Alfred's Basic Group Piano Course: 2-CD Set, Level 4: Piano 2 CDs
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Alfred's Basic Group Piano Course: 2-CD Set, Level 4: Piano 2 CDs
By Willard A. Palmer, Morton Manus, and Amanda Vick Lethco
Level: 4
Item: 00-18093
$14.95
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This 2-disc set correlates with Alfred's Basic Group Piano Course, Book 4 and includes accompaniments ranging from simple drum patterns to full orchestrations that add musical interest and motivate students.
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About the Authors
Dr. Willard Palmer stands as a celebrated musician, educator, and scholar who shaped music instruction through his prolific output of 789 published works. His compositions span accordion methods, piano methods, Hammond Chord Organ instruction, guitar methods, solo pieces, and choral works, many translated into German, Japanese, French, Dutch, and Spanish. For many years, he also served as choir director at Memorial Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas.
Palmer's musical foundation began remarkably early. As a child prodigy, he performed piano on radio broadcasts at age 13 and studied both piano and accordion under Mae Vardeman, whose instruction in proper technique encouraged his natural gift for improvisation. His college years at Whitworth College and Millsaps College saw him continuing to perform accordion and piano on radio programs and in campus ensembles. After earning his Bachelor's degree from Millsaps, he pursued advanced study at the Conservatory of Leipzig, Germany on a two-year scholarship, followed by post-graduate work at the University of Houston, where he later joined the faculty.
At the University of Houston, Palmer taught groundbreaking accordion courses for 18 years, establishing the first successful college-level program in the field. His later scholarly pursuits focused on Classical and Baroque music, earning him international recognition as an authority on Baroque ornamentation. This expertise formed the foundation for the acclaimed Alfred Masterworks series. Palmer received a Doctor of Humanities degree in 1971 and a Doctor of Music degree in 1983. He served as director of the Riemenschneider Bach Institute and held memberships in the American Federation of Musicians Local #65, the American Accordionists' Association, and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
Palmer's musical foundation began remarkably early. As a child prodigy, he performed piano on radio broadcasts at age 13 and studied both piano and accordion under Mae Vardeman, whose instruction in proper technique encouraged his natural gift for improvisation. His college years at Whitworth College and Millsaps College saw him continuing to perform accordion and piano on radio programs and in campus ensembles. After earning his Bachelor's degree from Millsaps, he pursued advanced study at the Conservatory of Leipzig, Germany on a two-year scholarship, followed by post-graduate work at the University of Houston, where he later joined the faculty.
At the University of Houston, Palmer taught groundbreaking accordion courses for 18 years, establishing the first successful college-level program in the field. His later scholarly pursuits focused on Classical and Baroque music, earning him international recognition as an authority on Baroque ornamentation. This expertise formed the foundation for the acclaimed Alfred Masterworks series. Palmer received a Doctor of Humanities degree in 1971 and a Doctor of Music degree in 1983. He served as director of the Riemenschneider Bach Institute and held memberships in the American Federation of Musicians Local #65, the American Accordionists' Association, and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
Morton Manus served as president of Alfred Music Publishing Co., Inc. throughout his tenure from 1952 to 2016. He inherited the company from his father Sam, who founded Manus Music in 1922 during New York's Tin Pan Alley era and later merged it with Alfred & Company in 1930. Armed with a business degree from City College of New York, Morty joined the family enterprise in the late 1940s and eventually took the helm.
Under Morty's leadership, Alfred Music transformed from a popular sheet music publisher into a comprehensive music education company. He pioneered the development of instructional materials including accordion instruction books, followed by guitar, piano, and recorder methods that became industry standards. The company's explosive growth led to a 1975 relocation of its main offices to Los Angeles and distribution operations to upstate New York. In 2005, Alfred Music acquired Warner Bros. Publications, gaining significant catalog rights and establishing a lasting partnership with Warner/Chappell Music.
Morty's sons Ron and Steve carried forward the family legacy by joining the company in 1988 and 1992 respectively. Together, they expanded Alfred Music's global footprint through offices in Australia, Germany, Singapore, and the UK while continuing to develop world-class instructional methods and performance music.
Under Morty's leadership, Alfred Music transformed from a popular sheet music publisher into a comprehensive music education company. He pioneered the development of instructional materials including accordion instruction books, followed by guitar, piano, and recorder methods that became industry standards. The company's explosive growth led to a 1975 relocation of its main offices to Los Angeles and distribution operations to upstate New York. In 2005, Alfred Music acquired Warner Bros. Publications, gaining significant catalog rights and establishing a lasting partnership with Warner/Chappell Music.
Morty's sons Ron and Steve carried forward the family legacy by joining the company in 1988 and 1992 respectively. Together, they expanded Alfred Music's global footprint through offices in Australia, Germany, Singapore, and the UK while continuing to develop world-class instructional methods and performance music.
Dr. Amanda Vick Lethco co-created Alfred's Basic Piano Library, one of the world's most respected piano instructional programs, alongside Dr. Willard Palmer and Morton Manus. She earned degrees from Northwestern University in piano performance, music education, and a master's degree in piano performance. Her studies also included instruction from renowned musicians such as James Friskin at Juilliard, Rudolph Ganz at Chicago Musical College, Douglas Moore at Columbia University, and Ruth Barr in Houston.
Her academic career culminated in her role as Professor Emeritus of Piano Pedagogy at the University of Texas at Austin. She received an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Whitworth College in Brookhaven, Mississippi, and is recognized in both the International Who's Who of Musicians and the World Who's Who of Women.
Beyond her educational work, Dr. Lethco maintained an active performance schedule, presenting recitals across the United States and serving as a clinician at numerous conventions. She collaborated with Dr. Palmer on the additional publication Creating Music at the Piano. Her teaching and workshop activities spanned multiple continents, including appearances throughout Europe, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Thailand, and Indonesia. She also maintained a private teaching practice in New York City, San Antonio, Austin, and Houston.
Her academic career culminated in her role as Professor Emeritus of Piano Pedagogy at the University of Texas at Austin. She received an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Whitworth College in Brookhaven, Mississippi, and is recognized in both the International Who's Who of Musicians and the World Who's Who of Women.
Beyond her educational work, Dr. Lethco maintained an active performance schedule, presenting recitals across the United States and serving as a clinician at numerous conventions. She collaborated with Dr. Palmer on the additional publication Creating Music at the Piano. Her teaching and workshop activities spanned multiple continents, including appearances throughout Europe, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Thailand, and Indonesia. She also maintained a private teaching practice in New York City, San Antonio, Austin, and Houston.