FAQs

Click on a question or click on a section header like “Getting Started” to reveal more questions. If you find we missed something you can submit your question below and we’ll do our best to answer. Thankyou!

Free Lessons

Getting Started

How can I try irocku?

Anyone can sample an irocku Lesson. Simply go to the home page and click sample lesson.

How do I get started my lessons?

Check out the sample lesson and determine if you are a Beginner (levels 1,2,3), Intermediate (levels 3,4,5), or Advanced (levels 5,6,7) player. Purchase an annual membership that matches your level. Each lesson will provide lesson videos, exercise videos, improvisation videos, groove chart videos, and the printed sheet music for download. If you want you can view the videos on an ipod, ipad, or smartphone.

What level should I select?

Check out the sample lesson and determine if you are a Beginner (levels 1,2,3), Intermediate (levels 3,4,5), or Advanced (levels 5,6,7) player. If the level is too easy go up one level higher, if it’s too difficult try one level lower.

What order do I learn the songs?

It is not necessary to learn the lessons in any particular order. We post a different lesson every other week but you can choose to work on any song, in any order. Each level builds upon the previous level so it is important to be comfortable with the theory and techniques presented at the level you are working on before advancing to the next level. Many students like to pick one particular song and master it by moving up through the levels, while other students prefer to master all the songs at one level before moving to the next level. Do whatever works best for you.

General

Can I choose only the songs I want to learn?

Yes, go to the lessons page and select the individual piano lesson you would like to purchase.

Will irocku teach me how to improvise?

Definitely! Through our groove charts, we provide the first step on the path to improvising by creating a roadmap for a song without having to read notes. Many rocknrollers don’t read music. They understand chords, progressions, scales, and rhythms and put the pieces together to create a song. For each song we also provide a transcription of an improvisation and teach the scales, rhythms, and theories that the improv was derived from. As an example, for the Jessica solo we provide a transcription of a portion of the solo and then explain how it starts out with a chromatic lead into the pentatonic scale, and marks the beginning and ending of phrases with dyads of the chord, while rhythmically playing a three-note cross-rhythm over a 4-note bassline. That sounds intimidating but with each lesson level you will learn more of these theories and techniques. We encourage our students to learn the improv as written and then take these concepts and evolve the improv into one of their own. After a student works through a dozen or so of the improvisations they will find that they have a tool box of techniques that can be applied to any song.

Will irocku prepare me to play other songs that are not on the list?

The songs in our membership cover everything you will need to learn to play any rock or pop song. Every lesson includes a classic rock song, a groove chart that teaches how to play the song in a rock band, a rock theory or dexterity exercise related to the song, and an improvisation exercise. All lessons include an instructional video as well as the written notation.

Will irocku teach me how to read music?

Yes, all lessons include an instructional video as well as the written notation. For beginners who don’t know how to read music we provide a online note learner that teaches the fundamentals of reading music.

Do you have guitar and drum lessons?

For our video lessons we currently only provide piano but we do provide Live Online lessons for guitar, bass, piano and drums with our instructors if you are interested. Click here to check out our live web lessons.

Is it possible to view the lessons to my iPad? This looks totally cool but my computer is in a different room from my piano.

Yes, irocku videos can be viewed directly on the irocku website using a computer, an iPhone, iPad or any mobile device.

How often are new songs added?

We are constantly working with the music publishers to add new songs. We add songs when we receive licensing approval from the publishers. If you would like to request a song please send us a message at contact us.

Where is the list of best keyboardist I saw mentioned on a post on Facebook?

Here is the link to the top keyboard player. Here is the link to the top keyboard songs. These lists change regularly so come back and visit often.

Does irocku have any country of currency restrictions?

We do not have any country or currency restrictions. Our site is available anywhere in the world and we process all payments through Paypal which handles any of the necessary currency conversions.

Chuck, do I need a conventional piano or can I use a digital piano?

Any piano or keyboard will be fine. Preferably 88 keys but you can get by with only 61 keys or even a 44 key digital keyboard. No midi connection is needed.

Membership

How to use a coupon to renew my membership when it expires?

Gift certificates are redeemable one year from the purchase date so you can use a coupon to purchase a gift certificate now and use it to renew your membership when your current membership expires.

