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!

Michael Davison verified

Good review!

I started at the beginning because although I have played piano before, I wanted a proper foundation. So glad you add fun things and improv from the beginning. Not sure how you can keep a straight face while “rockin” to Twinkle Twinkle!

Dragan Pozder verified

Fun and easy to follow!

This was super fun. The combination of technique practice with songs and grooving makes this so easy to follow. I anticipated with excitement each next lesson.

Allan Pelletier verified

Big Mistake

I made a big mistake not taking the ‘introduction to keyboard ‘ section seriously the first time thru... I was discouraged and ready to give it up, going back to the beginning has given me clarity and given me the energy to press on.....

Andreas Dittrich verified

overview

nice overview

Manuel de Lizarriturri verified

A Very Thorough Intro

I enjoyed Jonny’s “bedside manner” as a piano teacher. He gives clear instructions and is always very encouraging to his students. The course was very well structured, with clear explanations of musical concepts, useful exercises to improve technique and progressively more difficult songs to learn. I am especially grateful that Jonny made music reading —I’m a musical notation illiterate— easy to learn in a slow, but steadily progressive way.

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