Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Lessons ??

So I am ready to learn. iIwill be using one of the on-line/dvd courses as private lessons are not an option due to location.

How do I choose a lesson series? There are on line reviews but these review sites state quite clearly that they are compensated for sales!!!

I am between Learn and Master Piano, Play Piano Today and Piano with Willie.

I have viewed samples of Willie and Play Piano Today. Both seem good. Learn and Master Piano (which gets the highest rating) does not provide sample lessons for viewing.

The Play Piano Today series teaches "rhythmic patterns" and claims it will teach you to play any song by ear !!!

The Piano with Willie is the most expensive and seems to offer tons of lessons.

Does anybody who is taking lessons or do any teachers on the forum have a suggestion for me.

BTW: I do think that at some point learning to read would be a good skill.

My interests are in Blues/Jazz

Thank you

Hi drjay9051 and welcome.

I can't speak for the other two courses, but I have (had) used Learn & Master Piano. I'm pretty sure the study book that goes with it is available as a free download from the website. If I get a chance I'll try and find the link.

The course is very much leaning to the play by ear approach and is very chord based, using various genres to demonstrate, including blues and jazz. It seems it might suit you in this regard.

The course, to me, was at a nice steady pace and very enjoyable, especially the backing tracks to play along too.

I found Will Barrow to be easy to listen & watch, although a little 'dreamy' at times.

I got to lesson 20, of which there are 28 in total. The only reason I have stopped using it is because I wanted to learn the Classical way with more theory involved. I have since just started with a teacher, but I intend to go back to the course someway down my learning path.

I hope this is of some use to you, and maybe some other folks can share their knowledge on the other courses you mentioned.

Neil.

I have used all three of the courses you mentioned. They all have things that are worth learning.

If I remember correctly the PlayPianoToday course is based on memorizing patterns, the Will Barrow thing gives you tidbits of this and that, and the Willie course is all over the place but very good instruction for intermediate players. I would not suggest you begin with any of those options.

You say you do not have the option for private lessons due to location. I have been taking lessons on and off for almost 2 years via SKYPE and it works just fine. I think that would be your best option.

Having an instructor keeping you on task will do a lot for your early development. I know those DVD courses, etc ... make claims about how great they are but, trust me, you will eventually chuck them all and get a teacher.

If you are a complete beginner and you are not going to go the private instruction route, I would suggest the following commercial course.

eMedia Piano and Keyboard Method (Deluxe V3)

Good Luck

Hi,

Why not taking a teacher specialised in blues/jazz. Then take the method he has for you. You might progress faster if the method is according your taste. If you can't find any, you could always use skype. But if you consider any other method, why not Alfred for Adults for a start. There are many who use this method and can help you in this forum. I even found the book in the library. That way it costs you nothing to try out. I would not prefer any expensive method or dvd, because that money is better spend in a (virtual) teacher.