What is included in a membership?

An annual membership includes access to all of the irocku lessons. Each membership provides you with access to three levels of lessons so you will not need to purchase a new membership each time you advance, only when you advance from Beginner to Intermediate and from Intermediate to Advanced.

• A ‘Beginner’ membership provides access to Level 1 through Level 3 lessons.
• An ‘Intermediate’ membership provides access to Level 3 through Level 5 lessons.
• An ‘Advanced’ membership provides access to Level 5 through level 7 lessons.

How much does irocku cost?

An annual membership is $79.95 for access to all irocku lessons. Individual piano lessons can be purchased for $4.99.

What songs are included in the membership?

The irocku membership includes classic rock songs from artists such as the Allman Brothers, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, The Doors, Ben Folds, The Black Crowes and many others. Visit the lessons page to see the complete list of songs.

How long will I be able to access the lessons I purchased?

Web access to memberships and individual song purchases lasts a year. During that period you can view the video lessons anytime and you can download the printed lessons onto your computer for permanent access.

How can I give my grandson an irocku Membership as a gift?

You can purchase an irocku Gift Certificate and then send it to him via email or print it out for manual delivery. Here is the link to the gift certificates: Gift Certificates

Piano Lessons

What is included in each lesson?

Every lesson teaches how to play a classic rock song; including a groove chart that teaches how to play the song in a rock band, a rock theory or dexterity exercise related to the song, and an improvisation exercise that teaches how to improvise over the song’s chord structure. All lessons include instructional videos as well as the sheet music.

How long does a lesson last?

Web access to memberships and individual song purchases lasts a year. During that period you are free to download the printed lessons onto your computer for permanent access. With an annual membership you will have unlimited access to all of the irocku lessons. You can download, print, or view any lesson, anytime. For annual members irocku posts a different lesson every other week but you can choose to work on any lesson, anytime and at whatever pace you desire. Within each lesson you will learn the song, some cool rock techniques, and you will learn how to improvise.

Will I receive a score or transcription with the purchased lessons?

Yes, all lessons include both instructional videos as well as the transcriptions. Every lesson has four elements; a classic rock song, a groove chart that teaches how to play the song in a rock band, a rock theory or dexterity exercise related to the song, and an improvisation exercise.

Does the sheet music for the lesson also include the chords?

Yes, all of our lessons include the sheet music along with the chords. First, as part of the 'Groove Chart' which includes the chord changes and the rhythm of the song. This is used if you want to accompany a band and to get the basic pulse of the song. Second, the chords are indicated on the lesson sheet music which is the irocku keyboard arrangement for the song. We don't include the chords on the levels 1-3 since beginning students are still learning the chords at this stage.

Is it important to study the songs in a particular order? Or can I skip around?

It is not necessary to learn the lessons in any particular order. We post a featured lesson every other week but you can choose to work on any song, in any order. Each level builds upon the previous level so it is important to be comfortable with the theory and techniques presented at the level you are working on before advancing to the next level. Many students like to pick one particular song and master it by moving up through the levels, while other students prefer to master all the songs at one level before moving to the next level. Do whatever is most fun for you.

Will irocku teach me how to improvise?

Definitely! Through our groove charts, we provide the first step on the path to improvising by creating a roadmap for a song without having to read notes. Many rocknrollers don’t read music. They understand chords, progressions, scales, and rhythms and put the pieces together to create a song. For each song we also provide a transcription of an improvisation and teach the scales, rhythms, and theories that the improv was derived from. As an example, for the Jessica solo we provide a transcription of a portion of the solo and then explain how it starts out with a chromatic lead into the pentatonic scale, and marks the beginning and ending of phrases with dyads of the chord, while rhythmically playing a three-note cross-rhythm over a 4-note bassline. That sounds intimidating but with each lesson level you will learn more of these theories and techniques. We encourage our students to learn the improv as written and then take these concepts and evolve the improv into one of their own. After a student works through a dozen or so of the improvisations they will find that they have a tool box of techniques that can be applied to any song.

Does the sheet music match what you play during the preview/lesson?

