I do have a question to pose: At a fairly early stage, which is where Jerry and Lucky both are, what is the true virtue of playing original tunes over easier arrangements of more complicated pieces?
I'll take a cut at this question too, but first let me lay my cards on the table . . .
When it comes to advising someone on how to learn the piano, I have no idea what I'm talking about. All I have is my own experience, which was never self-taught. I did do a brief and unsuccessful attempt ages ago with an adult method book and a teacher who wasn't good at all. That's the very limited foundation for my remarks.
I feel like I have trouble understanding the *point* of method books (well, the ones I'm familiar with) for self-taught students. Too many of them give you "Go Tell Aunt Rhodie" when they could give you a "Rondo" Mozart wrote when he was 5, which is simple but cute.
I imagine there must be three problems facing self-taught students who want to use repertoire to learn rather than a method book. First, it's hard to know what the simple pieces *are* and what they sound like. Second, it's hard to get motivated and organized. Third, if you see something you don't recognize (double sharp, ornament), it's hard to know what exactly is being indicated without a book or person to tell you. All real and important obstacles, definitely.
Anyway, all of this is leading up to a question of my own. Several here have said the method books teach you things, but what exactly do they teach you? I mean no disrespect, but I honestly don't understand. I remember that they would give you a key signature, show you a triad in root position for that key signature, and give you a single note melody on the right hand. A couple more songs, then it was on to the next key signature, perhaps.
But to take Bob's example of "Fur Elise," it would be possible to have the sheet music, the circle of fifths and a chord chart, and you'd have most everything the method book would teach you, right?
Anyway, on to the actual question posed . . . I think it is perfectly fine to play arrangements of difficult work. It's not fine to play "Go Tell Aunt Rhodie" if you don't like it, though.
FWIW, when my teacher started me off, I had Junior Hanon, a simple sight-reading book, a book for developing dexterity ("Artistry at the Piano") and a book of John Thompson's arranged pieces ("Blue Danub," etc.). "Artistry at the Piano" might be just up your street. I started with Level 2, and DH is doing level 2 also and seems to like the pieces. The idea behind it was to offer the student original pieces written to mimic various classical styles.
I suggest you look at the "Artistry at the Piano" stuff to make sure you're on board before you buy it. Also, it comes in for some criticism because it doesn't do much for developing independence of the hands because there aren't intricate patterns between the hands, at least not at level 2.
Artistry at the Piano The other book was John Thompson's "Adult Piano Book II." I can't seem to find this book on google or SheetMusic.com. If you're interested, I'll ask my teacher where she got it . . .
There's my ramble for the day!