If you’re teaching piano or learning on your own, choosing the right piano method book series is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. This guide covers every current, available, and popular piano method series: from classic graded courses to modern alternatives and adult-learner focused books.
1. Faber Piano Adventures (Faber & Faber)
Core Series: Basic Piano Adventures
The Basic Piano Adventures method is built around four coordinated core books at every level. These four books are designed to work together and form the foundation of the series.
If you’re interested in diving deeper on this series, I have a full blog post reviewing Faber Piano Adventures.
Core books at each level:
- Lesson Book
- Theory Book
- Technique and Artistry Book
- Performance Book
These four books are available at the following levels:
- Primer
- Level 1
- Level 2A
- Level 2B
- Level 3A
- Level 3B
- Level 4
- Level 5
These are considered the main curriculum of Piano Adventures.
Spin-Off and Alternative Series
These are separate but related series that branch off from the main Basic Piano Adventures course.
My First Piano Adventure
A pre-method series designed for young beginners, typically ages 5 to 6.
If you’re interested in diving deeper on this series, I have a full blog post reviewing My First Piano Adventure.
Core books include:
- Lesson Book
- Writing Book
These two core books are available at the following levels:
- Book A
- Book B
- Book C
These three “micro-levels” cover the same ground as Basic Primer Level and are designed to prepare students for entry into Basic Piano Adventures at Level 1.
Shop My First Piano Adventure books.
Accelerated Piano Adventures
A faster paced course for older beginners, typically ages 11 and up.
If you’re interested in diving deeper on this series, I have a YouTube video reviewing Accelerated Piano Adventures.
This series follows the same four core book format:
- Lesson
- Theory
- Technique and Artistry
- Performance
There are two main accelerated levels:
- Accelerated Book 1
- Accelerated Book 2
After completing Book 2, students usually transfer into the Basic Piano Adventures levels.
Shop Accelerated Piano Adventures books.
Adult Piano Adventures
A method specifically designed for adult beginners.
Instead of four separate core books, Adult Piano Adventures uses integrated All-in-One books that combine lesson material, technique, and theory.
If you’re interested in diving deeper on this series, I have a full blog post reviewing Adult Piano Adventures.
Because this is an all-in-one series (including lesson material, theory, technique, and literature), there is only one core book per level:
- Adult Piano Adventures All-in-One Book 1
- Adult Piano Adventures All-in-One Book 2
There are also supplemental adult books, including popular, classical, and Christmas collections.
Shop Adult Piano Adventures books.
Supplemental and Correlated Publications
These are not core method books, but they are widely used alongside Piano Adventures.
- Sightreading Books
- PreTime to BigTime supplementary repertoire
- Student Choice series
- Popular, classical, and Christmas correlated collections
- Gold Star Performance series
- Developing Artist series
Shop Piano Adventures Supplementary books.
2. Alfred’s Basic Piano Library
Alfred’s Basic Piano Library is one of the longest running and most widely used piano method series. It is built around coordinated core books at each level.
Core Series: Alfred’s Basic Piano Library
Core books at each level:
- Lesson Book
- Theory Book
- Technic Book
- Recital Book
These coordinated books are available at progressive levels including:
- Level 1A
- Level 1B
- Level 2
- Level 3
- Level 4
- Level 5
- Level 6
These books form the main curriculum of Alfred’s Basic Piano Library.
Supplementary books available include:
- Composition
- Ear Training
- Notespeller
- Sight-Reading
- Duet
- Fun Solos
- Hymn
- Merry Christmas
- Patriotic
- Popular Hits
- Praise Hits
- Repertoire
- Top Hits!
- Top Hits! Christmas
- Top Hist! Duet
Spin-Off and Related Series
Alternative and companion series within the Alfred Basic family include:
- Alfred’s Basic All in One Course (everything in one core book)
- Alfred’s Basic Adult Piano Course (also an all-in-one method book)
- Alfred’s Basic Prep Course for young beginners (multi-core book series)
- Music for Little Mozarts (very young beginners; multi-core book series)
3. Alfred’s Premier Piano Course
Alfred’s Premier Piano Course is a more accelerated, comprehensive curriculum designed to integrate technique, theory, and artistry more deeply from the beginning.
If you’re interested in diving deeper on this series, I have a full blog post reviewing Alfred’s Premier Piano Course.
Core Series: Alfred’s Premier Piano Course
Core books at each level:
- Lesson Book
- Theory Book
- Technique Book
- Performance Book
These coordinated books are available at progressive levels including:
- Level 1A
- Level 1B
- Level 2
- Level 3
- Level 4
- Level 5
- Level 6
These books form the main curriculum of Alfred’s Premier Piano Course.