The level 7 previews are a combination everything that is taught in the lessons, improvs, exercises, groove charts, and scales and chords. For most of the Previews the performer plays through the Lesson and uses techniques shown in all of the videos and mixes them up to his liking during the improvisation. The improvisations on the preview are based on the Improvisation lesson that we provide but the performer might introduce additional techniques, patterns, and rhythms found in the lesson videos. When we designed the IROCKU lessons Chuck stressed the importance of getting people 'off the page'. Unlike classical players, only 10% of all rockers can read music and Chuck himself isn't much of a reader. Rockers piece together songs by listening, and learning the progressions, the grooves, and then filling in with melody and riffs(mostly from the scales and chords). We try to provide the tools for our students to expand beyond the written page, which is why we provide the groove charts, exercises, and improvs along with the lessons. We provide written improvisation examples to get you started but it's best if you experiment and explore on your own. The groove charts are intentionally designed to force you off the page and are a great way to begin getting away from the written notes. Don't worry about playing the notes exactly as they are played in the videos. Get the groove down and supplement it with chord inversions and licks of your own. You'll find that after working through a half a dozen of our songs (including groove, lesson, exercise, and improv) that things will start falling into place and picking up songs and improvisations will become easier for you. If you work your way up to our level 7s and master the content (i.e.songs, improvs, groove, and exercises) you should be capable of learning any rock song or riff. Chuck would prefer to see you come up with your own version of the songs rather than learning ours. Our goal is to provide you with the tools to do that.

How do I learn the different scales, chords, and arpeggios?

The scales, chords and groove charts can be found under the Piano Resources link on the top of the website.

I just want the sheet music, can I get that or do I have to take the lesson?

Every song includes the sheet music. Each song also includes a groove chart that teaches how to play the song in a rock band, a rock theory or dexterity exercise related to the song, and an improvisation exercise. For the improvisations and exercises, we focus on a different element of rock, for example a riff, a rhythm, a chord progression, etc. so these will vary with each song. All lessons include an instructional video as well as the written notation.

Where do I find the musical notation for the songs?

From any lesson page, scroll down below the videos and you will find the sheet music. Select the sheet music that you are interested in; Groove Chart, Piano Lesson, Piano Exercise, or Piano Improvisation. Left click to open the notation in a browser, right click to download it.

Why are there scales and exercises, isn’t this a rock ‘n roll site?

The scales and exercises teach you the riffs and runs to improvise and jam on your own. All the great rockers are also great musicians. They all know this stuff, they just practice so much that it looks easy.

I could not find the gospel rock lesson?

You will find all of our groove charts under the Piano Resources link on the top of the website. Select ‘IROCKU Groove Charts’ and you will find the list of irocku groove charts, which cover a wide range of genres – blues, gospel, funk, salsa, etc.

Lesson Levels

What level should I select?

Check out the Sample Lesson and determine if you are a Beginner (levels 1,2,3), Intermediate (levels 3,4,5), or Advanced (levels 5,6,7) player. If the level is too easy go up one level higher, if it’s too difficult try one level lower. If you’ve never played an instrument before, go to our Beginner tab and select the Note Learner to learn how to read notes. If you select the correct level for your playing ability there is no need to purchase the earlier levels. Register for the sample lesson which gives you access to all 7 levels and will allow you to determine if you are a Beginner (levels 1,2,3), Intermediate (levels 3,4,5), or Advanced (levels 5,6,7) player. If the level is too easy go up one level higher, if it’s too difficult try one level lower.

How do I select the level I'd like to learn?

To select a level, click on the level number on the tabs above the video.

If I can read music and have experience playing what am I missing if I don't purchase the Beginning Levels?

If you can read music you probably don't need the beginning level lessons. Levels 1 and 2 focus on learning the notes. Level three is the first level where we introduce some rock concepts but these are very basic. If you can already read, level 3 or 4 is about the right place to start and you can work your way up from there at your own pace.

As a Beginner, do I get the whole song or does that come at a higher level??

Levels 1 and 2 focus on teaching keyboard basics by using portions of rock songs and melodies. Level 3 is the first level where we introduce some rock fundamentals. Many students are finding that Level 3 or 4 is a good place to start if they can already read music. At level 4 we usually introduce a complete song and then add more techniques and complexity as you progress through the advanced levels. We’ve found that most players in bands use our level 5s when they perform and they supplement it with licks from the 6s and 7s. The levels 6s and 7s are often too challenging to play while keeping up with everything else you need to pay attention to when playing in a band setting.

