Now your students will have the technical tools needed to achieve artistic performances. They will encounter skills in four areas—playing naturally (physical aspects), moving freely (around the keyboard), playing beautifully (tone production) and playing artistically. The technical goals are accomplished through three types of activities—patterned exercises with necessary repetitions to make the technique feel natural, artistic etudes that showcase the student’s technique in an artistic musical setting and appealing and descriptive exercises called Technique Tools. The nine Technique Tools in Level 1A relate to relaxed shoulders, arm weight, moving freely, strong fingertips, finger weights, repeated notes, thumb position, finger independence and gentle hand rock. Each page in the Technique Book correlates with a specific page in the Lesson Book; when the Lesson, Theory, Performance and Technique books are used together, they offer a fully integrated and unparalleled comprehensive approach to piano instruction.

Now your students will have the technical tools needed to achieve artistic performances. They will encounter skills in four areas—playing naturally (physical aspects), moving freely (around the keyboard), playing beautifully (tone production) and playing artistically. The technical goals are accomplished through three types of activities—patterned exercises with necessary repetitions to make the technique feel natural, artistic etudes that showcase the student’s technique in an artistic musical setting and appealing and descriptive exercises called Technique Tools. The nine Technique Tools in Level 1A relate to relaxed shoulders, arm weight, moving freely, strong fingertips, finger weights, repeated notes, thumb position, finger independence and gentle hand rock. Each page in the Technique Book correlates with a specific page in the Lesson Book; when the Lesson, Theory, Performance and Technique books are used together, they offer a fully integrated and unparalleled comprehensive approach to piano instruction.

Perfect for organizing practice time for any student in Alfred’s Premier Piano Course Level 1A--6, this book includes 36 lesson assignment sheets, a performance repertoire list and a dictionary of musical terms. The 2-page weekly layout provides a simple assignment grid that allows the teacher to write the assignment and practice suggestions efficiently, using only a minimum of lesson time. A practice chart, blank music staves and parent-teacher notepad area complete the easy-to-read format.

Technique 5 continues and expands on the technical and artistic tools learned in Technique books 1A--4. The six new Technique Tools introduced are: Even Sixteenth Notes, Playing Grace Notes, Body Balance, Over and Back, Building Scale Velocity, and Sustained Notes. Artistic Etudes showcase a student's technique in an expressive musical setting, and Hands-Together Workshops focus on developing the skills necessary for coordinating hands-together playing. Masterwork Etudes provide training to play standard masterworks. Each page in the Technique Book correlates with a specific page in the Lesson Book.

Alfred's Premier Piano Course: Jazz, Rags & Blues Book 1A includes original pieces that reinforce concepts introduced in the Lesson Book 1A. Popular composer Martha Mier has composed all new music in a variety of styles, including ragtime, boogie, and jazz. Each piece has a duet accompaniment that adds harmonic interest and rhythmic stability. The pieces in the book correlate page-by-page with the materials in Lesson Book 1A.

Technique 2A continues and expands on the technical and artistic tools learned in Technique books 1A and 1B. The seven new Technique Tools introduced are: dynamic shaping, crossing over the thumb, solid-sounding chords, two-note slurs, seamless melodies, balance between melody and accompaniment, and damper pedal footwork. Artistic Etudes showcase a student’s technique in an expressive musical setting, and Hands-Together Workshops focus on developing the skills necessary for coordinating hands-together playing. Each page in the Technique Book correlates with a specific page in the Lesson Book.

Technique 6 continues and expands on the technical and artistic tools learned in Technique books 1A--5. Four new Technique Tools clearly present technical goals through appealing and descriptive exercises. Artistic Etudes showcase a student's technique in an expressive musical setting and Masterwork Etudes provide training to play standard masterworks. Each page in the Technique book correlates with a specific page in the Lesson book. Technique Tools: * Slur Gestures * Voicing the Melody * The Soft Pedal---Una Corda * Trills

Technique 5 continues and expands on the technical and artistic tools learned in Technique books 1A--4. The six new Technique Tools introduced are: Even Sixteenth Notes, Playing Grace Notes, Body Balance, Over and Back, Building Scale Velocity, and Sustained Notes. Artistic Etudes showcase a student's technique in an expressive musical setting, and Hands-Together Workshops focus on developing the skills necessary for coordinating hands-together playing. Masterwork Etudes provide training to play standard masterworks. Each page in the Technique Book correlates with a specific page in the Lesson Book.

The technical tools and artistic skills learned in Technique 1A are enhanced and expanded in Technique 1B. Four new technique tools are introduced that relate to smooth legato, crisp staccato, rising wrist and amazing phrasing. Patterned exercises provide repetitions that make technique feel natural and artistic etudes showcase a student’s technique in an expressive musical setting. New to this level are Hands-Together Workshops that focus on developing the skills necessary for coordinating hands-together playing. Each page in the Technique Book correlates with a specific page in the Lesson Book.

Technique 2A continues and expands on the technical and artistic tools learned in Technique books 1A and 1B. The seven new Technique Tools introduced are: dynamic shaping, crossing over the thumb, solid-sounding chords, two-note slurs, seamless melodies, balance between melody and accompaniment, and damper pedal footwork. Artistic Etudes showcase a student’s technique in an expressive musical setting, and Hands-Together Workshops focus on developing the skills necessary for coordinating hands-together playing. Each page in the Technique Book correlates with a specific page in the Lesson Book.