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Adult Piano Adventures
Adult Piano Adventures All-In-One Lesson Book 1: A Comprehensive Piano Course
(Faber Piano Adventures ). Adult Piano Adventures enables the adult beginner to play music for pleasure while developing musical understanding. This comprehensive "All-In-One" book includes lessons, technique, and theory in a single volume for ease of use. Book 1 presents the fundamentals of music notation, chord playing, and musical form. The redesigned layout improves information hierarchy, putting focus on key concepts and step-by-step learning. Online support is now included, with over two hours of instructional videos and audio accompaniment tracks that inspire rhythmic vitality and artistic expression. Songs include: Amazing Grace * The Can-Can * Catch a Falling Star * Danny Boy * Eine Kleine Nachtmusik * The Entertainer * Greensleeves * The Lion Sleeps Tonight * and more!
- GenresMusicNonfictionReference
184 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 27, 2022
3.5 ⭐
Naughty Nancy and Randy Randall Faber have created an excellent adult beginner’s piano course with their ‘Adult Piano Adventures – Book 1’. It’ll get you playing almost immediately but you may feel, particularly for the first half of the book, like it’s holding your hand a little too firmly and getting you to look left and right a few too many times before you cross(-hand) that treacherous…. Arpeggio?
By the end of the first 130-odd pages you’ll be pretty confident with very rudimentary music theory, orientation and reading of the staff and, perhaps most importantly, you’ll be able to play a couple of pentascales (C & G major) and have a handful of, admittedly campy and less-than-thrilling, songs under your belt. Throughout the units there are also tips on technique and optional Teacher-Student duets which I imagine would be a lot of fun.
I do believe this initial period of the book is important for early development, however, even for the absolute beginner, I feel like it’s only from about Unit 12 that you’ll begin to feel at all challenged by the course material and therefore feel a sense of achievement upon “mastering” a new tune. The final 40-50 pages are dedicated to teaching one-octave C & G Major scales and their primary chords while learning a slew of relevant new songs. While none of these songs are likely to stay in your permanent repertoire, there’s still fun to be had in arrangements such as Haydn’s ‘Theme from Trumpet Concerto’, ‘The Entertainer, Beethoven’s ‘Alexander March’, Borodin’s ‘Polovtsian Dance’, and a host of others. You can find downloadable audio accompaniment tracks for each of the book’s arrangements at https://pianoadventures.com/adult/adu...
Probably the greatest difficulty as an adult beginner is, primarily, finding the time to play (particularly if you decided to start at the same time as you were expecting a newborn *cough*), but also trying to quiet the voice in your head that keeps telling you you’re progressing too slowly. The problem is that we already have such a large collection of music that we know and love, and we want to immediately start playing those masterpieces instead of simplified arrangements of less-beloved compositions. Well, unfortunately you’re not going to be banging out Liszt’s ‘La Campanella’ or Chopin’s ‘Waterfall’ etude anytime soon so suck it up Rachmaniknob! These things do take time and effort.
Lastly, it’s probably important to mention that I have been supplementing this with the Piano Adventure’s ‘Scale and Chord Books’, which I only recently found out existed, and a dedicated Music Theory book (Alfred’s Essentials of Music Theory) which potentially relegates the requirements of this book to a structured songbook. The idea of only knowing C and G major Scales after 180 pages was killing me, as it probably will you, and I do feel that my fluidity in playing has benefited greatly from even just the first Scale and Chord book. As for the dedicated theory book, you could get away without it but I found the theory element of Faber’s to be quite lacking and, particularly for an adult student, it’s really quite important to understand what’s going on behind-the-scenes of all that glorious music!
Adios from me and your friendly neighbourhood Fabers,
And good luck with your own Piano Adventures!
Naughty Nancy and Randy Randall Faber have created an excellent adult beginner’s piano course with their ‘Adult Piano Adventures – Book 1’. It’ll get you playing almost immediately but you may feel, particularly for the first half of the book, like it’s holding your hand a little too firmly and getting you to look left and right a few too many times before you cross(-hand) that treacherous…. Arpeggio?
