Alfred's Basic Piano Prep Course: Activity & Ear Training Book A

Alfred’s Basic Piano Library was created to be a musically sound and enjoyable method series for beginning pianists of all ages. The Basic Piano Prep Course was designed for young beginners, typically five years or older. The selections in the Prep Course take into account the shorter attention spans and smaller hands of the young beginner. Many of the pieces have teacher/parent play-along duets to enhance the student’s joy of making music. Colorful illustrations accompany nearly every selection and help make the music concepts come to life. New musical terms and concepts are highlighted as they are introduced so that new material is clear to the student.

In the Level A Prep Course books students learn how to sit properly at the piano, how to position their hands, and about finger numbers. Black keys are used for keyboard orientation and then white keys are introduced. The first exercises are pre-reading to work on finger recognition before reading on the staff begins. Gradually one handed playing in treble clef and bass clef is incorporated, along with 4/4 time signature and a few dynamic markings.