Ive found these books so helpful! Id played guitar for 20yrs, but never actually learned sheet music, apart from the basics. With piano, i was trying to learn stuff which was well above my skill level and was getting really frustrated. I took it back to basics and got these books and theyve been amazing! Cant recommended them enough!
Nice review. I am an adult returning student (self teaching) and I used these books to review and get back to playing. They were perfect for me. My only real complaint was that the transition after adult book 2 to the regular series is terrible. I purchased the 3b books (mostly used, thankfully) because that's what is suggested. At least half of the material in 3b is in adult 2. It was a waste of money. I should have switched to another series like Alfred Premier or gone straight to PA book 4. It would have been so helpful to have had an adult book 3. I think there is a need for that. One of the other things I really liked about these books was lead sheets, which was totally new to me. An adult book 3 could continue and expand on that and would be great!
I have to agree with you! If they created an Adult Book 3, they could finish out the rest of the levels in the same format! Brilliant. And you're right--Faber loves to repeat material from book to book. If you go straight to Piano Adventures Level 4 it's all new material, but that is often too big of a jump ahead for most students. I'll add that to my list of things to discuss with the Fabers when we meet someday 😂 I would check out Alfred Premier Level 4, and then when you're ready for Piano Adventures Level 4, it does include a lead sheet. Great thoughts!
I have been studying piano for almost exactly one year and began from the point of an absolute beginner. I meet once a week with an instructor and spend half an hour very slowly going through the “Faber Adult Piano Adventures Book One”. I am by no means a “Natural” when it comes to comprehending music. However tremendous progress has been made from where I started one year ago. The Faber Adult Piano Adventure books are great. If you possibly can, invest in yourself and hire an instructor. It is a much easier journey.
I enjoy using Alfred Adult all in one as well especially for students who are interested in chord based playing (pop, rock, hymns, or worship music). For students who are more interested in classical music I prefer this method. Thanks for the tips on supplemental books to use as well!
I am 47, and on week 24 with my piano lesson as a complete beginner. I take 45 minutes private class once a week, and do regular exercise for 10 hours / week. I started from PA Lesson 1 (finished at week 12), then went for PA Performance 1 (finish at week 17). I saw many youtubers suggest PA all in one adult 1, and i started it from week 14 (now i am on page 92) I was struggle with hand indenpendent, so my teacher asked me to add Beyer op 101, since week 26, and now i am working exercise 28-30. I still can not fullfil the recomended Tempo on the book, like the book asks for Moderato, while i only can do at 75-80 bpm. I see PA all in one, book 1, is very limited for building technique, and Beyer op. 101 help me a lot for this part, but it is a little bit late until i realize it. PA all in one book 1, page 92, has a lot of 8th notes, while at Beyer op. 101, the 8th note start around exercise 60. It make me slow down the pace on method book (PA all in one), and spend more time for Beyer op 101. I also working with Hanon exercise, and now at exercise 3... i add one exercise every 10 weeks, but still the Tempo is lower than recommened one. I can do at Tempo 30 bpm, while the book asks for at least 60 bpm. I also buy PA Popular book 1 and Classic book 1 since week 20. I found those books start harder for me since repertoire no 6.. So here is my allocated time for training in a week (i mix them every day): 1. Hanon exercise (1 hour), add new exercise every 10 weeks. 2. Beyer op 101 (4 hour), add 3-4 new opus every week. 3. PA all in one book 1 (2 hours), add 4-6 pages, or 2-3 repertoire every week. 4. PA Popular and classic (2 hours), add one repertoire every week. Do you think the PA all in one book have enough the technique material? If it is not, can you suggest the technique book, or may be make a video about it. Thanks
Hi there, Sometimes I pair Fingerpower or scale folios with the Adult Piano Adventures All-in-One books, but if you're already in Hanon, that goes past Fingerpower. And, if you have the Complete edition of Hanon, you have all of the scales, too!
Totally agree on the age range for the adult, i also started it with a 15 y/o and it has been fantastic. For the "accelerated" path i just choose the parts to skip on the regular series and i can create my own accelerated mode according to each student, this only after ive studied and revised well all books.
Ive found these books so helpful! Id played guitar for 20yrs, but never actually learned sheet music, apart from the basics.