By the end of the first 130-odd pages you’ll be pretty confident with very rudimentary music theory, orientation and reading of the staff and, perhaps most importantly, you’ll be able to play a couple of pentascales (C & G major) and have a handful of, admittedly campy and less-than-thrilling, songs under your belt. Throughout the units there are also tips on technique and optional Teacher-Student duets which I imagine would be a lot of fun.
I do believe this initial period of the book is important for early development, however, even for the absolute beginner, I feel like it’s only from about Unit 12 that you’ll begin to feel at all challenged by the course material and therefore feel a sense of achievement upon “mastering” a new tune. The final 40-50 pages are dedicated to teaching one-octave C & G Major scales and their primary chords while learning a slew of relevant new songs. While none of these songs are likely to stay in your permanent repertoire, there’s still fun to be had in arrangements such as Haydn’s ‘Theme from Trumpet Concerto’, ‘The Entertainer, Beethoven’s ‘Alexander March’, Borodin’s ‘Polovtsian Dance’, and a host of others. You can find downloadable audio accompaniment tracks for each of the book’s arrangements at https://pianoadventures.com/adult/adu...
Probably the greatest difficulty as an adult beginner is, primarily, finding the time to play (particularly if you decided to start at the same time as you were expecting a newborn *cough*), but also trying to quiet the voice in your head that keeps telling you you’re progressing too slowly. The problem is that we already have such a large collection of music that we know and love, and we want to immediately start playing those masterpieces instead of simplified arrangements of less-beloved compositions. Well, unfortunately you’re not going to be banging out Liszt’s ‘La Campanella’ or Chopin’s ‘Waterfall’ etude anytime soon so suck it up Rachmaniknob! These things do take time and effort.
Lastly, it’s probably important to mention that I have been supplementing this with the Piano Adventure’s ‘Scale and Chord Books’, which I only recently found out existed, and a dedicated Music Theory book (Alfred’s Essentials of Music Theory) which potentially relegates the requirements of this book to a structured songbook. The idea of only knowing C and G major Scales after 180 pages was killing me, as it probably will you, and I do feel that my fluidity in playing has benefited greatly from even just the first Scale and Chord book. As for the dedicated theory book, you could get away without it but I found the theory element of Faber’s to be quite lacking and, particularly for an adult student, it’s really quite important to understand what’s going on behind-the-scenes of all that glorious music!
Adios from me and your friendly neighbourhood Fabers,
And good luck with your own Piano Adventures!
October 9, 2017
I great method book, especially for a self-taught adult learner. Provides a good solid base for future learning. My confidence level as I move on to the second book is high. I feel like I can learn anything I set my sights on.
December 7, 2024
A nice refresher on how to read music. Got decent at every song except 2 I think cause like let’s keep it movin’. On to book 2!
January 30, 2025
This is an amazing guide that helped me get started with my piano journey. As someone with very minimal experience playing instruments, the books ability to explain concepts in an easy manner and intuitive exercises made my experience fun and enjoyable. One major bonus point are the videos included in the book to help you see and hear what each piece should sound when done correctly. I definitely recommend this book for those who are getting started in their piano playing journey as adults!
February 23, 2025
I don't like her methods :/
Alfred's Basic Adult All-in-One Course, Book 1 is just something else ^_^
Alfred's Basic Adult All-in-One Course, Book 1 is just something else ^_^
June 11, 2022
This is an excellent resource for anyone starting their piano journey. I highly recommend this to adult learners. You will make quick progress.
July 31, 2025
dobre na start
September 13, 2025
I am finding this to be an excellent resource for high school students who have never taken piano but have a lot of experience with taking music, say in band.
December 8, 2025
Heard about it a lot. Want to have a look
January 31, 2009
Love this book for teenage or adult beginners at the piano.
January 15, 2015
This book is easy to follow along with. I use it for my beginner piano class in college and don't have trouble understanding anything
February 14, 2022
Brilliant!
I thoroughly enjoy how the Faber's have compiled this book for Adults. Moves forward quickly enough, but not so that it overwhelms.
I thoroughly enjoy how the Faber's have compiled this book for Adults. Moves forward quickly enough, but not so that it overwhelms.
July 27, 2022
Useful for learning basics of reading sheet music.
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July 2, 2016First piano book for piano lessons starting spring 2015.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews