[.ca] Play Piano Today! - Level 1 (Paperback) (ISBN 0634021834)

Not a self teaching program!:
Do not be fooled by the cover; this book cannot be used by absolute beginners to teach themselves. I decided to try and learn an instrument and since we have a piano I thought if kids can learn to play then surely I can as well. I have no music background and I don't have an experienced pianist friend that can look over my shoulder and keep me on the right path. So I choose this book because of its proclamation of being a self teaching guide with an included CD to let you hear how each song should sound. The book starts out okay with some basic instruction of where to put your hands and introduces the notes each finger will play. That was okay but when I plunked away at the first few songs I didn't think they sounded right. I then played the CD and what a joke. It does not give you a simple example of the notes played correctly but rather an enhanced version of the song with background rhythm and added accompaniment that made it impossible for my untrained ear to pick out the notes I needed to play. As I worked my way into the book I found the lessons progressed way too quickly and the instructions were far too vague. Once additional notes where introduced beyond the first 5 finger position I started to get lost. There are only a few places where the book shows which fingers should play which keys by including numbers over the notes so I had to start guessing - not a good way to build a foundation. The CD does not give any additional help and as I stated above the tracks have so much filler added that you can't tell what the notes should sound like. I got a third of the way into the book and I now, sadly, have to give up. It has really discouraged me from trying to learn to play the piano. Do not buy this series if you do not have a piano teacher.

Great book!:
I have a musical background from Middle School through my Freshman Year of college and thought I could pick up the piano once before...that was before this book I tried a different one...and THIS book is wonderful! The pace is great! There are a few songs that are cheesy (even for how much beginning knowledge it has) thus I only give it 4 stars instead of 5...I have the DVD as well and find that it's sort of helpful...just because it gives the illusion of being taught...in other words, with the DVD it's good to hear things like, "Play slowly first" and "This will take awhile." That was reassuring.