Alfred's Basic Piano Prep Course: Technic Book A: For the Young Beginner: Piano
For the Young Beginner
By Willard A. Palmer, Morton Manus, and Amanda Vick Lethco
Level: A
Item: 00-PB-0001040
$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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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred's Basic Piano Library
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
24
SKU:
00-PB-0001040
More about this title
About the Composer: Willard A. Palmer
Willard A. Palmer authored nearly 800 published compositions spanning accordion, piano, guitar, organ, and choral music, many translated into German, Japanese, French, Dutch, and Spanish. His early training at the piano under Mae Vardeman established the technical foundation that would define his pedagogical approach throughout his career. He studied at the Conservatory of Leipzig on scholarship and later joined the University of Houston faculty, where he taught accordion for 18 years and became recognized as a leading authority on Baroque music ornamentation.
Palmer's scholarly rigor shaped the Alfred Masterworks series and earned him Doctor of Humanities and Doctor of Music degrees. Beyond his compositional and teaching work, he served as director of the Riemenschneider Bach Institute and was active in professional organizations including the American Federation of Musicians and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. His contributions to both performance technique and musicological research established him as a global figure in music education.
Why we love this
Palmer's Prep Course materials have stood the test of time because they understand how young hands learn. The coordination between this Technic Book and the Lesson Books means every exercise reinforces exactly what students are studying that week, eliminating guesswork and building genuine confidence. Teachers trust these books because they're designed by someone who spent decades watching beginners develop, not someone writing exercises in the abstract.
What to expect
These exercises feel purposeful rather than formulaic. Each one builds a specific physical skill, finger independence, hand position, basic coordination, that students will need immediately in their pieces. The writing is clear and direct, making the work feel manageable for small hands and young minds still building stamina.
Who it's for
Young pianists at the earliest stage of study, typically ages 5-8, who are working through the Alfred's Basic Piano Prep Course Lesson Books. Parents and teachers guiding beginner students benefit from having focused, coordinated technical material that builds hand position, finger strength, and basic coordination alongside repertoire study.
How to get the most out of it
- Warm up with these exercises before each lesson, treating them as the technical foundation for the new material your student is about to encounter.
- Work through the exercises in the order presented; each one builds finger strength and independence in direct preparation for the corresponding lesson page.
- Keep the tempo steady and controlled rather than fast; accuracy and evenness matter far more than speed at this stage.
- Use these pages to identify which technical challenges your student might face before they encounter them in the lesson material.
How to use it
Use this as your warm-up and technical preparation book in every student lesson from the moment they begin the Prep Course. The 24 pages are designed to progress throughout the first year of study, so students encounter new technical concepts at the exact moment they need them in their lesson material.
Skills your students will build
- Proper hand position and posture at the keyboard
- Finger independence and strengthening
- Reading basic note values and rhythm patterns
- Coordinating both hands in simple patterns
- Building consistent finger technique before speed is introduced
- Understanding scale and arpeggio fundamentals