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Which are You?Beginner: Haven't played the piano before.
Apprentice: Play already but not as well as you'd like to.
Journeyman: Already play well, but would like to explore new piano frontiers.
Information for Adult Beginners
I must apologize to you. I do not believe that most adults can successfully learn an instrument as intricate as the piano or keyboard from online lessons. Too many things to know, too many possible bad habits to develop, too many corrections that only a piano instructor who is actually in the room and paying attention would notice. Of course, there is no shortage of "teachers" of online lessons who will tell you differently. Many of them present their materials for free, via youtube videos or their personal websites. I could make some money offering free lessons the way they do, and then pushing some paid product. It would also ruin a whole lot of good students and fine folks and I'm simply not willing to risk that.
I suggest you do the following:
1. Read my free writings about teachers, fees, and adult students (Click here) and then seek out a LIVE piano teacher who will teach you what and how you want to be taught.
2. Purchase my ebook The Big Book of Adult Piano and use the techniques it gives along with your lessons - don't forget to show it to your teacher so he/she knows what you are up to ! Click here to examine and purchase this book.
3. If your search for the right teacher is unsuccessful, email me and tell me your story. If I decide that I can actually help you I will suggest a course of online lessons appropriate to your needs. Even if I feel I cannot help remotely, I will reply to your email within 48 hours.
You are, naturally, welcome to try online beginner lessons and see how it goes. Hey, I've been wrong before and likely will be again!
Information for Adult "Apprentices"
Definition: An "apprentice" is a pianist who already plays but nowhere near as well as he/she wishes. An apprentice has troubles and frustrations learning new pieces of music.
Here is what I can offer you in the way of help, from the simplest and cheapest to the most intense:
1. Purchase one of my ebooks. Click here to examine the book and purchase.
Note: the following services require that you email me with your needs. I don't guarantee that I will accept you (and then take your money) for online assistance. I will only if I sincerely feel that I can help you with online lessons. I will reply to your initial email within 48 hours. It is possible I will need further information in order to determine if I can help you.
2. Contact me and purchase my Faster Progress to Better Music Evaluation. This is a one-time, VERY in-depth analysis of everything you are doing at the piano: posture, reading, practicing, performing, etc. I have been quite successful at getting to the root of pianists' trouble via this online action. I send you my lengthy questionnaire, either via email or regular mail, you fill it out IN DETAIL, and return it. I evaluate your answers and information and provide you with an exact program of actions I believe will correct everything which comes up. If necessary, I will ask further questions (via email) until I feel I have enough information to accurately advise you. The cost is $30.
3. One month of online lessons, which includes the Faster Progress to Better Music Evaluation. We will do the evaluation first and you will then have unlimited online access to me for the month from the date your payment clears. Your first step is to email me. If I accept you, I will provide a link for you to make your purchase. The cost is $100 for the month.
4. Three months of online lessons, including the Faster Progress to Better Music Evaluation. Same approach as above, only you get unlimited access to my advice for a full three months. Your first step is to email me. If I accept you, I will provide a link for you to make your purchase. The cost is $300 for three months.
Information for Adult "Journeymen"
Definition: A "Journeyman" is a pianist who already plays well but seeks to learn new skills and expand into new piano styles.
Helping a "Journeyman" pianist is usually just a matter of pointing them in the right direction: what materials to study, in what order, what to watch out for, what can be safely ignored. Of course, that's easy for ME to say - I've already been down that road, plus lots of others that only seemed to lead in the right direction. Amid the forest of piano books, online lessons, methods by famous performers, it's hard to know where the irreplaceable minutes of your life should be spent.
I can help. I can play all styles of piano I'm aware of. Lots of people are masters of a single style and know little or nothing about anything but that style. I have "specialized in versatility" meaning I've learned quite a bit about pretty much all approaches to piano enjoyment and performance. I may not be an advanced classical player, for example, but likely if you want advanced training you are at Julliard and not looking online for help.
In addition to being able to teach any style I've encountered in 40+ years of professional work, I know how to teach:
- composition
- improvisation
- notation
- orchestration
- arranging
- songwriting
- lyric writing
- electronic keyboard use
- playing from a Fakebook (both for keyboards and regular piano)
- music theory
- chord knowledge and use
Email me with your interests and needs. I will reply within 48 hours and tell you if I can help. If I can, I will recommend you purchase 3 months of online lessons. Once your purchase has been made, I will provide a personalized program and guide your steps as often as you would like. Week by week is usual, but day by day is sometimes the way to go in some instances. Whatever. The cost is $300 for the three months and can be renewed if desired at the end of the period. Your first step is to email me. If I accept you, I will give you a link where you can make your purchase.
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