Lesson: This easy step-by-step method emphasizes correct playing habits and note reading through interval recognition. Lesson Book 4 concepts include: tarantellas; eighth note triplets; arpeggiated chords; first and second inversion triads in C; triads in all positions; major scales in parallel motion; two-part writing; seventh chords and inversions of seventh chords; E harmonic minor scale in contrary motion; primary chords in E minor; sixteenth notes; dotted eighth notes; primary chords in B-flat Major and G Minor; repeated-note warm-ups; and harmonic minor scales in parallel motion.

For reinforcement of each principle as it is introduced, supplementary material is carefully coordinated, page for page, at each level of instruction. Coordinating supplemental books for Level 4 include: Classic Themes * Duet * Ear Training * Merry Christmas * Musical Concepts * Recital * Repertoire * Sight Reading * Technic * Theory and Top Hits! Solo, Christmas and Duet books. Songs include: America the Beautiful (Ward) * The Battle Hymn of the Republic (Steffe-Howe) * Black Forest Polka * Blow, Winds, Blow! * Calypso Holiday! * Comedians Dance (Kabelevsky) * Farewell to Thee (Aloha Oe) * Gypsy Dance * Haunted House * Hes Got the Whole World in His Hands * The Hokey-Pokey * The House of the Rising Sun * The Magic Piper * Musette (Bach) * Olympic Procession * Pomp and Circumstance No. 1 (Elgar)* Prelude in A Minor * Space Shuttle Blues * Spinning Wheel * Swingin Sevenths * Tarentella * Waltz in G Minor * Waves of the Danube (Ivanovici).

Sample Score

 

Theory: Designed to coordinate page-by-page with the Lesson Books. Contains enjoyable games and quizzes that reinforce the principles presented in the Lesson Books. Students can increase their musical understanding while they are away from the keyboard.

 

Technic: The Technic Books provide reading and rhythm drills and exercises perfectly paced with each Lesson Book in Alfreds Basic Piano Library to improve musicianship and develop coordination of the hands.

Sample Score

 

Popular Hits: Alfreds Basic Piano Library: Popular Hits offers Broadway, pop, and movie music arrangements to be used as supplementary pieces for students. Soon after beginning piano study, students can play attractive versions of favorite classics, as well as the best-known popular music of today. This book is correlated page by page with Alfreds Basic Piano Library: Lesson Book 4. When pieces from the Popular Hits book are assigned in conjunction with the material in the Lesson Book, new concepts are reinforced in a fun and motivating way, increasing the students interest in piano study.

   Titles: Big Yellow Taxi (Joni Mitchell) * Downton Abbey Theme (from Downton Abbey) * Firework (Katy Perry) * How Far Ill Go (from Walt Disney Pictures Moana) * Jacobs Bakery (from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them) * The Magnificent Seven (from The Magnificent Seven) * Mia & Sebastians Theme (from La La Land) * Newt Says Goodbye to Tina (from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them) * The Pink Panther (from The Pink Panther) * Sorry (Justin Bieber) * Star Wars (Main Theme) (from Star Wars: The Force Awakens) * Style (Taylor Swift) * Youll Be Back (from Hamilton).

Sample Score

 

Recital: The Recital Books congratulate students for a job well done by providing correlated repertoire to their Lesson Books that are based on concepts they've already learned. As a result, the pieces are quickly mastered. Recital Book Level 4 comprises mostly arrangements of familiar tunes like "'Country Gardens" and "Amazing Grace," and a few new originals as well.

 

Ear Training: The Ear Training Books reinforce each concept presented in the Lesson Books and specifically focus on the training and development of the ear. Rhythmic, melodic and intervallic concepts are drilled throughout each book and each page is designed to be completed using approximately five minutes of the lesson time.

 

Sight Reading: The Sight Reading Books teach sight reading in a systematic way by creating exercises based on the same concepts that students are studying in the Lesson Books. Also includes rhythm sight reading drills and improvisation exercises to develop tactile freedom on the keyboard. Exercises are short and the music is generally easier than the corresponding pages in the Lesson Book.

 

Repertoire: The Repertoire Books contain attractive compositions from the 17th century to the present. The pieces have been organized in progressive order and meet the requirements of many piano festivals, auditions and competitions. The books may also be used as sight reading material or as a supplement to other method books. Titles: Allegro (Haydn) * Bourlesq (L. Mozart) * Calypso Rhumba (Palmer/Lethco) * Chorale (Neander) * Country Dance (Haydn) * Fanfare (Kirnberger) * German Dance (Beethoven) * The Hunting Horn and the Echo (Turk) * In Church (Tchaikovsky) * The Music Box (Maykapar) * The Ocean (Gurlitt) * Old French Song (Tchaikovsky) * On the Green (Streabbog) * Prelude (Maykapar) * Prelude in C Major (Reinecke) * Rhythmic Dance (Bartok) * Spanish Dance ("Guaracha") (Clementi) * Tarantella (Diabelli) * Theme and Variation (Gurlitt) * Toccatina (Kabalevsky) * The Woodpecker (Streabbog).