With piano, i was trying to learn stuff which was well above my skill level and was getting really frustrated.
I took it back to basics and got these books and theyve been amazing! Cant recommended them enough!
That's great! I've heard positive things from many adult learners using these books to teach themselves. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Nice review. I am an adult returning student (self teaching) and I used these books to review and get back to playing. They were perfect for me. My only real complaint was that the transition after adult book 2 to the regular series is terrible. I purchased the 3b books (mostly used, thankfully) because that's what is suggested. At least half of the material in 3b is in adult 2. It was a waste of money. I should have switched to another series like Alfred Premier or gone straight to PA book 4. It would have been so helpful to have had an adult book 3. I think there is a need for that. One of the other things I really liked about these books was lead sheets, which was totally new to me. An adult book 3 could continue and expand on that and would be great!
I have to agree with you! If they created an Adult Book 3, they could finish out the rest of the levels in the same format! Brilliant. And you're right--Faber loves to repeat material from book to book. If you go straight to Piano Adventures Level 4 it's all new material, but that is often too big of a jump ahead for most students. I'll add that to my list of things to discuss with the Fabers when we meet someday 😂 I would check out Alfred Premier Level 4, and then when you're ready for Piano Adventures Level 4, it does include a lead sheet. Great thoughts!
I have been studying piano for almost exactly one year and began from the point of an absolute beginner. I meet once a week with an instructor and spend half an hour very slowly going through the “Faber Adult Piano Adventures Book One”. I am by no means a “Natural” when it comes to comprehending music. However tremendous progress has been made from where I started one year ago. The Faber Adult Piano Adventure books are great. If you possibly can, invest in yourself and hire an instructor. It is a much easier journey.
Great thoughts! Thank you for sharing your experience.
I enjoy using Alfred Adult all in one as well especially for students who are interested in chord based playing (pop, rock, hymns, or worship music).
For students who are more interested in classical music I prefer this method.
Thanks for the tips on supplemental books to use as well!
Yes, Alfred All-in-One is another good one!
Thank you!
I am 47, and on week 24 with my piano lesson as a complete beginner.
I take 45 minutes private class once a week, and do regular exercise for 10 hours / week.
I started from PA Lesson 1 (finished at week 12), then went for PA Performance 1 (finish at week 17).
I saw many youtubers suggest PA all in one adult 1, and i started it from week 14 (now i am on page 92)
I was struggle with hand indenpendent, so my teacher asked me to add Beyer op 101, since week 26, and now i am working exercise 28-30. I still can not fullfil the recomended Tempo on the book, like the book asks for Moderato, while i only can do at 75-80 bpm.
I see PA all in one, book 1, is very limited for building technique, and Beyer op. 101 help me a lot for this part, but it is a little bit late until i realize it.
PA all in one book 1, page 92, has a lot of 8th notes, while at Beyer op. 101, the 8th note start around exercise 60. It make me slow down the pace on method book (PA all in one), and spend more time for Beyer op 101.
I also working with Hanon exercise, and now at exercise 3... i add one exercise every 10 weeks, but still the Tempo is lower than recommened one. I can do at Tempo 30 bpm, while the book asks for at least 60 bpm.
I also buy PA Popular book 1 and Classic book 1 since week 20. I found those books start harder for me since repertoire no 6..
So here is my allocated time for training in a week (i mix them every day):
1. Hanon exercise (1 hour), add new exercise every 10 weeks.
2. Beyer op 101 (4 hour), add 3-4 new opus every week.
3. PA all in one book 1 (2 hours), add 4-6 pages, or 2-3 repertoire every week.
4. PA Popular and classic (2 hours), add one repertoire every week.
Do you think the PA all in one book have enough the technique material? If it is not, can you suggest the technique book, or may be make a video about it. Thanks
Hi there,
Sometimes I pair Fingerpower or scale folios with the Adult Piano Adventures All-in-One books, but if you're already in Hanon, that goes past Fingerpower. And, if you have the Complete edition of Hanon, you have all of the scales, too!
Totally agree on the age range for the adult, i also started it with a 15 y/o and it has been fantastic. For the "accelerated" path i just choose the parts to skip on the regular series and i can create my own accelerated mode according to each student, this only after ive studied and revised well all books.
I like that--your own accelerated mode. That's great! Thanks for sharing.