Alfred's Piano 101: The Short Course Lesson Book 1: Piano Book & CD

Lancaster and Renfrow designed this course for actual adult learners, not children working down from a comprehensive method. The 6-week pacing respects busy schedules while the scaffolded lesson structure ensures adults don't feel rushed or overwhelmed. This is how group piano pedagogy should work at the college level.

Working through this book feels like discovering what your hands can do, one achievable step at a time. The lessons build confidence through clear explanations and balanced repetition, so you're always ready for what comes next.

College-age and adult learners taking a 6 to 8-week piano course who have no music background and want to experience music-making without a multi-year commitment. This suits non-music majors in continuing education programs, summer classes, or community college settings where structured, time-bound instruction is essential.

• Use the included CD to hear how completed pieces should sound before you start learning them; this gives your ear a clear target and builds confidence.
• Review previous unit materials before each new lesson to lock in fundamentals; adult learners benefit from deliberate reinforcement rather than constant forward motion.
• Work through the lesson balance of new concepts and reinforcement materials in order; each one prepares you for the next without gaps.
• Practice reading the music on the page first, then use the CD as a reference for rhythm and tempo rather than a crutch.

This is the core text for any short-term piano course at the college or community college level. It works equally well for summer session classes, evening non-credit programs, or continuing education sequences where enrollment is built around a compressed calendar. Pair it with the General MIDI disk if students want additional practice accompaniments beyond what the CD provides.

• Reading treble clef notation and basic rhythm
• Hand position and touch at the keyboard
• Playing major and minor scales and basic chord progressions
• Sight-reading simple melodies and accompaniment patterns
• Understanding piano technique for leisure playing
• Interpreting basic dynamic and tempo markings