We are very new to the piano. I have a lot of musical experience under my belt as I studied at a conservatory for a few years, but that was a lifetime ago...so in some regards, i feel as if I am starting from scratch, although i think a lot is still in my brain and i just need to unbury the information. So, we purchased a piano and we are all interested in learning it!

I've ordered the Alfred's books, and the theory and all are pretty simple for me to understand, its more the touch and the fingering that I am sure that I will need to dedicate time to.

For the kids, we purchased the "piano is easy" series (http://www.pianoiseasy.com/), which is primarily piano by numbers without regard for proper reading music at this point. My children are 4 and 5, and I really want them to think of the piano as fun and enjoyable and certainly not intimidating prior to having them attend proper "lessons"....so I'm confident with this approach for the next several months while the piano is sitting at home. Honestly, I love the fact that the first time my 5-year old sat at it, she was able to play jingle bells on it....her smile just beamed.

But, I am at a loss for my husband. I'm leaning towards the piano is easy for him. he has absolutely NO NADDA musical experience and is now 50. he is interested, for sure. but time is minimal, especially with tax season looming on his schedule....so reading music will be a struggle for him for the first few months. he simply wont have the brain cels to dedicate to this effort. I think the piano is easy method could work for him until May, at which time, I think i can assist him in learning the alfred method. I bought the kindle alfred beginner book and while I flew through the first 1/3 of the book, i also know that it would take him quite some time to grasp each page with even just a little confidence.

I have no expectations that i will be brilliant by any means, but i also think that i can do a decent job and learn enough before may to play somewhat properly. i really would like to avoid lessons until i have some confidence at least. and in all honestly, i would like to see how much i can teach my children as well, rather than deal with the schedule headaches that private lessons require.

so...thoughts requested here. How do I indoctrinate an adult into music with minimal time commitment and keep it enjoyable? also, can i teach my kids properly the first year or two?

GIMMICK!! Piano is ANYTHING but easy. I think a lot of folk will agree with me on this one...
Stick with the old fashioned classical way and go Alfred's

lol I so understand. But its a perfect method for kids that can read letters and nothing else

If I got the Alfred's method, I dont think he would be able to touch the piano until May....and I want to take advantage of his interest!

Piano and Keyboard anybody can learn if they want too, but they need to commit to it, and want to do it. That would be my advice.

If he wants an enjoyable hobby then there are plenty of books and online courses that are out there, and he is sure to find something to suit him if he looks in the right places.

The Complete Kenneth Baker Book on Piano is good, and also are the really easy piano selections. You can get these online at Amazon or Musicroom.com or any other book retailer.

Learning music is very rewarding and if you find him the right course or teacher then I'm sure he will do well.

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Starting with a free online reading notes game would help. 10 minutes each day for a month is fun to do. And afterwards he could reading notes as fast as 1 second per note.

Well, as the other wise individuals have already posted, there isn't much "easy" about piano, except, perhaps, dusting it once per week.

My grand daughter learned to "spell" by simply writing words the way she thought they sounded, and at the time that was encouraged by the school. Now, as an early teenager, she can not correctly spell her way out of a classroom!

Piano (euphonium, kazu) is not for everyone. Those who want to play will find time during recessions, hurricanes, family visits, holidays, heartbrakes, and tax season. Those who don't . . . . . well, you get the idea. Starting off CORRECTLY will not change that fact.

Ed

Thanks Chris. I found this one which he can easily do at work:
http://www.funbrain.com/notes/index.html

Ed, I know he has a genuine interest, so I don't doubt that. I just want to ensure even if he can only devote 5-10 minutes a day that its used wisely and doesnt discourage him at all. He will be working 70 hours/week, and once he's home the kids will most likely be getting ready for bed, and since the piano is central in the house, every note will be heard in their rooms...so his time at the keyboard is severely limited.

Unfortunately,since this is his company, work has to come first second and third for the next few months....its how his business survives the rest of the year!

I'm always conflicted as to whether or not to tell someone that learning the piano is difficult.
Yes, there are challenges as there are with many new learning experiences.
However, I remember a few instances where people told me things were difficult or overcomplicated things in way that I felt was unnecessary. And almost made me quit piano and learning music theory all together.

For example: one of my formers teachers was having me play a song that had an F# in they key signature. I was perfectly comfortable and had no problem playing flats and sharps and I told her so. In fact I taught myself a song years earlier that includes mostly sharps. But she kept going on and on about how difficult it was that I actually started to panic and almost started to believe that it was hard! I couldn't believe how her negativity impacted me. The other example when someone (Berklee grad) was trying to explain some basic music theory to me but didn't know how to translate it into beginner terms. I thought this stuff was way to complicated and I will never get it. But, I still kept at it and did a lot reading on my own and trying different classes. I realized this stuff is isn't as complicated as some people make it out to be. In fact it has a lot of really neat patterns. It takes a lot of memorization though and of course does get tricky when you get to the more complicates stuff but in general if its presented in the right way, its not so bad.

I think the only thing I would tell people is that there will be times when things do get difficult and you just have to push through those difficult parts. But that can be true with a lot of things and you just need to be there to encourage them as they work through it. That's one thing I like about the teacher I have now. I will express my frustration and she will say "a lot of adult learners feel that way". And it brings me some relief.

As far as the program goes. Since you got it for the kids anyway why not let you husband learn along with them? It could but fun. Then when he gets more familiar he can try out some method books or some other learning tools. There's plenty of them. And sometimes it's a matter of trial and error until you find the right one.

I didn't look at the program you are asking about but I did notice it said it uses numbers instead of notes. What's funny is that when the fingering is written in on some of the music I am playing I have a tendency to follow that and not read the notes. I have to force myself to look at the notes so I don't create a bad habit. he he.

Good luck! Have fun! And let us know how it goes.

You know, the truth is (and has been hinted to above) nothing YOU do will help your husband stay motivated. HE has to already be motivated or it will not work.

Also, the ZINGER you just threw in here about his business having to come first, second, and third is really almost the final nail in the coffin. It takes TIME to learn to play the piano. If he doesn't have the TIME, it won't work.

The only way it will work is that he is motivated to do this and he will set aside at least a half-hour each day first thing in the morning (when he is well rested) to practice using some normal instructional book (like ALFREDS) and just doing it because he enjoys it. Either that or (better yet) take formal lessons each week before practicing.


There is no other way.


Oh, and that game you found ? Clicking on a picture of a keyboard with the mouse to indicate where the note is ?

In my opinion, that is next to useless. All that will demonstrate is that you understand the layout of the keyboard and can find the location of a particular note. What he needs to do is press a key with his FINGERS on a real keyboard when he sees a note. That is what playing the piano consists of.

Sorry, to be so negative. I know you want this to happen but, trust me, it will happen if your husband wants it to happen, not if YOU want it to happen.

It is just the nature of the beast.

Actually the dusting part is the most difficult for me to remember!

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