Alfred's Basic Piano Prep Course: Supplementary Books

Teachers return to Gayle Kowalchyk's Notespeller books repeatedly, with Book A standing out as the most widely used title in this collection. The Activity & Ear Training books by Kowalchyk at Levels A and B offer a complementary approach for students who need both reinforcement and listening skill development. Many teachers combine these core titles to customize their prep course instruction.

Dr. Gayle Kowalchyk teaches class piano and piano pedagogy at California State University, Northridge, and holds an Ed.D. in piano pedagogy from Teachers College, Columbia University. Her Notespeller Book A is the top seller across this entire collection, reflecting her deep understanding of how young students learn note names and reading skills. Dr. E. L. Lancaster served as Executive Editor of Piano for Alfred Music and spent nearly two decades as Professor of Music at the University of Oklahoma, where he coordinated the group piano program. Both Kowalchyk and Lancaster bring decades of pedagogical research and classroom experience to their supplementary materials. Dr. Willard Palmer and Amanda Vick Lethco, along with Morton Manus, shaped the broader Alfred's Basic Piano Library curriculum. Palmer was a prolific composer who wrote 789 published works, while Lethco studied at Juilliard and was Professor Emeritus of Piano Pedagogy at the University of Texas at Austin. Their foundational work established the pedagogical framework that underpins these supplementary books.