Customer Rating:  
Summary: The book is excellent, the companion CD is bad
Comment: This book has gained its reputation through the years (since 1937). The method has been proven and the pages of the book have a genuine and attractive old fashion look.
The songs are progressively more interesting and pleasant, but the companion CD has unappealing arrangements with electronic sound which are in contrast with the book, instead of simply sticking to the piano score and the acoustic piano sound. For beginners, I think that a simple demo of how the tunes should be played is most valuable. Such are the CDs in the very well written, bound and printed The Piano Handbook (A Complete Guide for Mastering Piano, Book With CD) and also in an excellent edition of Czerny op. 599 (published by Nakas in Greece).
Also, in this book, beware of the cover; its printing is of bad quality and the red ink may leave marks to adjacent books, sheets or furniture.
So, three stars [***..] for the book with the CD, but I would give five [*****] for the contents of book, in the version without the CD (currently available from amazon for $ 6.95 but not appearing as a link to include here).
Customer Rating:
Summary: Overall very good
Comment: This book has excellent exercises for finger coordination. It moves along in a consistent manner building upon skills learned as you progress through the book. This book is not for the self learner. I could not use this book without the help of my piano teacher. I use this book along with my kids (14,11 & 8). The skills it teaches are good at any age. My only complaint is that the CD plays way too fast. If I were an advanced player I might be able to follow along, but this book is for beginners like myself.
Customer Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT CURRICULUM FOR BEGINNING STUDENTS
Comment: I teach beginning piano students and have found this book to be excellent. It teaches several points of theory along with the songs and everything is done in an easy to understand style.
This series has been around a long time, I actually studied out of it myself as a child, but it is far from dated. This book and the entire series gives a good solid core in music and piano to the new student whatever the age.
Customer Rating:
Summary: An interesting book, the pieces are fun, the CD recordings are horrible
Comment: I purchased this book as well as "The Piano Handbook". I don't feel this book is technically "bad" (It's actually pretty decent on what is played), the book - and CD seem to try a little too hard to sell itself as being "fun" at the expense of information and accuracy.
To highlight the main problem I had with this book - the CD. I listened to the CD and the piano parts were not alone but also included bells, a metronome, and a few other sounds as well - outside just the piano. I purchased the book to learn the piano, by hearing the piano piece only being played so I could study it. What did I get? Sounded more like a small band playing the music to keep kids interested. Maybe the book is just aimed for kids more than adults.
Outside the lousy CD, the songs seem to drop the person into the middle-end of the pool right off the bat. How so? Playing with two hands at the same time. I'm pretty sure this is the beginning of the series, and if I'm wrong then I apologize, but I don't think I am.
The songs felt a little too difficult at first, with almost no instruction about how to properly play. This diminishes how well it'd work for learning on one's own.
Do I feel it's an OK buy? Quite honestly, yes I do under a few circumstances:
1. Buy another book too. Personally I got "The Piano Handbook" ([...]) which I find much more helpful for the beginning stuff.
2. Try to find a teacher - especially if #1 isn't met.
3. Be prepared to work through with little use of the CD to gauge your progress. I wish I could say more positive on the CD.
I'm a beginning piano player, only playing for a very short time. If you have some knowledge already, this book may be OK for you then.
Customer Rating:
Summary: good and cheap
Comment: I have bought this book because my daughter's piano teacher recommended it. I have to inform you that the french version in Switzerland cost 4 times your price......the book is very good with exercises and practical examples. It is however for someone who is taking courses with a professional.
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