Alfred's Basic Piano Prep Course: Technic Book A: Piano Book
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Alfred's Basic Piano Prep Course: Technic Book A: Piano Book
For the Young Beginner
By Willard A. Palmer, Morton Manus, and Amanda Vick Lethco
Level: A
Item: 00-6431
$9.99
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Description
Technical exercises and warm-ups carefully prepared to fit precisely with materials presented in the Lesson Books. Each exercise is coordinated page-by-page with the Prep Course Lesson Books.
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About the Authors
Dr. Willard Palmer stands as a globally recognized musician, scholar, and educator who produced 789 published compositions across multiple genres and instruments. His prolific output includes methods for accordion, piano, Hammond Chord Organ, and guitar, alongside numerous solo pieces and choral works. Many of his publications have been translated into German, Japanese, French, Dutch, and Spanish, extending his influence far beyond English-speaking audiences.
Palmer's distinguished career was built on a foundation of early musical excellence. A child prodigy who performed piano on radio at age 13, he studied under Mae Vardeman, whose instruction in proper piano technique helped develop his improvisational abilities. His higher education took him through Whitworth College and Millsaps College in Mississippi, where he remained active in radio performances and ensemble work. He later earned a scholarship to study at the Conservatory of Leipzig in Germany before pursuing postgraduate studies at the University of Houston, where he joined the faculty.
At the University of Houston, Palmer taught accordion for 18 years, establishing the institution's first successful college-level accordion courses. His scholarly pursuits ultimately focused on Baroque and Classical music, earning him worldwide recognition as an authority on Baroque ornamentation. This expertise shaped the acclaimed Alfred Masterworks series. Palmer received a Doctor of Humanities degree in 1971 and a Doctor of Music degree in 1983 in recognition of his musicological contributions. He served as director of the Riemenschneider Bach Institute and was active in professional organizations including the American Federation of Musicians Local #65, the American Accordionists' Association, and ASCAP. He also served as choir director at Memorial Lutheran Church in Houston for many years.
Palmer's distinguished career was built on a foundation of early musical excellence. A child prodigy who performed piano on radio at age 13, he studied under Mae Vardeman, whose instruction in proper piano technique helped develop his improvisational abilities. His higher education took him through Whitworth College and Millsaps College in Mississippi, where he remained active in radio performances and ensemble work. He later earned a scholarship to study at the Conservatory of Leipzig in Germany before pursuing postgraduate studies at the University of Houston, where he joined the faculty.
At the University of Houston, Palmer taught accordion for 18 years, establishing the institution's first successful college-level accordion courses. His scholarly pursuits ultimately focused on Baroque and Classical music, earning him worldwide recognition as an authority on Baroque ornamentation. This expertise shaped the acclaimed Alfred Masterworks series. Palmer received a Doctor of Humanities degree in 1971 and a Doctor of Music degree in 1983 in recognition of his musicological contributions. He served as director of the Riemenschneider Bach Institute and was active in professional organizations including the American Federation of Musicians Local #65, the American Accordionists' Association, and ASCAP. He also served as choir director at Memorial Lutheran Church in Houston for many years.
Morton Manus served as president of Alfred Music Publishing Co., Inc. for over six decades, from 1952 to 2016. His father, Sam Manus, originally founded the company in 1922 as Manus Music in New York's Tin Pan Alley, specializing in popular sheet music. In 1930, Sam merged his business with Alfred & Company, founded by Alfred Haase, creating the combined Alfred Music brand that continues today. Morton joined the company in the late 1940s after earning a business degree from City College of New York and eventually took over leadership when his father retired.
As a clarinetist and pianist, Morton transformed Alfred Music during the 1950s by recognizing the market demand for quality music education resources. He spearheaded the creation of instructional series for accordion, guitar, piano, and recorder, positioning the company beyond simple sheet music publishing and toward becoming a music education leader. The company's growth necessitated significant expansion: the headquarters relocated from New York to Los Angeles in 1975, with a distribution center established in upstate New York.
Under Morton's continued leadership, his sons Ron and Steve joined the enterprise in 1988 and 1992 respectively, further broadening the company's reach. Together they expanded internationally with offices in Australia, Germany, Singapore, and the United Kingdom while developing instructional methods and performance materials. In 2005, Alfred Music acquired Warner Bros. Publications, gaining access to the EMI Catalogue Partnership and establishing a long-term relationship with Warner/Chappell Music.
As a clarinetist and pianist, Morton transformed Alfred Music during the 1950s by recognizing the market demand for quality music education resources. He spearheaded the creation of instructional series for accordion, guitar, piano, and recorder, positioning the company beyond simple sheet music publishing and toward becoming a music education leader. The company's growth necessitated significant expansion: the headquarters relocated from New York to Los Angeles in 1975, with a distribution center established in upstate New York.
Under Morton's continued leadership, his sons Ron and Steve joined the enterprise in 1988 and 1992 respectively, further broadening the company's reach. Together they expanded internationally with offices in Australia, Germany, Singapore, and the United Kingdom while developing instructional methods and performance materials. In 2005, Alfred Music acquired Warner Bros. Publications, gaining access to the EMI Catalogue Partnership and establishing a long-term relationship with Warner/Chappell Music.
Dr. Amanda Vick Lethco is the co-creator of Alfred's Basic Piano Library, one of the world's most widely used piano methods, which she developed alongside Dr. Willard Palmer and Morton Manus. A graduate of Northwestern University with degrees in Piano Performance, Music Education, and a Master's in Piano Performance, she also studied with renowned pedagogues including James Friskin at Juilliard, Rudolph Ganz at Chicago Musical College, and Douglas Moore at Columbia University.
Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Lethco served as Professor Emeritus of Piano Pedagogy at the University of Texas at Austin and received an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Whitworth College in Brookhaven, Mississippi. Beyond her groundbreaking method book, she co-authored Creating Music at the Piano with Dr. Palmer and has been recognized in the International Who's Who of Musicians and the World Who's Who of Women.
Dr. Lethco maintained an active presence in music education through recitals, private teaching in major cities including New York, San Antonio, and Houston, and extensive workshop leadership. She served as a clinician at numerous national conventions and conducted educational seminars across Europe, Canada, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific region, making her influence felt on a global scale.
Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Lethco served as Professor Emeritus of Piano Pedagogy at the University of Texas at Austin and received an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Whitworth College in Brookhaven, Mississippi. Beyond her groundbreaking method book, she co-authored Creating Music at the Piano with Dr. Palmer and has been recognized in the International Who's Who of Musicians and the World Who's Who of Women.
Dr. Lethco maintained an active presence in music education through recitals, private teaching in major cities including New York, San Antonio, and Houston, and extensive workshop leadership. She served as a clinician at numerous national conventions and conducted educational seminars across Europe, Canada, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific region, making her influence felt on a global scale.