Supplementary books available include:
- Christmas
- Notespeller
- Pop and Movie Hits
- Jazz, Rags & Blues
- Duet
- Sight-Reading
- Masterworks (classical repertoire)
Shop Alfred’s Premier Piano Course books.
Spin-Off and Related Series
Related series for older beginners:
- Alfred’s Premier Express (accelerated course)
Shop Alfred’s Supplemental books.
4. Bastien Piano Basics
Bastien Piano Basics is an established traditional piano method series. It is built around coordinated core books at each level.
Core Series: Bastien Piano Basics
Core books at each level:
- Piano Lessons
- Piano Theory
- Piano Technic
- Piano Performance
These coordinated books are available at progressive levels including:
- Primer
- Level 1
- Level 2
- Level 3
- Level 4
These books form the main curriculum of Bastien Piano Basics.
Spin-Off and Related Series
Alternative and companion series within the Bastien family include:
- Duet books correlated by level
- Bastien Piano Basics Older Beginner Course
- Bastien Piano for Adults
- Bastien Invitation to Music (early childhood pre method)
- A Line a Day sight reading series
- Bastien Technic supplements and scale books
- Bastien Pop, Rock, Christmas, and Sacred collections
Shop Bastien Supplementary books.
5. Bastien New Traditions
Bastien New Traditions is a more contemporary alternative to Bastien Piano Basics. It integrates modern pedagogy, creative activities, and correlated repertoire.
Core Series: Bastien New Traditions
There is only ONE book per level (All-in-One course).
The all-in-one books are available at progressive levels including:
- Level A
- Level B
- Level 1A
- Level 1B
- Level 2A
- Level 2B
- Level 3A
- Level 3B
- Level 4A
- Level 4B
These books form the main curriculum of Bastien New Traditions.
Spin-Off and Related Series
Companion and supplemental materials connected to Bastien New Traditions include:
- Bastien New Traditions Pop and Rock books
- Correlated holiday collections
- Ensemble and duet books
Shop Bastien New Traditions books.
6. Suzuki Piano School
The Suzuki Piano Method is a unique, ear‑based approach that emphasizes learning by listening and repetition, with parental involvement and a carefully sequenced repertoire to build both technique and musicality.
Although Suzuki Piano Method includes only one book, we cannot call it a true all-in-one method as it does not include theory within the book. The Suzuki books are just repertoire books with a bit of technique.
There is only ONE book per level.
The Suzuki Piano School levels include:
- Volume 1
- Volume 2
- Volume 3
- Volume 4
- Volume 5
- Volume 6
- Volume 7
7. Piano Safari
Piano Safari is a modern piano method that combines reading, technique, and rhythm instruction through a step-by-step, animal-themed curriculum designed for children and older beginners.
I have a full blog post reviewing the Piano Safari core curriculum.
The Piano Safari series is a semi-all-in-one series combining lessons, technique, and repertoire in one main book, with theory separate.
The two core books are:
- Repertoire Book (main lesson book that also includes technique)
- Theory
A supplementary add-on is suggested:
- Sight Reading & Rhythm Cards
The levels of the Piano Safari core series include:
- Level 1
- Level 2
- Level 3
There are also spin-offs for younger or older beginners:
- Piano Safari Friends (younger beginners)
- Piano Safari for the Older Student
- Piano Safari for the Advancing Pianist
8. Piano Pronto
Piano Pronto is a sequential piano method that helps students learn to read music quickly while building technique and musicianship through familiar repertoire and engaging exercises.
If you’d like to go deeper, I do have a full blog post reviewing Piano Pronto.
Similar to Piano Safari, this series is semi-all-in-one. The main lesson includes lessons (introduction to concepts), short theory assignments, technique pages, and literature. So, the main lesson could stand on its own. However, for the sake of this list, we’ll also include the accompanying theory book.
The two core books of Piano Pronto are:
- Lesson Book
- Power Pages (theory)
An extensive library of solos are also available from the author, but no official supplementary books to compliment the two core books are offered.
Also available from the author:
- Roadtrip – flexible series featuring multi-key songs
- FiredUp – pop style solos for older beginners (teens)
9. Hal Leonard Student Piano Library
Hal Leonard Student Piano Library (HLSPL) is a comprehensive graded piano method that combines lessons, theory, technique, and performance repertoire to provide a structured path from beginner through intermediate levels.
Like the first series we covered, this series uses four core books with supplementary add-ons available.
Core books at each level:
- Piano Lessons
- Piano Theory Workbook
- Piano Technique
- Piano Solos
These four books are available at the following levels:
- Level 1
- Level 2
- Level 3
- Level 4
- Level 5
These are considered the main curriculum of the Hal Leonard Student Piano Library.