When do I change levels?

When the new lessons are no longer challenging move up to the next level. You should expect to move through the beginning levels in less than a year each. The intermediate levels a year or two each and the advanced levels are lifetime achievements. Of course, this will vary depending on how much you practice.

Is it important to study each piece in order? Or can I skip around?

It is not necessary to learn the lessons in any particular order. We post a featured lesson every other week but you can choose to work on any song, in any order. Each level builds upon the previous level so it is important to be comfortable with the theory and techniques presented at the level you are working on before advancing to the next level. Many students like to pick one particular song and master it by moving up through the levels, while other students prefer to master all the songs at one level before moving to the next level. Do whatever is most fun for you.

Can I change levels at any time without having to buy a new lesson?

You will only need to purchase a new lesson when you advance from Beginner to Intermediate or from Intermediate to Advanced. When you purchase a Beginner Level Lesson, or Membership, you have unlimited access to levels 1,2 and 3. When you purchase an Intermediate Level Lesson or Membership you have unlimited access to levels 3,4, and 5. When you purchase an Advanced Level Lesson or Membership you have unlimited access to levels 5,6, and 7.

What if I want to learn all the levels for a particular song?

To learn all levels of a particular song you would have to buy the Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Lessons for that song. If you can go from a Level 1 to a Level 7 in less than a year, please let us know. That would be very impressive!!!!

I took classical piano lessons when I was a kid. Where should I begin?

Rock piano is a lot of fun but in many aspects just as challenging as classical. The rhythms and fingerings can be real tongue-twisters. Most classically trained musicians have been starting on level 4 or 5. They tend to get stuck early-on with some of the funky rock syncopations but once they break through they advance quickly. Spend a lot of time on the improvisation exercises and watching the videos. Rock rhythms are often easier to imitate than they are to read.

Teachers

Can I really learn to play without a piano teacher?

Yes, you can absolutely learn to play without a piano teacher. Some of the greatest musicians in rock history are self-taught. If you would like to get feedback on your playing, you can upload a video of yourself playing the lesson and our musicians will help you out.

Can irocku help me find a music teacher?

We offer Live Online Music Lessons with some of rock’s top keyboardists, including Chuck himself. These professionals are great if you are an intermediate or advanced player and there is a particular song, technique, or style you would like to learn. Or maybe you simply want to learn some licks for jamming with your band. Along with our seasoned professionals we also offer top young players who represent the next generation of rockstars. These up and coming musicians are capable of teaching at any level, beginners through advanced players, and all have a strong jazz foundation so they can take you anywhere you’d like to go on the keyboard. All of our instructors are hand-picked by Chuck and the irocku team. Click here to select an irocku instructor.

How can I become an irocku instructor?

irocku offers live online music lessons with rockstars, session players, stage musicians, and up and coming rockstars. If you would like to become an irocku instructor please contact us us directly.

I am a music teacher and I have piano students who want to sign up for irocku piano instruction. How do I sign them up?

Each student should sign up for the site themselves. They will then have access to the lessons so they can practice any time they want.

Practice Tips

Do I need to practice everyday?

Even the wildest rockers, practice. They ALL practice. ALL the time. Practice enough so you can master the song, the groove chart, the exercise, and the improvisation in a two week period. If it takes longer than that you can always select a level lower than your current level. The advanced levels can be tricky so they might take longer than two weeks to master.

How do I play the Groove Charts?

The groove chart is the fastest way to learn the essence of the song without getting bogged down reading notes. The groove charts are also great for comping with a band. Approach learning the groove charts by first learning all of the chords. It’s best to learn to play all the inversions of the chords with each hand. Once you’ve mastered the chords, begin playing the left hand rhythm. Start with the root note of the chord, then octaves, then the root-fifth( ie for C chord play C and G), and then add more notes as you like. Once you are comfortable with the left hand, play the chords in the right hand using the rhythm as written. You can play the chord in any inversion or just one note of the chord and add the melody of the song if you like. (Note: If the chord is written C/E you would play the C chord with the right hand over an E in the left hand). Please visit this topic on our forums: Groove Charts

What is the best way to break a tune into a groove chart, bass line and melody?

