Note reading will get better with time so don't stress on that. You'll learn the other things as they come along in the series. So, again, don't stress on it.
The method books work, lots of people have used them to become pianists. Do the lessons, ask questions about things you don't understand, and take as much time as you need to progress. It's not a race and your progress is yours alone and shouldn't ever be compared to someone else.
I've now learned the F Major chord for the left hand with "I'm Gonna Lay My Burden Down", and then for the right hand with "Waltzing Chords".
Next up was moving on to G position, and practicing the melodic and harmonic intervals with "Love Somebody" and "A Friend for You". I'm happy to report that on that 2nd piece, after quite a bit of practice, I finally had some success with the suggestion from Lets Play Video Methods to try connecting the moving notes in the chords.
Then it on to learning the sharp sign with "Money Can't By Ev'rything!". I didn't have any issues with this one, so I focused on the dynamics and phrasing. The phrasing in particular, because I still keep having to remind myself to lift up between phrases. I'm wondering if this is something that becomes automatic with time.
The last thing I worked on was A Leschetizky solution. What really shows up here when I do these exercises is that both my pinkies, but more so in my right hand, tend to get 'stuck' when going from extended to curved. From what I've read it's called trigger finger. It seems one of the possible causes may be due to arthritis. I've been diagnosed with 3 types of arthritis, so it's something I'll just have to deal with.
That's it for now with the Alfred's book. I'm now going to get cracking on a supplemental piece for the 40P challenge.
I learned a couple more chords since my last update: G Major and D7. The practice pieces in the lesson book for these included "The Cuckoo", "Harp Song", and "Liza Jane".
The most challenging one was "Harp Song". Mostly due to adding in the pedal and getting the up and down timing right. But also, for some reason, it felt more awkward to play the D7 chord in 3rds than as a whole. I kept missing or slipping off the F# until I eventually got the hang of it.
Ah the Harp Song. My first encounter with the pedal. Can you tell I'm pedal obsessed? It's true 
But it's one of those skills that take a minute to learn and then a lifetime to master. I love it!
Congrats on your progress!
Right???? Well as a child I watched people playing (grand) pianos often, and always tried to figure out how they did that exactly. It seemed so random! I'd ask my mom (pianist, but obviously not a teacher type) how she did that, and her usual reply basically was "you just do it". So it took me all these years to finally learn it, and it was this post that suddenly made the light bulb explode inside my head:
WieWaldi when the hand goes down (in my case LH), the pedal goes up.
It was like the sun started to shine, rainbows in the sky, birds singing, springtime at last.... EUREKA! So simple!
But yeah, then of course getting the actual coordination of limbs to cooperate, that's an entirely different story. But that too is gradually happening to the point where sometimes, just sometimes, I am pedaling without actually thinking about it 
Edit: omg, I now realize I probably told that story of the pedal fascination 3 million times by now. Please forgive my senior moment in the endless repetitions of the same statement in endless variations
P.S. Have I ever mentioned before that I have a pedal fascination? Well............ Ok I better run before the men in white coats are sent this way 
Oh, just wait until they stop putting the pedal notations on the score. Then youse guys will really be having fun.
When you get to the Intermediate level, the pedal markings start to just disappear without warning. By this time you should know "how to do it" and not need notation on the sheet for it.
Which you will so don't worry.
This piece is an example. It has no pedal notation in the score and if you go to youboob and read the comments you can find out why.
@Player1 Once upon a time I had a Gordon LIghtfoot album. Brings back memories. Anyway....
I read the comments and saw her reply to someone where she said, "It should be assumed for music at this level that the sustain pedal should be used tastefully (i.e. change the pedal with harmony shifts)." Per my googling, a "harmony shift" could be a chord change. That sounds helpful. But I can imagine it's not that simple.
Well, for now I'm grateful for the pedal markings so I have the visual to help coordinate my hands and feet. 
I'm working on two pieces at the moment; "Beautiful Brown Eyes" and "Alpine Melody".
I started with "BBE" and thought I had it down fairly well when I wrapped up my practice yesterday. But today I thought I'd run through it one more time, and when I did that it all fell apart. So it for sure needs more work. My 2 biggest issues are hesitations between the chord changes and timing the pedaling to be after, not on the note. I'm having the same issues with the other piece, "AM" as well.
It's time to focus on focused practice! And slow practice. Slow, focused practice.
Kaydia Well, for now I'm grateful for the pedal markings so I have the visual to help coordinate my hands and feet.
I have those scores without pedal markings, but I put them in myself on places where there is some irregularity - where I either need more pedal changes, or less. It is not difficult, you'll learn to hear it very well.
*
... feeling like the pianist on the Titanic ...
Animisha I have those scores without pedal markings, but I put them in myself on places where there is some irregularity - where I either need more pedal changes, or less. It is not difficult, you'll learn to hear it very well.
I'm glad you said, "learn". It'll be great to one day hear what other people are hearing when they leave comments on videos where they're offering pedaling critiques/suggestions.
