Piano Adventures - Lesson Book - Level 1

FWIW, I am an experienced teacher with a performance degree from a major U.S. music conservatory.The Faber & Faber books are hands-down the best I have seen for that crucial mix of pedagogy, fun, and variety in songs. The Bastien books, which I used growing up, take awhile to add real variety. The newer kid-targeted Alfred books are a good alternative to these, but the older adult Alfred books are a miserable mix of musical monotony. There needs to be harmonic and melodic variety or else students will not be inspired (and teachers will be musically murdered if all the songs are based on the C 5-finger position).While I admire some of the pedagogy in the Thompson and Schaum series, I find that the books feel "outdated" in their ability to communicate with young beginners in the 2000's. It's a bit like looking at older editions from the 19th century: great for serious study, but harder to read and a bit out-of-touch. I find that Thompson/Schaum throw an awful lot of technical information early on, and this can be overwhelming to the beginner. Kids also like lively, colorful illustrations. I only bring up these details because I think the F&F books are enjoyed by my students more than others.The pacing of the F&F books is suitably slow for the young student these days. They are designed for someone who doesn't practice every day, or isn't fully invested in music, which is a realistic approach given the current student who is overscheduled and isn't committed to regular music practice. I'm just sayin'! For the more motivated students, or ones slightly older, the F&F "for the older beginner" series is much faster in its pacing, and the illustrations and song selections are appropriate for older students.On that note, if you are using the basic Piano Adventures series, keep in mind that these are really geared for YOUNG students, especially the first few books. If you are starting off a 3rd grader or 4th grader, they will often be unimpressed by the lack of "cool" in the books.The biggest challenge of method books is that, if you start the students when they are older, by the time they want to learn a Taylor Swift song, if they haven't made some real progress musically and technically, it becomes a long, hard slog. Get them into these books, get them practicing early, and by the time they are in middle school they will be able to learn the songs they want. If you're lucky, the list might include Bach and Ellington.

I have taught piano to elementary school students and adults for 15+ years. There are many tried and true piano series out there and most of them have pictures and printed font from the 1940's and 1950's. They look dated and boring. Not this book! The husband and wife team who put out the Faber and Faber piano series have created a new, fresh look and feel while still presenting the basics of piano technique and music theory. Your student may be learning a classic piece like Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, but the accompaniments are new and gorgeous. Many have wonderful teacher duet arrangements that are great the adult learner who does not want to learn 'baby' songs as they begin acquiring a new skill. I love that this book includes pages of fun activities that teach music theory (counting, rhythm, dynamics) in such a fun way that the kids learn without realizing it. I think this book is an awesome addition to any piano teacher's list of resource books for their students. Try one, you will be hooked and want to buy them all!

Most useful and engaging

Perfect for beginners who are learning piano! Easy to read and a fun resource.

Good book for kids to practice

I see a lot of 1 and 2 star reviews complaining about this Level 1 book being too advanced for a beginner. That's probably because you were supposed to start with the Primer level book - it teaches you the very basics. I'm helping a family member with this Level 1 book and it is still challenging, but it's laid out to introduce new skills in an orderly manner. Recommending the series, but please start with the Primer!

Arrived so fast in perfect condition with clear instructions to start learning piano playing

Great piano book for beginners. It is designed to be used with a teacher, as it has accompaniments written for the teacher to play as a duet with the student. The illustrations are simple but colorful and add a touch to the layout of the book, making it atractive for kids.

Piano Adventures - Lesson Book - Level 1This book is a fantastic resource for beginners learning piano. The lessons are well-structured, gradually building skills while keeping things fun and easy to follow. My child stays engaged thanks to the illustrations, songs, and step-by-step instructions. The pacing is just right — not too slow, but not overwhelming.What I love most is how it balances technique with creativity. Students get exposed to real music early on, which builds both confidence and excitement. It’s also a great companion to other beginner books in the series, but even on its own, it's a solid foundation for any young pianist.Whether you're teaching your own child or working with a student, this book makes the process smooth and rewarding.

Genuine... product i received

Great book recommended by piano tutor. Graded music pieces.

Great

Good