Complete Level 1 is especially designed to appeal to the student who starts piano study later than the average beginner. It is also useful for the young student who shows unusual musical aptitude. This book fully presents all the principles introduced in the regular Lesson Books 1A and 1B of Alfred's Basic Piano Course. The student moves more quickly to the grand staff and the book generally progresses at a faster pace. However, there are no gaps and there are plenty of overlaps.

Lesson Books 2 and 3 of Alfred's Basic Piano Course are combined in this book, which moves at a faster pace than that of the regular lesson books. This is for the benefit of students who have successfully completed the Complete Level 1 book or have moved rapidly through Levels 1A and 1B. It is also useful for students who have shown unusual musical aptitude in Level 1B. This book fully presents all the principles introduced in regular Lesson Book 2 and Lesson Book 3. The student moves more quickly into the study of triads, and then on to the principle chords of several major and minor keys. When this book is completed, the student may proceed to regular Lesson Book 4.

The Basic Piano Course is an easy step-by-step method that emphasizes correct playing habits and note reading through interval recognition. For reinforcement, supplementary material is carefully coordinated, page for page, at each level of instruction. Level 1A begins with pre-reading tunes on the black keys, moves to reading from either the treble or bass staves, and progresses to playing from the grand staff in C and G Major positions. General MIDI disks and compact discs are available at each level and include full piano recordings and background accompaniments.

Level 1B includes elementary level pieces that appeal to the young student. It begins with a review of C and G Major positions, introduces middle C position, and conveys new musical concepts such as accidentals, staccato and accents, tempo marks, eighth notes and rests, and the damper pedal. The book finishes up with a presentation of half and whole steps, followed by a progressive introduction to the C and G Major scales.

Level 2 includes charming folk tunes, classic themes and appealing original pieces at the late-elementary level. New concepts include dotted quarter notes; melodic and harmonic intervals of sixths, sevenths, and octaves; triads and primary chords in C and G Major; dominant seventh chords; and the D Major scale.

The student advances in Level 3 to learn the primary chords in G, D and F; the F Major scale; major scales in contrary motion; minor scales and chords; A and D Minor keys; the chromatic scale; 3/8 and 6/8 time. The lively, colorful, original and arranged pieces are between one and two pages in length and, as with all the pieces at every level of this method, thoroughly support and reinforce the concepts presented.

The student moves fully into the intermediate level with this Lesson Book at Level 4 of Alfred's Basic Piano Course. Concepts covered include triplets, sixteenth and dotted eighth notes; triads in all positions; C, G, D, F and Bb Major scales in parallel motion; the keys of E and G Minor; and an introduction to harmonic minor scales.

Level 5 includes original and arranged repertoire at the intermediate level. Pieces range from traditional folk to original classical pieces, from arrangements to original pieces by the authors. Four units are devoted to ornamentation (long and short appoggiaturas, trills and mordents), sonatina/sonata form, the keys of B Minor, A Major, Eb Major and C Minor.

The Alfred Basic Piano Course culminates with this sixth book at the late-intermediate level. Included is a wide range of delightful repertoire including Fur Elise by Beethoven, Solfeggio in C Minor by C. P. E. Bach, Barcarolle by Alexander Morovsky, Fascination by F. Marchetti and the traditional spiritual, Deep River. New concepts continue to be introduced at the sixth level, including thirty-second notes, diminished triads, diminished seventh chords, augmented triads, the keys of F# Minor, E Major, C# Minor, and Ab Major.