Please visit this topic on our forums: Groove Charts

How can I learn the different scales, chords, and arpeggios?

The scales, chords and groove charts can be found under the Piano Resources link on the top of the website.

I have a bad habit of using too much pedal and would appreciate knowing where it's appropriate?

Never use pedal while learning a piece, even if it is indicated in the score. Avoiding the use of the pedal can help a player develop precision and clarity in playing, whereas excessive use often causes muddiness and the development of bad technique. Once you are able to play a piece well without pedal, go ahead and try adding it sparingly. The pedal not only creates a longer sustain, but a fuller resonance in the piano, which may not always be appropriate for a tune. So, it is really a matter of taste! Our advice: don't start using the pedal until you sound good without it. When there is no pedal notation, observe when the chord changes. Clear the pedal for each chord change. Always keep the pedal off for sections where there there are major, minor or chromatic scales used. (scale passages using major or minor 2nds) In some cases, pedal can work during pentatonic or whole-tone scale passages. Use your ears!

Support - Purchasing

How do I access the lessons I purchased?

To access your lessons, please go to Video Lessons and select 'Begin Lesson' for the song(s) you purchased.

I forgot what lessons I've ordered?

You can view your account status by logging into the website and then selecting my orders under your profile. For completed orders you can view the details of each item ordered. Orders with a status of ‘Abandoned’ are orders that never fully processed due to incomplete payment information. Your completed orders will be available one year from the date of purchase. If you need to reset your password, please select the account link under the user profile tab.

Does irocku have any country of currency restrictions?

We do not have any country or currency restrictions. Our site is available anywhere in the world and we process all payments through Paypal which handles any of the necessary currency conversions.

How long does it take to process an order?

Your lessons will be available immediately after your purchase is made. If your order is processed successfully, you will receive a Purchase Receipt from irocku via email. To access your lessons, please go to Video Lessons and select 'Begin Lesson' for the song(s) you purchased.

I ordered a lesson but can't access it?

We apologize for the problems you are having. Most likely your order made it through our system but was rejected by Paypal. Please check your order here . If your order shows 'Abandoned' then the order was rejected by Paypal. The typical causes for the Paypal rejections are expired cards or the billing address used on the order doesn’t match the billing address of the Paypal or credit card account. You might want to try re-entering the order with a different card or the correct address.

Support - Videos

The videos aren't working on my Android?

We apologize for the troubles you are having accessing the videos. Since our videos have looping and slow down features you might need to set your Android Browser to support these features. Please do the following: 1. Click on the 3 vertical dots on the upper right hand side of the browser bar. 2. Click on the checkbox next to 'Desktop Site' Click here for more...

How can I slow the videos down so I can follow the piano instructor?

You can slow down (or speed up) the video by clicking the “-” (or “+”) button on the bottom of the video player. If you don’t see the “- +” buttons, hover your cursor anywhere over the video and they will become visible. You can also loop a section of the video by clicking on the “AB Loop” button on the bottom left of the video and then dragging the “A” “B” markers to your desired location. Click here for more...

How can I loop a selected section of the lesson?

Depending on the speed of your internet connection you might need to let the video fully stream first. On the playback bar at the bottom of the video, the 'white' progress bar shows how much of the video has downloaded and the 'blue' bar shows the video playback. Once the portion of the video that you would like to loop is fully streamed, click on the "AB Loop" on the lower left of the video. This will open the loop bar just below the playback bar. On the loop bar, drag the "I" and "O" to the section of the video that you would like to loop. Then click the play arrow. Click here for more...

While watching the video lessons, the video stops and then starts again. How can I fix this?

Since the videos on the website are streamed, they need to fully load before playing or they might pause. You can check the status of the video loading by viewing the horizontal progress bar on the bottom of the video player. The load time depends on the speed of your internet connection.

I keep getting access denied when trying to view the lesson videos.

If you are getting access denied when trying to view the lesson please try refreshing your browser. The connection to our server might have timed out.

Ho do I select the different videos for each song?

