Introduction to the Keyboard

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Instructor

Jonny May

Course Type

Course

Skill Level

Beginner

Duration

04:41:13

If you’ve never played the piano before, this is where your journey begins. Intro to the Keyboard assumes no prior knowledge. You’ll learn the keyboard layout, every note name, and simple tricks for finding any note quickly. You’ll even play your first groove before the first lesson is over.

Next, you’ll build healthy habits from day one. You’ll learn what the piano pedals do, your finger numbers, good posture and proper technique, plus five warm-ups and stretches that help your hands feel great every time you sit down to play. Then you’ll learn the C position, a simple 5-note hand position that unlocks hundreds of beginner tunes, along with the most common note values you’ll see in beginner sheet music.

From there, every lesson pairs essential finger exercises with a fun tune in a different style. You’ll play Ode to Joy as a swing tune, Mary Had a Little Lamb in a Latin style, original tunes in jazz ballad and pop styles, and Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star as a blues. You’ll also learn a 3-chord stack position you can use to jam over almost any song. The course finishes with a practical guide to structuring your practice time, so you know how long to practice, what to focus on and when you’re ready for the next course. Downloadable sheet music and backing tracks are included.

Course Objectives

Navigate the keyboard confidently and find any note by name
Develop good posture, proper technique and a healthy warm-up routine
Play in the C position and read the most common note values in beginner music
Build finger control through exercises in stepwise motion, 3-note groupings, chord outlines, 3rds and pivoting off a low note
Play familiar tunes in swing, Latin, jazz ballad, pop and blues styles, and structure your practice for steady progress

Learning Focus

Exercises
Groove
Reading

Featured Reviews

View PWJ member reviews of this course!

Alexander Kastiunig verified

Surprise

Surprised at the deficiencies regarding the left hand after 4 years of learning the piano.

Andrew Smith verified

Back to basics

This was a fun way to start my journey. I had a little experience before beginning this course, but starting from the very first step ensured I didn't miss a thing. This is a steep learning curve and will require you to put the work in.

David Wright verified

Excellent introduction

Having played electric organ, mainly top line and chords this is a great way to start sight reading bass clef and get some movement into my left hand.

Herman Cheung verified

Amazing lessons

I watched all the 11 lessons over two nights to get the overview of all the materials. I then start my daily practice based on the recommendation mentioned in lesson 11. I don't know whether it is the right approach though. But after watching through all the lessons in the course, that makes me keen on starting the practice as it must be fun.

Sharon Healow verified

Great introduction to the piano.

I appreciate that Jonny introduces different music styles and encourages students to improvise and play different grooves from the very first lessons.

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