Well, I’m SOLD. Hook line and sinker. What a great website and cool tunes to boot! I am most impressed.
What I love is that these tunes are most like the original songs, in that it’s not some sheet music with a tapped in “melody line” (like typically seen in a music book). This encourages real learning- not just sight reading or sounding out notes in chords etc... I don’t think I have ever seen music being taught and presented in such a way- so as to allow the student to learn that the chords/notes are set out in a way that is so conducive to improvisation! That is truly a new and exciting way of piano instruction, to my mind. What is so beneficial and enlightening is that the student is challenged and encouraged to explore the music through progressions/riffs and improvisation with various levels of difficulty. For a pianist to be able to take those skills and improvisational ideas into other music pieces is a crucial and enlightening “a-ha” mind shift.
The tunes are also geared toward playing along in a band type situation. Not straight melody lines. I love that aspect... I have had the benefit of many years of classical music piano training, and while I still love the genre, when I get playing in our band on our modern music (rock and roll, country, blues, folk & some jazz) I wish I had managed (years ago) to somehow get beyond playing the “music” on the page (sight reading), to be able to find a place where I would feel more comfortable and confident to work on improvising. That isn’t really taught well in classical music instruction. Perhaps things have changed now, but years ago, this was not the focus of piano lessons. It is this aspect of teaching piano that is the hardest to do. I have looked for a long time to find the “right” teacher who could assist me to do this, with not much luck, I’m afraid. This website allows me to try it out- and it’s just plain FUN! I am so happy I found your website!.
That’s it from me for today. I am over the moon playing “Such a Night” Level 5. Dr John...I love it!! Some very interesting moves in that tune that I love. Good challenges and I love the change up in the tempos and the riffs. Wow. It’s a great one. It’s been a ton of years since I played piano like I love it. How unfortunate that I never felt inspired much to pursue it for so many years. I guess our band has refreshed my memory that I shouldn’t have done that! Sure is fun catching up though, and I’m on the hunt to expand my piano skills and gain confidence in playing in our band. Your website: reveille and enlightenment. Play on!! Thank you so much.
LindaK