Leonard Adult Piano Method. The music is quite nice, it includes opportunities for improvisation, comes with a CD of all the music with accompaniment tracks, and is nicely paced. That's just my personal opinion though.

It's hard to tell just from paging through which would be better. I'm just trying to decide between two teachers, who use different materials. I don't mind going back a ways and going over things I know, but I really, really don't want to play childish songs. I assume most adult books aren't going to be like that?

There is an ongoing thread in the ABF for those who are studying with Faber. Why don’t you ask some questions of those guys?

http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/3134848/1.html

For Thomson, you can read the table of contents in their Amazon listings

I wound't count on it. Many adult method books I have seen contain the same music as the children's method by the same publisher.

Faber also lists some of the music on their website—/ doesn’t look childish at all

https://pianoadventures.com/publications/adult-piano-adventures-all-in-one-course-book-1/

Note there are different versions of Faber’s— this is the Adult

Dog person, thanks for the links. It looks like the Faber ones are more popular, so maybe I'll get more information about that. I really want to learn, I think I do need a teacher, but I seriously do not want to be forced to play stupid stuff!

Alfred's and Faber are pretty similar in my opinion, we have both. I can't say one is significantly better than the other. Both will get you started just fine. Do you have a longer term goal, type of music you would like to play?

Ugh, I see the level two Faber Adult book has Kum Ba Yah. I like the idea of using Faber since so many others do and there are probably more resources, but I like the look of the Thompson one better. And the music looks better. Is Thompson better for someone who wants to play classical music?

B sharp cyclist, do you know anything about Thompson's Modern Course for Piano? Those are the two choices I am looking at right now. I know that's an older one, but I wonder if for that reason it would be less childish? I am looking at the level two Faber book and grade two for Thompson's. I want to play classical music, and don't care at all for jazz or popular music. I already play hymns.

I can't say, but you have to start somewhere. I think any of the method books mentioned would be fine. Also take a look at the first book in the series below.

https://www.alfred.com/search/products/?t=masterwork-classics

His choices are Thompson and Faber, because that is what his teachers use

Oh ... what did his teacher say to this question?

I'm deciding between two teachers who use different books, actually.

Then you should be deciding based on how you like the teachers not their books. Method books are only relevant for a few months at the very beginning and then you should be moving to repertoire. That is such a short time in the grand scheme of things that it doesn't matter what book they use. Just suck it up. Better choose the teacher based on how they teach.

My vote is strongly for John Thompson Modern. That's what I have historically used with most of my adult students. I'm not a fan of the Faber books - I tried Faber with one student and I really didn't like it at all.

The typical progression for one of my adult students is John Thompson Modern Book 1, Book 2, and then Book 3, supplemented with other materials based on the student's needs and interests. After Book 3 we move on to repertoire.

What didn't you like about Faber? They honestly didn't look all that similar to me, contrary to what a lot of people said, but then I'm the one who needs to learn this stuff so I'm not a good judge. The songs on the Thompson books looked better, but there didn't seem to be as much instructional material.