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This is a good instructional book, but it's harder than I thought it was going to be. My daughter has been playing for 3 years, & most of the songs are too hard for her.
I was surprised and delighted with this book. It's easy to play and contains many very well known pieces even if the player doesn't recognize them by name, they'll know many of them when they hear them. I would highly recommend this for anyone who wants to play a bit of classical music but is less than accomplished on the keys.
I have really enjoyed learning along with my son and daughter with these books. I love the way they are easily arranged, the artwork and the choice of songs. I would highly recommend the series.
From a teacher's perspective: I love this book. All but three songs have key signatures (F, G, D, d, ) and/or accidentals. Songs are in 3/2, 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, 3/8, 6/8. They are not, as the book implies, for REAL beginners. The silly irony of the book is that, after all of the complex keys and rhythms they include, they transposed and simplified Bach's Minuet in G.what a crack up. My students can play SOME of these songs after they've studied for about a year, but the difficulty level in the book varies quite a bit. The arrangements sound great and they are left/right hand balanced (versus having a stationary or primary chord left hand). Many use ledger lines, intermediate fingering techniques (like crossing), and even have dual bass and treble clefs.
Only three of the 29 songs use exclusively whole, half and quarter notes. All of the others use more advanced rhythms including triplets, dotted eighths, & sixteenths. It has GREAT teaching points for expression and phrasing. You can't beat the price for what you get.
All in all, mostly recognizable pieces, and it's probably a good reach for those who think they are more intermediate than they actually are (like me). What I'm finding difficult is actually the range of octaves on the left hand (lots below the C in the bass clef staff) which is where my skills are more limited.
I took 3-4 years of lessons as a 'tween, and was a very good sight reader, able to play fairly well with two hands (at the same time). I'm picking up the piano again after a 20+ year break.
There are a few pieces that I was able to move through immediately, but for the most part, they are actually requiring quite a bit of work and practice. I bought this music thinking I'd be able to roll right through it quickly, and I found that either I'm delusional about how good a pianist I was OR this is a little harder than easy piano.
The truth is probably a little of both. I actually would have liked a little more complexity in using more chords on the left hand for a fuller sound and more interesting music, so for me this is an interesting mix of easy (limited chords) and hard (notes out of my familiar range).
Definitely worth adding to your repertoire.
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