Slow learning curve
Since their primary focus is learning to read sheet music ( a long, slow process), it usually takes years before you can play anything above a beginner level.
They are boring
Oh, if I had a dollar for every person who told me they hated childhood piano lessons (tedious finger exercises, monotonous scale practice, etc...)
They are expensive
If you add it all up, weekly private lessons will likely cost you $1200 - $1800 per year. And since the learning curve is so slow...well, you do the math.
Old-fashioned songs
Traditional lessons push you towards Classical music. Modern songs require a modern style of piano playing that is typically not taught in most private lessons.
INTRODUCING
PLAY FIRST PIANO
This unique video course has been designed from scratch to take your piano playing from BEGINNER TO AWESOME in a matter of weeks, not years!
...with fun, engaging and inspiring lessons that make you want to play more and more.
Let’s be honest: there are scores (pardon the pun)
of online piano courses and apps out there.
What makes PLAY FIRST PIANO stand out from the crowd?
Easy to Learn
Similar to learning the guitar or ukulele, Play First Piano teaches you first how to play chords. Chords are quick and easy to learn, and you can be playing dozens of songs within a few weeks. You don’t even need to know how to read music! Once you are adept at chord-playing, you will learn to improvise and add melodies.
Modern Music
Learn how to play familiar and popular songs the way the professional musicians play them, rather than the amateur, elevator music versions you get with most piano learning apps.
Microlearning
Who has time for 25-40 minute tutorials? Microlearning (short learning sessions over a continuous period) has been shown to
significantly boost long-term retention. Play First Piano is the only course specifically designed following these principles: over 200 short videos (2-10 minutes each), progressively building your knowledge and skills.
Understanding Music
Play First Piano is the only course that teaches you how music ‘works’ - the gateway to adding melodies to chords, improvising and writing your own songs. This has always been the most-neglected aspect of traditional piano lessons.
Go at Your Own Pace
Go at your own speed, from the comfort of your own home. Since the program is designed in bite-sized lessons, it is easy to take a break and resume where you left off. There is no pressure to practice - you answer only to yourself.
Support
Play First Piano goes above and beyond all others in supporting your learning journey: daily/weekly goal-setting plans; live Q&A sessions with founder, Steve Pitkanen; private community membership. You are not alone!
What's inside?
Short Video Lessons
223 instructional videos - under 10 minutes each, so you don’t get overwhelmed. Learn at your own pace - each lesson progressively builds on the previous ones; nothing is left out. Check out the COURSE CURRICULUM further down the page to find out more.
Play-along Songs
This is where the fun happens!
Join in playing popular songs with professionally-recorded ensembles, ranging from a Dixieland band to a Symphony orchestra. Each song has an accompanying video showing you exactly what to play.
Song Sheets and more...
I have also included the chords to dozens of popular songs from the past 70 years, using downloadable Chord Summary sheets (.pdf format). Each sheet also gives suggested rhythmic patterns to help you get started right away.
Plus get these great bonuses!
Goal-Setting Plans
If you are looking for guidance, my “15 minutes-a-day” Plan for Success shows you exactly what to work on every day until the course is complete.
Online Community
Complimentary access to our private online community - only for students enrolled in the course. You are not alone!
Email Support
Feeling stuck? Simply email your instructor from within the course to get the help you need.
Did you know...
that weekly private piano lessons will likely cost you $1200 - $1800 per year?
PLAY FIRST PIANO will have you playing your favourite songs in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost.
Let me tell you a secret:
THIS IS HOW THE PROS PLAY!
Playing chords is actually the dominant style of piano playing for virtually all modern musicians since the 1950s (including Elton John, Billy Joel, Carole King, Sarah McLachlan, Taylor Swift, Alicia Keys, Adele, Bruno Mars, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and the Beatles).
PLAY FIRST PIANO will show you, step-by-step, how quickly you can start playing in this modern style. With our daily/weekly goal-setting plans, you expect to be:
Playing a few simple songs within days
Playing familiar and popular songs within weeks
Playing almost any song you can think of within months
But there's more..
PLAY FIRST PIANO goes beyond simply teaching you how to play chords.
It's a step-by-step program that steadily builds and improves all aspects of your piano playing - showing you exactly what you need to know...when you need to know it.
Along the way, you learn the secrets of How Music Works, so that by the time you have completed the course, you also have all the knowledge and skills you need to improvise music, or even write your own songs.
MODULE 1: Your First Chords
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INTRODUCTION
0.1 What Will I Need?
0.2 Understanding/Demystifying the Keyboard
0.3 Placing Fingers on Keys
BONUS: Downloadable Keyboard Cheat Sheet -
CHAPTER 1: FIRST POSITION
1.1 The First Position Chord
1.2 Naming First Position Chords
1.3 Adding the Left Hand
1.4 "Root"
1.5 Technique Tip: Keep Your Fingers on the Keys
1.6 Simple Rhythms
1.7 Adding the Pedal
1.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 1
BONUS Play-along Song: Frere Jacques -
CHAPTER 2: SECOND POSITION
2.1 The Second Position Chord
2.2 Where's the Root? + Adding the Left Hand
2.3 Switching Between the C-chord and G-chord
2.4 Small Movements
2.5 New Rhythm Patterns
2.6 Technique Tip: Get Ready!
2.7 More Fun with Rhythm Patterns
2.8 Switching Chords with the Pedal
2.9 Technique Tip: Get Ready Earlier!
2.10 What Can I Play with Two Chords?
2.11 What Can I Play with One Chord?
2.12 Starting to Write Your Own Songs
2.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 2
BONUS Play-along Song: Hush Little Baby -
CHAPTER 3: THIRD POSITION
3.1 The Root Position Chord
3.2 Where's the Root? + Adding the Left Hand
3.3 Switching Among Three Chords
3.4 Anchor Fingers and Anchor Notes
3.5 Beginner Rhythm Patterns and Chord Progressions
3.6 Intermediate Rhythm Patterns and Chord Progressions
3.7 Advanced Rhythm Patterns and Chord Progressions
3.8 Measures / Bars, Barlines and Beats
3.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 3
BONUS Play-along Song: The Mad Hatters -
CHAPTER 4: WHAT CAN I DO WITH 3 CHORDS?
