Alfred's Basic Chord Approach to Electronic Keyboards: Lesson Book 3 Cover Image

Alfred's Basic Chord Approach to Electronic Keyboards: Lesson Book 3: Electronic Keyboard Book

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Alfred's Basic Chord Approach to Electronic Keyboards: Lesson Book 3 Cover Image

Alfred's Basic Chord Approach to Electronic Keyboards: Lesson Book 3: Electronic Keyboard Book

A Beginning Method for All Instruments with Automatic Rhythms & Chords

By Willard A. Palmer, Thomas Palmer, and Morton Manus

Level: 3

Item: 00-3111

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Description
Book 3 deals primarily with extended positions of the right hand, the introduction of the A minor and D minor keys and the development of technical skills such as the crossing under of the thumb. Triplets are introduced as well as 'fingered' A minor and D minor chords and much more.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred's Basic Piano Library
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 48
ISBN10: 0-7390-0820-X
ISBN13: 978-0-7390-0820-1
UPC: 038081041278
SKU: 00-3111

More about this title

About the Authors

Morton Manus
Morton Manus served as president of Alfred Music Publishing Co., Inc. throughout a transformative period spanning 1952 to 2016. He inherited the company from his father Sam, who had founded Manus Music in 1922 during New York's Tin Pan Alley era and later merged it with Alfred & Company in 1930. Morty joined the family business in the late 1940s shortly after earning a business degree from City College of New York.

Under Manus's leadership, Alfred Music evolved from a popular sheet music publisher into a comprehensive music education company. As both a clarinetist and pianist, he championed the development of instructional series beginning with accordion materials, then expanding to guitar, piano, and recorder methods. The company's growth prompted a major relocation in 1975, moving headquarters to Los Angeles while establishing a distribution center in upstate New York. By 2005, Alfred Music had grown substantially enough to acquire Warner Bros. Publications and secure rights to the EMI Catalogue Partnership.

Manus's sons Ron and Steve continued building the family legacy, joining the company in 1988 and 1992 respectively. Together they expanded Alfred Music's reach across multiple continents, opening offices in Australia, Germany, Singapore, and the UK while maintaining focus on world-class instructional and performance music materials.
Willard A. Palmer
Dr. Willard Palmer stands as an internationally recognized musician, educator, and scholar whose prolific output shaped multiple musical disciplines. Over his career, he created 789 published compositions spanning accordion methods, piano pedagogies, a Hammond Chord Organ method, guitar instruction materials, numerous solo pieces, and substantial choral repertoire. His works have reached global audiences through translations into German, Japanese, French, Dutch, and Spanish.

Palmer's scholarly contributions earned him widespread acclaim and institutional honors. His expertise in Baroque music ornamentation became foundational to the prestigious Alfred Masterworks publication series. He received a Doctor of Humanities degree in 1971 and a Doctor of Music degree in 1983 in recognition of his musicological research and innovations in music education. For 18 years, he taught groundbreaking college accordion courses at the University of Houston while conducting the choir at Memorial Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas.

Palmer's musical journey began remarkably early; he performed piano on radio broadcasts at age 13 after studying with Mae Vardeman, whose instruction in proper technique fostered his improvisational skills. He furthered his education at Whitworth College and Millsaps College, where he continued performing accordion and piano in campus and radio ensembles. A two-year scholarship enabled him to study at the Conservatory of Leipzig in Germany. He later completed post-graduate work at the University of Houston and directed the Riemenschneider Bach Institute while maintaining memberships in the American Federation of Musicians, the American Accordionists' Association, and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.

Thomas Palmer

Why we love this

Book 3 respects the learning trajectory established in the first two levels while introducing genuinely new technical demands. The emphasis on extended right-hand positions and thumb crossing under prepares students for the hand independence they'll need in intermediate repertoire, and the introduction of A minor and D minor keys expands harmonic vocabulary without overwhelming the chord-approach framework that makes this series so effective for keyboard learners.

What to expect

Book 3 marks a perceptible shift from beginner fundamentals into intermediate musicianship. The addition of minor keys brings emotional color to the melodies, while extended right-hand positions and triplet rhythms create a sense of growing capability and expressive range.

Who it's for

Students who have completed Books 1 and 2 of Alfred's Basic Chord Approach and are ready to deepen their technical foundation and harmonic understanding. This level serves pianists and electronic keyboard players typically in their first or second year of study who benefit from the chord-based methodology and are developing the finger independence necessary for more sophisticated playing.

How to get the most out of it

  • Practice thumb crossings slowly and separately before integrating them into the full piece; isolate the hand motion until it becomes automatic, then gradually increase tempo.
  • Approach triplet figures by first clapping the rhythm without the keyboard, establishing the subdivision clearly before translating it to fingerings.
  • Fingered minor chords require precise finger placement; use a mirror or video to verify hand position during practice sessions.
  • Develop the extended right-hand position by stretching between practiced passages; small flexibility exercises before each lesson reinforce the new reach.

How to use it

Assign Book 3 as students progress through your studio or classroom curriculum after demonstrating competence with Books 1 and 2. The 48-page format allows flexible pacing over a semester or school year, and the chord-approach methodology integrates naturally into any keyboard program emphasizing both reading and improvisation skills.

Skills your students will build

  • Extended right-hand positions and reach
  • Thumb crossing under technique
  • Reading and playing in A minor and D minor keys
  • Fingered minor chord voicings
  • Triplet subdivisions and rhythmic accuracy
  • Technical facility and hand independence

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