Early Beginner Piano Foundations – Level 1
Start your piano journey from the very first note. You'll learn your way around the keyboard, play your first keys, chords and songs, and train your ears and hands to work together, one fun step at a time.
First Keys
Start at the very beginning by finding your way around the keyboard and building good habits from day one. Then you'll learn your first two keys, C major and A minor, along with the scales, chords and original tunes that bring them to life.
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Introduction to the Keyboard
Start your piano journey with a welcoming, hands-on first course designed for complete beginners. You'll learn your way around the keyboard and play familiar tunes in swing, Latin, jazz, pop and blues styles.
Key of C Major – Canon in C
Master the key of C from scales to chords to progressions, then play a beautiful performance piece that brings it all together. It's a thorough, rewarding look at the most important key for every beginning pianist.
Key of A Minor – Jonny Darko
Discover the moody, dramatic sound of a minor key, and learn the three scales that give it its unique character. You'll finish by playing Jonny Darko, a fun original tune.
Ear Training & Hand Coordination
Train your ears and hands to work together. You'll learn to recognize musical sounds by connecting them to songs you already know, then build two-hand coordination with fun rhythm exercises played over a popular chord progression.
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Ear Training – Interval Crash Course
Train your ear the easy way by connecting musical sounds to songs you already know, like "Amazing Grace." This playful, ear-opening workshop helps you hear music more clearly, one small step at a time.
Two-Hand Coordination Exercises 1
Get your hands working together with 36 groovy, confidence-boosting rhythm exercises, all played over a chord progression used in hundreds of popular songs. Each exercise builds gradually, so you'll go from simple to fun to impressive.
Next Keys
Put your skills to work in four new keys: G major, E minor, F major and D minor. Each key comes with its own original tune, from a sweet lullaby to a pop-rock anthem, a Latin-flavored tune and a swing tune.
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Key of G Major – Jonny’s Lullaby
Explore the bright, cheerful key of G major, one of the most popular keys in music. You'll learn to play its scale smoothly up and down the keyboard and finish with a sweet original lullaby.
Key of E Minor – PWJ Active
Explore the haunting, anthemic sound of E minor, a favorite key for rock and pop. You'll learn all three minor scales with smooth thumb crossings and finish with a stadium-ready original tune inspired by Imagine Dragons.
Key of F Major – Jonny’s Bamba
Explore the festive, spirited key of F major and learn the one small fingering twist that sets its scale apart. You'll also learn the chords behind popular songs and finish with a fun Latin-flavored original tune.
Key of D Minor – Jonny’s Moonflight
Who says minor keys have to be sad? Learn the sultry, swinging side of D minor, including the 10 chords you'll find in almost every D minor song, and finish with a fun swing tune.
Beginner
3 sections
Learning Focus
Full Description
If you’ve always wanted to play the piano but don’t know where to begin, this is the place to start. Level 1 is designed for complete beginners, with no experience needed. Every course builds on the one before it, so you’ll always know what to learn next, and you’ll be playing real music from the very first lesson.
You’ll begin with the basics: finding your way around the keyboard, learning the note names and building good habits for your hands and posture. Then you’ll explore your first two keys, C major and A minor. You’ll learn the scales, chords and chord patterns that show up in countless songs, and you’ll play a fun original piece in each key. Next, you’ll strengthen two important skills that every pianist needs. You’ll train your ear to recognize musical sounds using songs you already know, and you’ll build two-hand coordination with rhythm exercises played over a popular chord progression.
To finish the track, you’ll explore four more keys: G major, E minor, F major and D minor. Each one comes with its own original tune, from a sweet lullaby to a pop-rock anthem to a swing tune. Along the way, you’ll learn to make your chords sound smoother, play along with a band and accompany other musicians. By the end of Level 1, you’ll have a strong foundation, a collection of songs to play for family and friends, and the confidence to move on to Level 2.
Related Learning Tracks
Build on your foundation with eight new keys, each paired with a fun original tune in a different style, from funk and blues to Latin and rock and roll. Along the way, you'll start improvising, sharpen your ear and gain the confidence to make music your own.
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