The best piano method books
Two series dominate American piano teaching, they take genuinely different approaches, and either one works if it is finished.
By Stephen V. · Writes Reed & Rosin · last verified
The short answer
Faber's Piano Adventures Primer suits children aged roughly five to eight, starting with pre-reading on the black keys so a young child succeeds immediately. Alfred's Basic Piano Library 1A suits ages seven to ten and introduces interval reading from page one, producing stronger sight-readers sooner.
Some links on this page earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change which instrument we recommend, and it does not change the order. We also earn nothing when the honest answer is “rent it” — and we still say so. Full disclosure.
Quick picks
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Faber Piano Adventures Primer Lesson Book The other standard method, and the one more children enjoy. Faber starts with pre-reading on the black keys, which gets a five-year-old playing before they can read a note. | Children roughly 5-8, first year | 9.3/10 | $9.99View on Amazon #ad · price as of September 7, 2026 · how this is funded |
| 2 |  Alfred Basic Piano Library Lesson Book 1A One of the two methods almost every American piano teacher uses. Alfred introduces reading by interval from the start, which builds a reader rather than a memorizer. | Children roughly 7-10, with a teacher | 9.2/10 | $9.99View on Amazon #ad · price as of September 7, 2026 · how this is funded |
| 3 |  Faber Piano Adventures Level 1 Lesson Book The book after the Primer. Ordering it at the same time as the Primer is a common and harmless mistake — most students take six to twelve months to reach it. | After the Primer is finished | 9.0/10 |
Scores are our own editorial fit rating from published specifications — the rubric is on our methodology page. They are not test results; we have not played these instruments.
The two standards
Almost every American piano studio uses one of two series. Both are good, both have been refined over decades, and teachers hold firm opinions about which is better. The honest position is that the difference between them matters less than whether the student finishes the book.
| Alfred's Basic Piano Library | Faber Piano Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical starting age | 7-10 (Level 1A) | 5-8 (Primer) |
| Approach | Interval reading from page one — read the distance between notes | Pre-reading on the black keys first, then interval reading |
| First weeks | Notes on the staff almost immediately | Playing before reading, which suits a young child |
| Presentation | Plainer, more compact | More illustration, more space per idea |
| Strength | Produces confident sight-readers sooner | Higher completion rate with young children |
| Watch for | Level 1A assumes a short pre-reading stage has happened elsewhere | The pre-reading stage delays formal note reading by a few months |
Both series have parallel theory, technique and performance books at each level. Buying only the Lesson book is normal and sufficient at the start.
How to choose
By age, mostly. Under about seven, Faber’s Primer. Its pre-reading stage means a five-year-old plays something that sounds like music within the first lesson, which is what a child that age needs. Over about seven, Alfred’s 1A moves faster and builds reading sooner, which suits a student capable of a slightly longer runway.
By who is teaching. If a teacher is involved, use their series. A teacher who knows a book inside out sequences better, spots problems faster, and has supplementary material to hand. This consideration overrides everything above.
What comes with each level
Both series publish several parallel books per level: Lesson, Theory, Technique, Performance. A student does not need all of them.
- Lesson book: essential. This is the method.
- Theory book: worth it. It reinforces reading away from the keyboard and can be done on a car journey.
- Performance book: optional and enjoyable. More pieces at the same level, which helps a student who wants to play rather than progress.
- Technique book: for students with a teacher. Doing technique exercises unsupervised risks reinforcing exactly the habits they are meant to fix.
Do not buy the next level in advance
A student typically takes six months to a year to work through a level. Buying Level 1 alongside the Primer is a common instinct and the book sits unopened for most of a year.
More importantly, the right next book depends on how the first one went. A student who found the Primer easy may skip ahead; one who struggled may need supplementary material at the same level. Decide at the time.
The self-taught adult
Both series are written for children, and the illustrations make that obvious. Adult-specific piano methods exist and are worth seeking out: they move faster, assume the reader can absorb an explanation, and avoid material about singing animals.
An adult using a children’s method is not making a mistake — the pedagogy is sound and the pacing is gentle — but the pacing is genuinely slow for someone who can read an explanation and apply it.
Commercial note
Amazon pays a higher commission on books than on instruments, so pages like this one earn us more per sale than a keyboard roundup does. We say so here because that is the kind of incentive that quietly shapes recommendations, and because the advice on this page is to buy one book rather than a full level set. Full disclosure.
The picks, in full
Every card below is written from the published specification and the manufacturer’s own documentation. We have not played these instruments — see how we work for exactly what that means and what we do instead.
Our top pick · Children roughly 5-8, first year
Faber Piano Adventures Primer Lesson Book
The other standard method, and the one more children enjoy. Faber starts with pre-reading on the black keys, which gets a five-year-old playing before they can read a note.
What works
- Pre-reading stage means a very young child succeeds immediately
- Illustrations and pacing hold a small child's attention
- The most widely used primer in US studios alongside Alfred
What to know
- The pre-reading stage delays formal note reading by a few months
- The full series requires several books per level, which adds up
- Level
- Primer
- Approach
- Pre-reading then interval reading
- Suggested ages
- Roughly 5-8
#ad · price as of September 7, 2026 · how this is funded
Specs read from the manufacturer or retailer listing on 2026-09-07. Our fit score: 9.3/10.
Pick 2 · Children roughly 7-10, with a teacher
Alfred Basic Piano Library Lesson Book 1A
One of the two methods almost every American piano teacher uses. Alfred introduces reading by interval from the start, which builds a reader rather than a memorizer.
What works
- Interval reading from page one produces genuine sight-readers
- Enormous supporting library — theory, technique and repertoire all align
- Nearly every teacher can pick it up mid-book
What to know
- Level 1A assumes a short pre-reading stage has already happened
- Presentation is plainer than the Faber alternative
- Level
- 1A (early elementary)
- Approach
- Interval reading
- Suggested ages
- Roughly 7-10
#ad · price as of September 7, 2026 · how this is funded
Specs read from the manufacturer or retailer listing on 2026-09-07. Our fit score: 9.2/10.
Pick 3 · After the Primer is finished
Faber Piano Adventures Level 1 Lesson Book
The book after the Primer. Ordering it at the same time as the Primer is a common and harmless mistake — most students take six to twelve months to reach it.
What works
- Continues directly from the Primer with no gap
- Introduces both hands reading independently
What to know
- Too advanced to start on, even for a child who reads music from another instrument
- Level
- Level 1
- Follows
- Piano Adventures Primer
Specs read from the manufacturer or retailer listing on 2026-09-07. Our fit score: 9.0/10.
Questions people actually ask
What is the best piano method book for a beginner?
Faber's Piano Adventures Primer for children aged roughly five to eight, and Alfred's Basic Piano Library 1A for ages seven to ten. Both are excellent; the difference between them matters far less than whether the student finishes the book.
What is the difference between Alfred and Faber piano books?
Alfred introduces reading on the staff almost immediately, which builds confident sight-readers sooner. Faber begins with a pre-reading stage on the black keys so a very young child plays real music before learning notation, at the cost of a few months' delay in formal reading.
Do I need the theory and technique books too?
The theory book is worth having — it reinforces reading away from the keyboard. The technique book is best used with a teacher, since unsupervised technique exercises can reinforce the habits they are meant to correct. The Lesson book alone is a perfectly good start.
Are children's piano methods suitable for adults?
The pedagogy is sound but the pacing is slow for an adult who can absorb an explanation and apply it. Adult-specific piano methods move faster and skip the illustrated material, and are worth seeking out for a self-taught adult.
Sources
We have not played these instruments, so citation is our evidence. Everything above traces back to one of these, on the date shown.