Alfred's Basic Piano Prep Course: Notespeller Book D Cover Image

Alfred's Basic Piano Prep Course: Notespeller Book D: Piano Book

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Alfred's Basic Piano Prep Course: Notespeller Book D Cover Image

Alfred's Basic Piano Prep Course: Notespeller Book D: Piano Book

For the Young Beginner

By Gayle Kowalchyk and E. L. Lancaster

Level: D

Item: 00-5735

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Description
Coordinated page-by-page with the Lesson Books, the Notespeller Books reinforce note-reading concepts through coloring and written exercises.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred's Basic Piano Library
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 32
ISBN10: 0-7390-2407-8
ISBN13: 978-0-7390-2407-2
UPC: 038081051154
SKU: 00-5735

More about this title

About the Authors

Gayle Kowalchyk
Dr. Gayle Kowalchyk is a piano instructor and pedagogy specialist at California State University, Northridge, where she teaches class piano, individual piano, and piano pedagogy. She earned her bachelor's degree in piano performance from Ohio University (1977), a master's degree in piano performance and pedagogy from Northwestern University (1979), and a doctorate in piano pedagogy from Teachers College, Columbia University (1989).

Throughout her career, Dr. Kowalchyk has held faculty positions at Eastern Illinois University, Oklahoma Baptist University, and the University of Oklahoma. At Eastern Illinois, she coordinated the class piano program, directed the piano preparatory program, and taught graduate level pedagogy courses. She also spent summers from 1979 to 1982 teaching class piano and piano ensemble at the National Music Camp in Interlochen, Michigan.

An active clinician and adjudicator, Dr. Kowalchyk regularly presents at major conferences including those held by the Music Teachers National Association, Music Educators National Conference, National Group Piano Symposium, and World Piano Pedagogy Conference. She and her husband, Dr. E. L. Lancaster, have co-authored over 300 educational piano publications, notably Alfred's Premier Piano Course and Music for Little Mozarts. Based in the Los Angeles area, she continues her work as a clinician for Alfred Music.
E. L. Lancaster
E. L. Lancaster served as Executive Editor for Piano at Alfred Music and currently holds an adjunct position in piano faculty at California State University, Northridge. He earned degrees from Murray State University and the University of Illinois, culminating in a Ph.D. from Northwestern University.

From 1979 to 1998, Dr. Lancaster was Professor of Music at the University of Oklahoma, Norman, where he spearheaded the creation of master's and doctoral programs in piano pedagogy in 1980. He mentored more than 50 doctoral dissertation students and directed the Piano Pedagogy Laboratory Program, which integrated group and private instruction for pre-college students. Additionally, he and his wife, Dr. Gayle Kowalchyk, operated a thriving independent piano studio in Norman from 1981 to 1996.

Dr. Lancaster's leadership extends across major music organizations. He has held prominent positions including National Chairman of Group Piano and National Chairman of Student Chapters for MTNA, and served as the 2020 National Conference Chair. His numerous accolades include the University of Oklahoma's Regents Award for Superior Teaching (1984), Associated Distinguished Lectureship (1987), Provost's Outstanding Academic Advising Award (1996), and Outstanding Faculty Award in the College of Fine Arts (1996). In 1991, he received the David Ross Boyd Professorship, honoring faculty excellence in teaching and student mentorship. Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia named him a Signature Sinfonian in 2013, and Murray State University awarded him the 2014 Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Why we love this

The page-by-page coordination with Lesson Book D means students reinforce what they're actively learning without the cognitive overload of jumping between unrelated concepts. Coloring and written exercises transform note reading from passive recognition into tactile, visual engagement, which research consistently shows strengthens retention in young learners.

What to expect

Familiar and encouraging. Students meet the same note patterns they're learning in their lessons, presented in a format that invites playful engagement rather than rote drill. There's a natural rhythm to the progression, with each page building confidence in reading across the staff.

Who it's for

Young piano students working through the Alfred's Basic Piano Prep Course at Level D who benefit from kinesthetic and visual reinforcement of note-reading skills. Teachers and parents seeking structured, developmentally appropriate materials that complement lesson instruction without requiring additional planning.

How to get the most out of it

  • Complete the notespeller pages in sequence with the corresponding lesson. Don't skip ahead or use them as standalone worksheets; the scaffolding matters.
  • Assign coloring exercises as homework to extend learning beyond the lesson without creating busywork. Young students need low-pressure reinforcement.
  • Use the written exercises to assess which ledger lines or specific note locations still trip up individual students, then target your one-on-one instruction accordingly.
  • Pair notespeller work with sight-reading games at the piano so students connect written symbols to keyboard location immediately.

How to use it

Assign these pages as part of the standard homework cycle during Level D instruction, completing one or two pages per week alongside the corresponding lesson material. The notespeller becomes the visible thread connecting what happens at the piano to what happens on the page, making progress tangible for students and families alike.

Skills your students will build

  • Fluent note identification on treble and bass staff
  • Ledger line reading above and below the staff
  • Letter-name fluency and keyboard mapping
  • Fine motor control and hand-eye coordination through coloring
  • Written music comprehension and notation accuracy

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