This volume surveys the major keyboard style periods with a variety of familiar compositions, each prefaced by a brief explanation. A unique aspect of this edition is the introduction it provides to music editing. Using facsimiles, the editors explain the importance of good editions and some of the steps involved in creating a performance edition.

This unique method was designed specifically for young students who are beginning piano study in a group setting. This easy-to-teach beginners course includes all of the most important components to develop comprehensive musicians and performers. CDs and MIDI Disks have accompaniments that range from simple drum patterns to full orchestrations that add musical interest and motivate students.

Now your students will have the technical tools needed to achieve artistic performances. They will encounter skills in four areas—playing naturally (physical aspects), moving freely (around the keyboard), playing beautifully (tone production) and playing artistically. The technical goals are accomplished through three types of activities—patterned exercises with necessary repetitions to make the technique feel natural, artistic etudes that showcase the student’s technique in an artistic musical setting and appealing and descriptive exercises called Technique Tools. The nine Technique Tools in Level 1A relate to relaxed shoulders, arm weight, moving freely, strong fingertips, finger weights, repeated notes, thumb position, finger independence and gentle hand rock. Each page in the Technique Book correlates with a specific page in the Lesson Book; when the Lesson, Theory, Performance and Technique books are used together, they offer a fully integrated and unparalleled comprehensive approach to piano instruction.

This method is designed for teens who still enjoy music and want to continue their study but have limited practice time. Each book includes solo pieces in varied styles, a Hanon study to develop technical skills and a duet that students can play with a friend. A Study Guide for each piece helps the student practice efficiently. The guide contains four sections: 1-Minute FYI, 5-Minute Warm-Up, 15-Minute Practice Plan and 5-Minute Finishing Touches. Titles: * Ballade (Burgmüller) * Ecossaise (Beethoven) * Exercise No. 2 (The Virtuoso Pianist) (Hanon) * Gypsy Rondo (duet) (Bober) * In the Hall of the Mountain King (Grieg) * Jazz Stomp (Bober) * Maple Leaf Rag (Joplin) * Minuet in G Major (Petzold) * Swingin' the Blues (Bober) * Sonatina in C Major (Third Movement) (Clementi) * Toccata (Bober) * Twilight (Bober)

The unique Music Discovery Book contains songs that allow the students to experience music through singing, movement and rhythm activities. Music appreciation is fostered through carefully chosen music; J. S. Bach, Pachelbel, Saint-Saëns, Schumann and Johann Strauss are introduced. Melodies to sing, using either solfege or letter names, help students learn to match pitch and discover tonal elements of music. Correlates to the Music Lesson Book 2. Familiar songs include Frère Jacques and Skip to My Lou.

Lesson Book 4 is the last in the Music for Little Mozarts series. After a review, the new concepts taught are: * Flat and sharp sign * Tie * Crescendo and diminuendo After reviewing C position and Middle C position, G position is taught. All three positions are used alternately throughout the rest of the book, with flat and sharp notes incorporated. When the student is finished with Lesson Book 4, he/she moves either into Alfred's Basic Piano Library, Prep Course, Level C or Alfred's Premier Piano Course, Level 1B.

The Teacher's Handbook for Levels 1 & 2 of Music for Little Mozarts serves as an aid in curriculum development and daily lesson planning while providing information related to teaching young children. The suggested lesson plans provide teachers with a starting point to adapt this series for their own teaching situation. A special section provides helpful teaching tips for using the Music Discovery Book and teacher examples for the ear training pages in the Music Workbook are also given. Beginning teachers of young students should find the handbooks extremely useful.

The adventures of Beethoven Bear and Mozart Mouse continue in this new series of solo/activity books written to correlate with the Music for Little Mozarts series. In Christmas Fun!, Book 2, Clara Schumann-Cat is having a Christmas party. Students will enjoy the Christmas story with its related pictures, piano solo (with optional teacher duets) and activity pages. Many will also want to color the illustrations found throughout the story. Use this book during the Christmas season after the student has studied page 38 in the Music Lesson Book 2.

The adventures of Beethoven Bear and Mozart Mouse continue in this series of supplementary books written to correlate with the Music for Little Mozarts series. In Halloween Fun!, Book 2, Clara Schumann-Cat helps Beethoven Bear, Mozart Mouse and J. S. Bunny create perfect Halloween costumes. Students will enjoy the Halloween story with its related pictures, piano solo (with optional teacher duets) and activity pages. Many will also want to color the illustrations found throughout the story. Use this book during the Halloween season while the student is studying pages 18-25 in the Music Lesson Book 2 or as a review anytime after page 25.