The Joy of First Year Piano

The greatest feature of this method book is that it has a series of well-thought-out pieces that gradually lead to technical independence of the hands. As I go through the book with my students, there are approximately ten tunes that get the axe, there are a few printing glitches and compound 6-8 is explained erroneously, but overall, this book is excellent. The book's page-by-page development and systematic organization allows the teacher to easily direct and develop the student's sight reading abilities as well as articulation independence of the hands. The book is a bit thin (about four or five pieces) on triads & chord development, but there's plenty of time for that later. By the time the student completes this book, they've acquired an excellent technical foundation to continue on to 'Minuet in G' and 'Fur Elise.'

... from Denes Agay. Filled with instructive and beautiful arrangements, as well as Agay's original pieces (also very good). This book alone hardly suffices for self-study (not too much instruction), but it would a wonderful addition to lessons and/or other instruction books (e.g. Bastien's or Alfred's).

Good book for neophyte pianists. I found it challenging but easy enough to work with.

I teach piano and have found this book to be superior to numbered method books. The tunes are good and the gradual increase in difficulty is easy to teach. The second accompaniment to be played by the teacher is always interesting and supportive. These are very musical beginning pieces. I recommend this book without hesitation

The 'Joy Of First Year Piano' is an exceptional first year piano method that captures the interest of adults as well as young students. The songs and melodies are substantial in variety as well as content and composition. A new concept or technique is introduced with each new tune which enables students to progress rapidly.