John Thompson Modern Course Grade 1

Sophia

I took a little break from both Alfred and the blues course to play through my old John Thompson book. And suddenly I found I was recording the entire book 🙂

I'm leaving this here in case someone is considering learning piano and using this method. I think it's adorable. It rather fast paced, so might not be completely suitable for self learners. But if one is looking to get away from the humdrum of adult study books, this might just be what will make you smile 🙂

candela

Sophia Thank you for sharing, Sophia! Very well played and enjoyable to listen to! Also impressive how you play through the cat accompaniments as totally unfazed 😸

I don't have the first three volumes in the series only books four and five which I'm slowly working my way through along other material. I really like it and think the series has many good qualities.

Animisha

Are you aware that there is also a John Thompson Easiest Piano Course, that has a much slower progression?

Anyway, this thread and your video Sophia is quite inspiring to take my JT books and practise from them. But where to start?

WieWaldi

Color me deeply impressed

Ok - next:
24 Christmas songs. You have two weeks left, but I guess you do it in one.

Sophia

Lol! Well, this was my method book six years ago, I did all the heavy lifting then. It did surprise me how quickly it came back in my muscle memory to tell you the truth... I thought I'd need weeks. But almost every piece came back to me in about 20 minutes or less, and most of the early pieces I recorded in a single take.

But I also fully admit that the last three days I probably spent more time at the piano than I usually average in a month 😄

iternabe

@Sophia Bravo!

Animisha

Very well done Sophia! 😘

Carey

Thanks for posting this, Sophia. Brouhgt back many happy memories !! I used the Thompson books all the way through Grade 5.

Sophia

Carey I used the Thompson books all the way through Grade 5.

That's so awesome 🙂 I loved this book, but I found the second one a little too daunting because I was (am) self studying for various reasons. So unfortunately I quit six years ago... and now learning again with an easier (but infinitely more boring) method. Once I finish the Alfred books, I'm fully planning to continue the Thompson books where I left off 🙂

Glad I could provide you with some happy memories 😃

@iternabe Recording the entire book was inspired by your recent playlist, such a neat idea. Thank you!

@Animisha Thanks - I had lots of fun recording all those and trying out the tips WieWaldi provided about camera changes and whimsical little details 😛

Nightowl

Impressive job, well done Sophia! 😃 It's interesting to compare these pieces with the ones in Alfred's book 1, and I can see some similarities. For instance, Mountain Climbing in T's book is similar to Rockets in A's book. Also, the Cuckoo Song appears in both books.

Highlights for me were the Spanish Fiesta, where Simba made a perfectly timed flourish on the base keys towards the end, and the unexpected appearance of frogs. I love it that Simba was rewarded with strokes for his good behaviour.

Also, I like the way you end the video with "Thanks for watching". My response: "You're welcome. It was a pleasure." 🙂

Sophia

Haha thanks! Yeah, those frogs! I told them that it would be obvious when the little ones were singing and when the bullfrog made his appearance, but they insisted... so what can you do. Spoiled animals live here 😃

Glad you liked it Nightowl. I think that tunes that sneak in 🐟 scales are inevitable, as well as the mandatory Long, Long Ago and Gently Row. Surprisingly the book managed to stay away from Mary Had A Little Lamb... but overall I still much prefer the lovely harmonies of Thompson over the plonk-plonk-plonk of Alfred!

Animisha

Sophia I still much prefer the lovely harmonies of Thompson over the plonk-plonk-plonk of Alfred!

Oh I agree!! Doesn't it make you consider to continue with Thompson instead of Alfred's?

Sophia

Melody wise, yes, 100%. But remember that JT level 2 also caused me to quit. 😑 Mind you, I had no idea then that there we YouTube tutorials to talk you through method books, nor did I know there were piano forums, so I struggled with it all alone.

Alfred definitely has been good to me... and with only over half a book to go, I will survive. Actually, I was a little rebellious and skimmed over those scales (for now). Turns out the next piece is rather nice!

But it sure was nice to take a break and get reacquainted with Mr Thompson 😄

Animisha

Sophia But remember that JT level 2 also caused me to quit. 😑

I didn't know! I'm already looking forward to your thread John Thompson Modern Course Grade 2.
Very patiently looking forward, of course. 🙃

Sophia

candela Thanks! Simba somehow loves it when I'm at the piano, so he had the best three days of his life. The kittens are no longer interested, typical teens! Though Sandy made a cameo towards the end.

I have all five books, because I got a little carried away at the time. I'm really looking forward to being able to start the rest of the series someday 😃

candela

Sophia Simba somehow loves it when I'm at the piano, so he had the best three days of his life.

Lucky cat! Mine also loves to come and listen when I play. He doesn't play himself, though, just lies on the floor and listens until he eventually gets bored or tired. My previous cat always wanted to be right next to me when I played the guitar. I can only guess many of them actually enjoy certain music, whatever it might sound like through cat ears and minds.

Good luck with the rest of the series! I've found that the difficulty levels often vary a lot from one piece to the next within the same book, more so than for other methods.

Sophia

Animisha I didn't know!

Yeah it’s exactly as Candela mentioned - though I didn’t know it at the time. I started the level 2 book and suddenly it plunged into such difficulty that I lost motivation. Of course now we have this awesome forum to encourage each other and ask our most pressing questions, so I have good faith that this round, I will persevere 😎

candela

Sophia Yes, I totally get that the series can be discouraging if you get stuck. The progression is fast. I don't know any other method that has level 8 pieces by book 5, but it's also not monotonically increasing in difficulty. There can be a piece that is very difficult for the book but then the next one can be easy, relatively speaking. It's also 100 % classical contrary to many contemporary methods that would also teach you other styles of music, accompaniment, lead sheets etc. That's why I find it good to not only play these books as they wouldn't produce a very well-rounded musician on their own.

candela

Animisha Are you aware that there is also a John Thompson Easiest Piano Course, that has a much slower progression?

I'm not sure who the question was aimed at. Yes, I'm aware of the Easiest Piano Course. Personally I don't think either slower or faster progression is generally better or worse. I see it as personal preference and choice depending on how much challenge or ease motivates you and fits your personality, prior music education etc. A faster progression method book can always be complemented with lots of easy music on the side for quantity, which is what I choose to do.

Animisha

candela Animisha Are you aware that there is also a John Thompson Easiest Piano Course, that has a much slower progression?

I'm not sure who the question was aimed at.

To those reading this thread and maybe not aware that there actually are JT books with a slower progression. 😎