Alfred's Basic Piano Library

Teachers keep coming back to Lesson Book 1A and Lesson Book 1B by Willard A. Palmer, the foundational texts that have shaped piano instruction for decades. The Theory Book 1A pairs directly with the lesson material to deepen music literacy, while the Prep Course books (Lesson Book A and B) serve students who need an extra-gentle introduction before moving into Level 1.

Holiday and movie material arrived in late 2024, including Santa Tell Me by Ariana Grande (available both as a solo piano/vocal arrangement and with optional duet accompaniment), You Make It Feel Like Christmas by Gwen Stefani (also in solo and duet versions), Last Christmas by Wham!, and Elf (Main Title) by John Debney.

Dr. Willard A. Palmer authored the method itself and remains the principal voice across the lesson and theory books. A prolific composer with 789 published works spanning piano, accordion, guitar, and choral music, Palmer brought decades of teaching experience to every page of this series.

Dr. Amanda Vick Lethco co-authored Alfred's Basic Piano Library alongside Palmer and Manus, bringing expertise from her studies at Juilliard and Chicago Musical College and her tenure as Professor Emeritus of Piano Pedagogy at the University of Texas at Austin. Her work shaped how the method balances rigor with accessibility.

Tom Gerou has arranged much of the popular music and supplementary repertoire found throughout the library, drawing on his background as composer of over 160 publications. His arrangements have become standards in piano teachers' studios, known for thoughtful voicings that match each level's technical demands.