Alfred's Basic Group Piano Course: GM 2-Disk Set, Level 2: Piano 2 General MIDI Disks

Dr. Willard Palmer stands as an internationally recognized musician, educator, and scholar who created 789 published compositions spanning multiple instruments and genres. His works include accordion and piano methods, a Hammond Chord Organ method, a guitar method, numerous solo pieces, and choral compositions. Many of his publications have been translated into German, Japanese, French, Dutch, and Spanish.

Palmer's early talent emerged as a child prodigy, performing piano on radio broadcasts at age 13. He studied piano under Mae Vardeman, who developed his improvisational skills through rigorous technique training, and later pursued accordion studies that would shape his entire musical career. His college years at Whitworth College and Millsaps College in Mississippi included regular radio performances and ensemble work. After earning his Bachelor's degree from Millsaps, he attended the Conservatory of Leipzig in Germany on a two-year scholarship and subsequently completed post-graduate studies at the University of Houston.

Palmer joined the University of Houston faculty and taught the first successful college-level accordion courses for 18 years. His later scholarly work focused on Classical and Baroque music, earning him international recognition as an expert in Baroque ornamentation. This expertise formed the foundation for the acclaimed Alfred Masterworks publication series. He received a Doctor of Humanities degree in 1971 and a Doctor of Music degree in 1983. Throughout his career, Palmer served as director of the Riemenschneider Bach Institute and maintained memberships in the American Federation of Musicians (Local #65), the American Accordionists' Association, and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. He was also choir director of Memorial Lutheran Church in Houston for many years.