2much2do, I still use Alfred for some students. I use it as a suppliment with PA after Level 1. Many good things are there. I like PA because it starts around middle C and some students just don't get along with starting with the left hand. A teacher just has to figure it out. I keep extra books on hand just in case we have to make a switch because I don't see having a student frustrated. I like some of the more advanced Alfred books but I l-o-v-e-Nancy Faber's pieces and would miss them. Now, I'm not telling you I really loved them at first but have great respect now.

Name dropping time---Gale K and E. L. Lancaster were both members of our local music association when I first joined about 11 years ago. They got married soon after I joined. I don't think they were with Alfred yet. I use to have lunch Gale after meetings and at festivals. (with a group) She never talked music at lunch. The last time I was with her she was dealing with a two year old. I think they have another child now. That has been many moons ago and she wouldn't remember me. Anyway, she's nice.

Someone else said this - the method doesn't make the teacher. No one should have to defend the method(s) they choose to teach.

Please, if the spelling isn't good on this overlook it. I'm tired.

Schaum isn't cranking out anything new. I occasionally get offers in the mail from them, & it's always the same stuff. They've updated the covers of some of the books, but not the contents. I must say, though, that the Schaum supplementary repertoire is good if you're looking for traditional arrangements of well-known songs.

I choose method books based on how I want to present the material, as well as for the songs they contain, the appropriateness of the illustrations for the age group I work with, & other factors.

I just bought the latest music tree materials and they look pretty nice. It was the new part 3 stuff. There is a core book, activity book, technic, literature, and student choice book. The only one I didn't like was the student choice. Other collections have some better things. Anyway, I thought it looked pretty good. This method seems to be getting more marketing attention (about time imo).

I have the early-level MT books. I ordered them because they were free. I figured I'd look them over & see what I thought. I wasn't impressed. When I got the offer in the mail about the MT level 3 books, I didn't buy them.

Hey...how'd ya get em free?

Josh, sitting on edge of seat (I LOVE free stuff :D), Allen

I bet they were worth every cent!

Josh, I think there was an offer in Clavier last yr. I remember Jalapeno talking about it and I found the ad and ordered too. We got several levels and cds to go along. Alot for free!

May/June Clavier, P.36 Has a free "get acquainted offer" for Robert Pace.
25 solos and 22 duets in three sets each suitable for teaching any method.

Thanks, Vivace. I actually saw the ad but didn't read closely and missed the free offer. I just sent an e-mail requesting it.
Josh, I got the free Music Tree stuff last year but only because I called about it. Warner Bros/Note Service Music simply will not leave my name on their mailing list. I called last week because somebody (either Jalapeno or John) mentioned a special Teacher's Offer over a month ago and I had received nothing. I doubt if they're offering the free Music Tree stuff again, but they promised to send me brochures of all their recent offers and said they would all still be valid. When/if I get the stuff, I'll tell you what they are offering. I asked about the new Looney Tunes books & GM disks, Music Tree - Part 3, Technic Fun, & the Dale Tucker Favorite Classics Books & CDs. They told me that they were all available for 50% off.

Cecilly,

I didn't know there were Technic, Literature, and Student Choice books for the Music Tree. Are they only for Part 3 or for the earlier levels as well?

Rhapsody, evidently they're only for pt. 3. It looks like the other earlier books make up the early elementary level. Pt 3 is described as late ele/early intermediate. It picks up right where the older C book left off. My at a glance take on them is that they've reworked the Musical Fingers Bk 1 into the keyboard technic book. The Keyboard lit book has your basic early intermediate classical pieces from the various style periods (several selections from their lit books in the intermediate Clark series are included). I suspect that a complete revision of the Clark Lit series is taking place. This is good news to me. This series is a good one, solid as a rock, but a bit dated in it's overall look. If they continue revising all the way up through each level, it should prove to be a nice addition to the other lit series' available from other publishers. Always nice to have more to choose from.