 

Classic Themes: These volumes contain easy-to-play arrangements of great classical melodies. The arrangements allow the music to be introduced to younger students. While designed to correlate with Alfred's Basic Piano Library, Classic Themes may be used with any piano method or instruction course. Titles: At Home * Bohemian Dance (Tchaikovsky) * Clair de Lune (Debussy) * Espana Themes (Chabrier) * Fandango (from "Capriccio Espanol") (Rimsky-Korsakov) * Figar Tarantella (from "barber of Seville") (Rossini) * Lullay, Thou Little Tiny Child * March Slav (Tchaikovsky) * Minuetto (From Symphony No. 11) (Haydn) * My Heart at Thy Sweet Voice (From "Samson and Delilah") (Saint-Saens) * A Night in Moscow * Romance (Tchaikovsky) * Rondo Op. 20, No. 1 (Kuhlau) * Opening Theme from Symphony No. 40 (Mozart) * Theme from Tales from the Vienna Woods (Strauss) * Tarantella in D Minor * Theme from Violin Concerto (Mendelssohn) * Wedding March (Wagner).

 

Duet: Each duet is arranged for student-teacher (parent or older student) performance. These charming Duet Books increase motivation and add fun to practice time and lessons. "Autumn Serenade" is on the ABRSM 2025-2026 Piano Syllabus.

 

Top Hits! Duet: The motivation this music provides is outstanding! Playing duets is important to the musical growth of young pianists. And with Alfred's Top Hits Duet Books, students get twice as many benefits. In addition to learning how to develop steady rhythm, listen for proper balance, and play with appropriate dynamics, students will also receive the enjoyment of playing specially arranged duets of pop music.

These duet collections are correlated page-by-page with lesson Books 1B, 2, 3, and 4 of Alfred's Basic Piano Library one of the best-selling piano methods in the world. All four duet books feature the best-known popular songs from films, Broadway musicals and best-selling CDs. Titles: All I Ask of You * Chariots of Fire * Climb Ev'ry Mountain * Eleanor Rigby * God Help the Outcasts * My Heart Will Go On * Rockin' Robin * Splish Splash * Y.M.C.A.

 

Top Hits! Solo: Alfred's Top Hits series has overwhelmingly been accepted by students and teachers. This series combines just the right combination of hits from Broadway, Hollywood, television and recordings! As you might expect from Alfred, this series offers a rare combination of great music arranged with care and creativity. Your beginning and intermediate students can savor the excitement of playing pop music and reap the benefits from making practicing more fun and rewarding. Three selections from this book are featured on the Royal Conservatory of Music Popular Selection List (2007 Ed.): Can You Feel the Love Tonight * Chim Chim Cher-ee * Yesterday. Titles: The Addams Family Theme * Axel F. * Beauty and the Beast * Can You Feel the Love Tonight * Chim Chim Cher-ee * It's the Hard-Knock life * Mission: Impossible Theme * Think of Me * This Is the Moment * Under the Sea * Yesterday.

 

Top Hits! Christmas: This book may be used by students in Level 4 of Alfred's Basic Piano Library or in the intermediate level of any piano method. Titles: The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) * Christmas Time Is Here * The Christmas Waltz * Happy Holiday * It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas * Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! * A Marshmallow World * Merry Christmas, Darling * Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree * Some Children See Him.

 

Merry Christmas! Carefully graded carols are placed in order of difficulty within each book. Every carol has a duet part for the teacher or parent. May be used with any method. Titles: Deck the Hall with Boughs of Holly * Foom, Foom, Foom! * God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen * Joy to the World * March of the Three Kings * Mary's Cradle Song * Silent Night * Sing Noel, Noel!

 

Musical Concepts: The Musical Concepts Book may be used after the student completes the Lesson Book to serve as an excellent review of important new concepts. Each of the 11 units consists of a two-page theoretical explanation and worksheet on a specific concept followed by an enjoyable solo to demonstrate and reinforce each new concept. A valuable and important follow-up to better understand the most important concepts.
Solos: Struttin' in the Sunshine * Snow Crystals * Olympic Torch * Fiddler Crab Boogie * Mexican Corn Festival * Summer Rainbows * Old English Castle * Sonatina in G Major * Quick Tambourine Dance * Sweet Dreams of Home * A Cloudy Day in the Country.