All the videos are available below the video player. Just click on any one of the other video icons ( Preview, Lesson, Exercise, Improvisation, Groove Chart) and it will load into the video player for viewing.

Troubleshooting

I get an error message when I try to download the sheet music?

If you are having problems downloading the sheet music, you might need to download the most current version of Adobe reader. Here is the link Adobe Reader.

I'm having problems downloading the PDF sheet music for a piano lesson, it is only partially completing the download.

If you are on a wireless network the connection might be timing out. Please try accessing the site again. If you continue to have troubles, contact us and we will send you the PDFs via email.

When I try to download the sheet music, the file is nowhere to be found. How can I save the PDF to my computer?

Each internet browser has a different way of downloading linked files. Depending on how you have your browser configured the steps might change, but for most default setups you should simply have to click on the 'Download' button. If that doesn't work try right clicking on the link and then select either ' Download linked file as...' or 'save link as..'. You might need to download the most current version of Adobe reader. Here is the link Adobe Reader.

While watching the video lessons, the video stops and then starts again. How can I fix this?

Since the videos on the website are streamed, they need to fully load before playing or they will pause. You can check the status of the video loading by viewing the horizontal progress bar on the bottom of the video player. The load time depends on the speed of your internet connection.

I keep getting access denied when trying to view the lesson videos.

If you are getting access denied when trying to view the lesson please try refreshing your browser. The connection to our server might have timed out.

I just renewed my membership but have been unable to connect to the site. I get the message that the Irocku server is not responding. Otherwise, Love the program.

Our hosting provider has found that similar problems accessing irocku.com are associated with local network issues not related to irocku. To help us troubleshoot why you are unable to access the website, please do the following: On Windows: Open the Start menu. Click Run. To open the command line interface, type cmd and then click OK. At the command line prompt, type: > tracert irocku.com Press Enter. Please copy the results to save to a file or paste in another program and send the file to support@irocku.com. On Mac: Click on the Finder and search for the 'Network Utility' application and open it. Click the Traceroute tab. Type www.irocku.com in the appropriate input field and press Trace. Please copy the results to save to a file or paste in another program and send the file to support@irocku.com.

Online Private Lessons

I would like to know how the online private lesson works?

Once you purchase a lesson(s) with an instructor they will contact you via email. You can then communicate directly with the teacher to set up a lesson time and date, share ideas about what you want to learn and exchange mp3s, pdfs etc. Your lessons will be via Skype, Zoom, or FaceTime so the teacher will work with you while on a live Skype call. People love the lessons. It’s very exciting to work with musicians at this level. We’ve been careful about selecting teachers who are ridiculously talented but who are also genuine and approachable people. If you have any questions regarding our live lessons or would like some help selecting a teacher please don’t hesitate to contact support@irocku.com.

Equipment

What would be the best keyboard to buy to learn on. I do not have the space for a piano?

Piano players tend to have their own personal preferences for brand and model of digital keyboard. We recommend that you test out a few keyboards to see which have the best feel and interface for you. Synthesizers with complex interfaces might not be right for you if you are looking for an alternative to an acoustic piano. If you are looking for a keyboard to practice and learn on, in lieu of an acoustic piano, then you should look at Digital Pianos that have 88 keys with weighted keys that mimic and feel like an acoustic piano. Stage keyboards and stage pianos tend to be more expensive and have features that most pianists don’t need unless they need a full range of effects and sounds including pianos, organs and synthesizers. If you are trying to learn rock keyboard and recreate the sounds of original rock recordings then we suggest the Digital Piano has the following voices/sounds: Acoustic Piano, Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Hammond, and Harpischord. The acoustic piano sound is the one that you will use the most but the other voices are important if you will be trying to reproduce the sound and feel of the great rock pianists such as Dr. John, Billy Preston, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, etc. New models are introduced each year so it’s not possible for us to list them all. The brands you might want to look at are: • Yamaha • Casio • Roland • Korg • Kawai • Nord • Kruzweil • Alesis Casio has historically made the most economical model that fits all these requirements so that’s a good choice if price maters. One final consideration is if you are looking for a keyboard with internal speakers or if you will be using external speakers. Most digital pianos all have internal speakers but stage keyboards don’t.

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