Overview
This is a foundational piece of American music pedagogy, representing the gold standard for piano instruction for nearly a century.
1Identify
Preliminary identification
John Thompson's Modern Course for the Piano, The Second Grade Book (c. 1937)
Photo reference
2 uploaded photos
Story
In 1936 and 1937, John Thompson revolutionized how children learned music by moving away from dry, repetitive drills toward his philosophy of 'something new every lesson.' This specific edition, with its $2.25 price point, dates to a period when the piano was…
Maker / Origin
John Sylvanus Thompson was an American pianist and composer who realized that most piano methods were too intimidating for children.
Condition & Value
The cover shows typical scuffing on the red pigment and softening at the corners, which is expected for a book designed to be handled daily on a piano rack. While historically significant, these were produced in massive quantities.
Research
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