Archive for November, 2009
I’ve written before about how my online piano course is a great way to learn how to play piano songs. It offers flexibility, I said. I don’t have to try to make it to a piano lesson. I don’t have to worry about whether I have made enough progress in any given week to keep the teacher from yelling at me. If I am busy with kids or work one week, I may not practice as much. If I have a it a little bit lighter with kids or work another week, I can practice more. I can learn to play piano songs my way, on my schedule, without negotiating with anyone else.
I didn’t mention another great convenience when I wrote about it before. Learning to play keyboard online spares you the embarrassment of being bad at something in front of anybody else. That sounds like a silly little concern. But it isn’t silly for me. And it probably isn’t silly for a lot of people.
I mean, it’s not like I don’t have lots of opportunities to be embarrassed in the rest of my life. I have plenty of opportunities to be embarrassed. And sometimes what is at stake is crucial, or at least pretty important, so I can’t just drop it to avoid embarrassment. For example, I had to bring the car in for emergency surgery a couple of weeks ago and didn’t have time to vacuum the crushed potato chips out of the back seat.
And besides times when I am embarrassed, there are lots of times when I need to manage expectations, deal with disappointment (no, we can’t go to McDonald’s), and otherwise juggle demands. So I really don’t need to be embarrassed any more than I already am.
It could be enough to dissuade me from learning how to play piano songs. It could be, that is, except that I have a way of learning piano that is completely anonymous and doesn’t expose me to public feelings of inadequacy. I do it online, in the privacy of my own home. My teacher doesn’t slap my knuckles with a ruler. She is online and on audio files and will never know when I make a mistake. Learning piano online is the perfect solution for a shy, sensitive, easily embarrassed person like me.
I am looking forward to the day when I have made enough progress in piano that I can play in front of others confidently and without fear of inadequacy. That day hasn’t yet arrived, but I am sure it will. In the meantime, I am having a ball and learning a lot with an excellent online piano course that not only teaches me how to play piano songs, but also saves me from embarrassment.
If you are ready to take the plunge without embarrassment, you should try Rocket Piano, too. If you aren’t sure whether you are ready to take the plunge or not, dip your foot in with the free 6-lesson course. You have nothing to lose with a free course!
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Here are a couple of very informative blog posts about learning jazz piano:
How to comp chords – comping chords on the piano – I got this question from a student: “I am struggling to comp rhythmically & unpredictably while improvising or playing from a lead sheet. I can comp chords in my left hand to a pattern (i.e., 4 to the floor or on the 1 & 3, … The Circle of Fifths (part 2) – Learning harmony using the Circle of Fifths. Using the circle of fifths, it is easy to learn diatonic harmony. Looking at the example below, you’ll notice a yellow rectangle around F-C-G and a red circle around the C. …
I’ve written before about how my online piano course is a great way to learn how to play piano songs. It offers flexibility, I said. I don’t have to try to make it to a piano lesson. I don’t have to worry about whether I have made enough progress in any given week to keep the teacher from yelling at me. If I am busy with kids or work one week, I may not practice as much. If I have a it a little bit lighter with kids or work another week, I can practice more. I can learn to play piano songs my way, on my schedule, without negotiating with anyone else.
I didn’t mention another great convenience when I wrote about it before. Learning to play keyboard online spares you the embarrassment of being bad at something in front of anybody else. That sounds like a silly little concern. But it isn’t silly for me. And it probably isn’t silly for a lot of people.
I mean, it’s not like I don’t have lots of opportunities to be embarrassed in the rest of my life. I have plenty of opportunities to be embarrassed. And sometimes what is at stake is crucial, or at least pretty important, so I can’t just drop it to avoid embarrassment. For example, I had to bring the car in for emergency surgery a couple of weeks ago and didn’t have time to vacuum the crushed potato chips out of the back seat.
And besides times when I am embarrassed, there are lots of times when I need to manage expectations, deal with disappointment (no, we can’t go to McDonald’s), and otherwise juggle demands. So I really don’t need to be embarrassed any more than I already am.