Supplementary books that compliment the core books include:
- Notespeller for Piano
- Piano Practice Games
But do note that HLPSL also offers an All-in-One version of their method books to cover the material they would master in Level 1 and Level 2:
- All-in-One Piano Lessons Book A
- All-in-One Piano Lessons Book B
- All-in-One Piano Lessons Book C
- All-in-One Piano Lessons Book D
Additionally, they publish an adult method book which is in an all-in-one format:
- Adult Piano Method Book 1
- Adult Piano Method Book 2
With the optional addition of Popular Favorites or Traditional Hymns (Book 2 only).
10. Succeeding at the Piano
Succeeding at the Piano (FJH Music) is a progressive graded piano method that integrates lessons, theory, technique, and performance repertoire to develop well-rounded musicianship for children and teens.
This series combines lesson and technique and therefore offers three core books:
- Lesson and Technique Book
- Theory and Activity Book
- Recital Book
And the levels of this series are:
- Preparatory
- Grade 1A
- Grade 1B
- Grade 2A
- Grade 2B
- Grade 3
- Grade 4
- Grade 5
The Merry Christmas! Book is offered as a supplementary option at each level.
The author, Helen Marlais, also offers an all-in-one version for the first few levels:
- The All-in-One Approach to Succeeding at the Piano, Preparatory Book A
- The All-in-One Approach to Succeeding at the Piano, Preparatory Book B
- The All-in-One Approach to Succeeding at the Piano, Book 1A
- The All-in-One Approach to Succeeding at the Piano, Book 1B
- The All-in-One Approach to Succeeding at the Piano, Book 2A
- The All-in-One Approach to Succeeding at the Piano, Book 2B
- The All-in-One Approach to Succeeding at the Piano, Book 2C
Shop for Succeeding at the Piano books.
11. WunderKeys
WunderKeys is a creative piano method series that includes activities and characters along with pop and modern styles to keep today’s generation engaged at the piano.
To dive deeper, check out my full blog post reviewing the WunderKeys series.
WunderKeys Primer & Elementary Books
WunderKeys’ main series is the Primer to Elementary series. It really only offers one core book, however I will not call it an all-in-one book. While I believe it’s designed to stand on its own, I would not say that it fully covers the theory and technique concepts a well-rounded piano education should include.
So, for this series, I’ll highlight each level’s “main lesson” book as its only core book:
- Primer Book 1
- Primer Book 2
- Primer Book 3
- Elementary Book 1A
- Elementary Book 1B
- Elementary Book 2A
- Elementary Book 2B
While not directly tied to these core books, supplemental writing books are available.
An extensive supplementary library is also offered at every level. I wrote a full review of the supplemental books. Each supplemental book includes longer pieces (like a performance book), along with writing, rhythm, and sight reading assignments (like a theory book).
WunderKeys Pop Staff Piano Library for Older Beginners
An alternate series for older beginners, this is designed to be a one-book experience. I wouldn’t call this an all-in-one method series either. However, each level main lesson book includes instruction, “classical pop” repertoire, and some activities.
The levels of the Pop Staff Piano Library are:
- Pop Staff Piano Book 1
- Pop Staff Piano Book 2
- Pop Staff Piano Book 3
Shop WunderKeys Pop Staff books.
WunderKeys Intermediate Pop Studies for Piano
After the Elementary books, WunderKeys offers the Intermediate Pop Studies for Piano. This is a two-core-book series. Each level includes:
- Intermediate Pop Studies (main lesson book)
- Intermediate Pop Studies Performance Book
And the levels of the Intermediate series include:
- Book 1
- Book 2
- Book 3
Shop WunderKeys Intermediate Pop Studies books.
WunderKeys Piano for Preschoolers
Designed for the tiniest beginners (age 3-4), this series is fun and playful. I have a full review of the WunderKeys Piano for Preschoolers books.
Like the Primer and Elementary books, this series simply offers one core book. It includes songs and some technical exercises, along with a few short writing assignments.
The three levels are:
- WunderKeys Piano for Preschoolers, Book 1
- WunderKeys Piano for Preschoolers, Book 2
- WunderKeys Piano for Preschoolers, Book 3
Shop WunderKeys Preschool books.
12. Music Tree
The Music Tree is a traditional sequential piano method that focuses on reading, theory, and basic repertoire for young beginners through their piano journey.
Music Tree utilizes a “nearly all-in-one” format, combining everything except for “activities” which are in a separate book. So the two core books are:
- Lesson Book
- Activities Book
And the levels offered in the Music Tree series are as follows:
- Time to Begin
- Part 1
- Part 2A
- Part 2B
- Part 3
- Part 4
Literature and Technic books are also available as add-ons at the later levels.
What Method Book is Missing?
What did I miss? Let me know your favorite piano method book series in the comments.
