Alfred's Self-Teaching Adult Piano Course: Piano Book & Online Audio

Palmer's decades of teaching adults means this book avoids the condescension that can plague self-instruction materials. The integrated study pages genuinely function as a substitute teacher, explaining concepts before asking you to apply them, rather than burying answers in appendices. Five beloved songs (including Over the Rainbow and Singin' in the Rain) make the book feel like a bridge to actual playing rather than an endless drill.

Friendly and encouraging without being patronizing. The explanations feel like they're coming from someone who understands adult learners, not someone talking down to them. Moving through the examples builds genuine competence; by the time you reach the bonus pieces, you'll feel the satisfaction of playing songs you actually recognize.

Adults returning to piano after years away or picking it up for the first time. You work at your own pace and prefer guided, structured learning without paying for weekly lessons. The book assumes no prior music reading ability and builds from the ground up.

• Work through the study guide pages before tackling each musical example. Palmer designed these explanations to stick better when you understand the theory first.
• Use the online audio recordings to hear how each piece should sound before attempting it yourself. This prevents developing inaccurate habits in isolation.
• Practice the bonus pieces once you've completed the main curriculum; they reward your progress with instantly recognizable melodies.
• Return to earlier examples periodically. Self-teaching works best when you reinforce fundamentals across multiple sessions rather than rushing forward.

Use this as the core text for adult group classes or one-on-one instruction. The recorded examples also make it an excellent resource for community centers and continuing education programs where students may practice independently between lessons.

• Reading treble clef and basic notation (whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes)
• Understanding major and minor scales, key signatures, and chord construction
• Proper hand position, posture, and basic technique for avoiding injury
• Sight-reading at a beginner level
• Playing simple melodies and chord accompaniments with both hands
• Recognizing and executing basic musical expression marks and tempo indications