For someone learning piano for fun, but thinking of using ABRSM Grade 1 as a learning tool, is there any advantage to buying the latest book (2023/2024) vs an older one? Do the syllabi change for any reason apart from simply selling more books?
None whatsoever. There are hundreds of pieces that can take you on a successful, step by step progression and you can choose any syllabus or indeed exam board. Keep in mind that exam syllabuses don't cover every aspect of musicianship (I'm thinking of improvisation and composition) and should be thought of as a by-product of learning rather than an end goal. As a side note, the detailed tutorials I produce on the old 2021 & 2022 syllabus are now available to all through my TH-cam channel or through my website (www.julianlambert.org) whereas the new syllabus tutorials are only available through subscription.
@@JulianLambert Thanks, that's really good to know! I still want a book as I want to learn to read sheet music, but your videos will no doubt help a lot too (especially if I choose a 2021/2022 book for now while I get started).
I started using the Faber adult piano adventures, there's two books of them. Then you can move on to level 3 of the normal piano adventures. The content seems to be structured very well. I concentrated on each piece and wouldn't move on until I was happy with it. Now and then I'd go back and play some of the older pieces to find I had improved, which is great to keep your confidence up. I don't know if thats the best approach but it worked for me. I had no intentions of going down the exam route when I first started, but I guess just to gauge myself, I picked up the abrsm g1 books. Now I think I'm going to book the exam. I like to try and work them out for myself, having never heard them before and when I think I've got it, and up to a reasonable speed, I will pop on and see if Julian has covered it. I have a funny mentality where I start off disliking something but by the end of learning it it can become one of my favourites. Personally I think it would be a difficult start with abrsm books alone, they're not lesson books and you could waste time without knowing the proper techniques. I'm sure someone who's had a lot more experience than me, may know more. Good luck anyway, learning piano is hard but its one of the most rewarding things I've ever done. Worth every minute of my time.
@@GScrubb181Thank you for this very thoughtful, measured, and polite response. I just started with Adult Piano Adventures (total newbie, with a wonderfully enthusiastic teacher); The Detective is a piece I just LOVE and want to learn-my first look at Julian’s teaching, but WoW! I like that he teaches what you need to know to read the music and play the piece! PeAcE! 🧡🥳😊
This was super helpful thank you so much 😊
Thanks
Thank you so much, I really appreciate your kind support.
For someone learning piano for fun, but thinking of using ABRSM Grade 1 as a learning tool, is there any advantage to buying the latest book (2023/2024) vs an older one? Do the syllabi change for any reason apart from simply selling more books?
None whatsoever. There are hundreds of pieces that can take you on a successful, step by step progression and you can choose any syllabus or indeed exam board. Keep in mind that exam syllabuses don't cover every aspect of musicianship (I'm thinking of improvisation and composition) and should be thought of as a by-product of learning rather than an end goal.
As a side note, the detailed tutorials I produce on the old 2021 & 2022 syllabus are now available to all through my TH-cam channel or through my website (www.julianlambert.org) whereas the new syllabus tutorials are only available through subscription.
@@JulianLambert Thanks, that's really good to know! I still want a book as I want to learn to read sheet music, but your videos will no doubt help a lot too (especially if I choose a 2021/2022 book for now while I get started).
I started using the Faber adult piano adventures, there's two books of them. Then you can move on to level 3 of the normal piano adventures. The content seems to be structured very well. I concentrated on each piece and wouldn't move on until I was happy with it. Now and then I'd go back and play some of the older pieces to find I had improved, which is great to keep your confidence up. I don't know if thats the best approach but it worked for me.
I had no intentions of going down the exam route when I first started, but I guess just to gauge myself, I picked up the abrsm g1 books. Now I think I'm going to book the exam.
I like to try and work them out for myself, having never heard them before and when I think I've got it, and up to a reasonable speed, I will pop on and see if Julian has covered it.
I have a funny mentality where I start off disliking something but by the end of learning it it can become one of my favourites.
Personally I think it would be a difficult start with abrsm books alone, they're not lesson books and you could waste time without knowing the proper techniques. I'm sure someone who's had a lot more experience than me, may know more.
Good luck anyway, learning piano is hard but its one of the most rewarding things I've ever done. Worth every minute of my time.
@@GScrubb181Thank you for this very thoughtful, measured, and polite response. I just started with Adult Piano Adventures (total newbie, with a wonderfully enthusiastic teacher); The Detective is a piece I just LOVE and want to learn-my first look at Julian’s teaching, but WoW! I like that he teaches what you need to know to read the music and play the piece! PeAcE! 🧡🥳😊