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!

Gregory Shultz verified

Excellent Introduction

This is a superb primer on the basics of beginner level piano. It is much better than any lessons I had as a child with teachers who were much more pedantic in their approach to imparting knowledge. In this course, you will learn more as Jonny walks you through the very approachable material than you could ever get from a teacher who has to worry about dealing with dozens of other students, all at different levels and all who have different needs. The improvisation lessons in this course make it fun and exciting. Definitely begin here if you're new to piano.

Vince Perc verified

Absolutely Phenomenal!

This course introduced me to the fundamentals of playing the piano. Lessons are carefully curated and easy to follow. The practice exercises and the different song styles were fun to work on. Jonny is a prolific teacher!

Stephen Gitto verified

Challenging indeed, even for someone like me who has owned pianos and synthesizers for 20+ years

This course was challenging to complete because it not only exposed the weakness in my technical abilities but also provided the remedy to correct these deficiencies allowing me to focus on making the necessary corrections.

Jay Kennedy verified

SIMPLE, Easy and Refreshing

I enjoyed that Jonny walks you through the steps but doesn't drag on about it. He adds little hints and ideas on what you can do to simplify or challenge it.

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