It could be enough to dissuade me from learning how to play piano songs. It could be, that is, except that I have a way of learning piano that is completely anonymous and doesn’t expose me to public feelings of inadequacy. I do it online, in the privacy of my own home. My teacher doesn’t slap my knuckles with a ruler. She is online and on audio files and will never know when I make a mistake. Learning piano online is the perfect solution for a shy, sensitive, easily embarrassed person like me.
I am looking forward to the day when I have made enough progress in piano that I can play in front of others confidently and without fear of inadequacy. That day hasn’t yet arrived, but I am sure it will. In the meantime, I am having a ball and learning a lot with an excellent online piano course that not only teaches me how to play piano songs, but also saves me from embarrassment.
If you are ready to take the plunge without embarrassment, you should try Rocket Piano, too. If you aren’t sure whether you are ready to take the plunge or not, dip your foot in with the free 6-lesson course. You have nothing to lose with a free course!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Here are a couple of very informative blog posts about learning jazz piano:
How to comp chords – comping chords on the piano – I got this question from a student: “I am struggling to comp rhythmically & unpredictably while improvising or playing from a lead sheet. I can comp chords in my left hand to a pattern (i.e., 4 to the floor or on the 1 & 3, … The Circle of Fifths (part 2) – Learning harmony using the Circle of Fifths. Using the circle of fifths, it is easy to learn diatonic harmony. Looking at the example below, you’ll notice a yellow rectangle around F-C-G and a red circle around the C. …
For any busy person who wants to learn how to play piano songs, finding an appropriate online piano course is a great idea. Learning piano online offers value and flexibility that just aren’t available with a private piano teacher. But once you have chosen to learn how to play piano songs online, you need to decide how to choose the right online piano course for you.
Doing the research is not hard. After all, these courses are all available online. Of course, you need to have a certain skepticism while you read the sales material. But you can do it all from your computer. Here are some tips for doing research for an online computer course:
- Does the website look professional? Be sure it does. The site should inspire confidence and respect. The best sites have a complete description of their product, testimonials from real-live people who have actually used the product, and a way to contact them with any questions you have before you make a purchase.
- What is the target audience of the program? Some online piano courses are geared toward beginners and some toward more advanced students. Some courses highlight pop music and others stress classical. Some classes are great for kids; some just aren’t geared for kids. Some courses anticipate that their students want to be professionals; others expect that their students only want to play for their own enjoyment. Make sure that your own personal needs and interests are met by the course you are considering. If not, move on.
- What learning styles are stressed? Some people learn best by memorization, some by a thorough explanation of reasons behind a lesson and others by a playful approach to learning. Some people like to play scales and exercises; other people want to learn how to play piano songs. In my opinion, a comprehensive piano course should be suitable all sorts of learning styles. Reading music should be taught both by charts and by an interactive game. You should get a thorough explanation of certain fingering techniques as well as lots of ways to practice the techniques. There should be sound files available for you to hear what a passage is supposed to sound like, as well as the sheet music for it.
- Is the price right? Shop around for price. But, as whenever you are considering price, make sure that you are getting the type of course you need from a professional, well-organized company or you will be paying too much, no matter what the price.
- Get a free sample. The best online piano courses are proud of their product and want you to see it before you buy. So most of them offer a free lesson or even a short introductory course. Take advantage of it. You will learn a little both about piano and about the course you wish to buy.
You have a lot of choices when it comes to purchasing an online piano course. If you choose wisely, you will have hours of enjoyment learning how to play piano songs.
And can confidently advise you to consider Rocket Piano.
You can read what other bloggers have to say here:
Learn to Play » Blog Archive » Keyboard Lessons Online Await … – Duane Shinn is the author of the popular online newsletter on piano chords, available free at “Exciting Piano Chords & Chord Progressions!” learn to play keyboard. Spread the word – share – save – subscribe – email – print … Free Online Lessons » Blog Archive » Did You Accomplish Something … – Links to and info about free online lessons. Also you can use the search box to look for video lessons in the subject area that interests you. Are you planning to take a piano course, or are you already having one? Do you want to take your skills to the next level? Are you practicing very well to play for your family or friends in recitals? Or you want to learn for your enjoyment? Whatever plans you have in mind in taking piano lessons, each learner must have their own sensible outlook upon doing so.