4.1 Happy Birthday
4.2 Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
4.3 Technique Tip: Keeping Your Fingers Strong
4.4 The Blues
4.5 The Blues: Advanced Rhythm Patterns and Techniques
4.6 Early Rock & Roll (1950s-60s)
4.7 Common Rock and Pop Chord Progressions
4.8 Core Song #1: Silent Night
4.9 Chord Groups
BONUS Play-along Song: The Blues
BONUS Play-along Song: Silent Night
MODULE 2: Playing with Basic Chords
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CHAPTER 5: CHORD GROUP 2
5.1 C-chord in Root Position
5.2 What Exactly is a C-chord?
5.3 G-chord in First Position
5.4 What Exactly is a G-chord?
5.5 F-chord in Second Position
5.6 What Exactly is an F-chord?
5.7 The "Sweet Spot" for Playing Chords
5.8 Core Song #2: Kumbaya
5.9 Reading Lyric/Chord Sheets
5.10 Chord Group 1 vs Chord Group 2
5.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 5
BONUS Play-along Song: Kumbaya -
CHAPTER 6: CHORD GROUP 3
6.1 C-chord in Second Position
6.2 G-chord in Root Position
6.3 F-chord in First Position
6.4 Chord Note Names (3rds + 5ths)
6.5 Core Song #3: Amazing Grace
6.6 Comparing All 3 Chord Groups
6.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 6
BONUS Play-along Song: Amazing Grace -
CHAPTER 7: INTRODUCING A-MINOR CHORDS
7.1 Root Position A-minor Chord
7.2 Major and Minor Chords
7.3 Broken Chords - New Right-hand Style
7.4 First Position A-minor Chord
7.5 Second Position A-minor Chord
7.6 Song Components and Chord Progressions
7.7 Common Chord Progressions: C | Am | F | G |
7.8 Common Chord Progressions: C | G | Am | F |
7.9 Common Chord Progressions: Am | F | C | G |
7.10 Special Case: Heart and Soul
7.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 7
BONUS Play-along Song: C-G-Am-F Chord Progression -
CHAPTER 8: SLASH CHORDS + BASS NOTE MOVEMENT
8.1 Understanding Slash Chords
8.2 Common Chord Progression: Descending Bass Line
8.3 When to Use Slash Chords
8.4 Amazing Grace with Slash Chords
8.5 Passing Notes
8.6 Let's Play: Kilgary Mountain (Whiskey in the Jar)
8.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 8
BONUS Play-along Song: 1950s Swing Rhythm
BONUS Play-along Song: Amazing Grace (with Slash Chords)
BONUS Play-along Song: Kilgary Mountain (Whiskey in the Jar) -
CHAPTER 9: MORE MINOR CHORDS + DIMINISHED CHORD
9.1 The D-minor Chord
9.2 D-minor Chord Fingering
9.3 Let's Play: Carrickfergus
9.4 The E-minor Chord
9.5 Technique Tip: Move Your Body Position
9.6 "Turnaround" Jazz Chord Progression
9.7 Let's Play: Kumbaya with Added Minor Chords
9.8 Let's Play: Wild Mountain Thyme
9.9 The Diminished Chord
9.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 9
BONUS Play-along Song: Carrickfergus
BONUS Play-along Song: Kumbaya with Added Minor Chords
BONUS Play-along Song: Wild Mountain Thyme -
CHAPTER 10: PLAYING THE BLACK NOTES
10.1 Naming the Black Notes
10.2 Major Chords vs. Minor Chords - Root Position
10.3 Major Chords vs. Minor Chords - Other Positions
10.4 Technique Tip: Playing Chords with Black Notes
10.5 Let's Play: Jingle Bells
10.6 Let's Play: We Wish You a Merry Christmas
10.7 A Nice Ending for 1950s Rock & Roll
10.8 The Special Case of B
10.9 Let's Play: O Holy Night
10.10 The Flat Chords
10.11 The Sharp Chords
10.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 10
BONUS Play-along Song: Jingle Bells
BONUS Play-along Song: We Wish You a Merry Christmas
BONUS Play-along Song: O Holy Night
BONUS: Chord Chart -
CHAPTER 11: PLAYING IN DIFFERENT KEYS
11.1 Let's Play: Happy Birthday in the Key of G
11.2 Let's Play: Happy Birthday in the Key of F
11.3 Why Change the Key of a Song?
11.4 Transposition Cheat Sheet
11.5 Let's Play: Kumbaya in the Key of G
11.6 "Frequently-Used" Black Notes
11.7 Let's Play: Silent Night in the Key of Eb
11.8 Let's Play: Kumbaya in the Key of Eb
11.9 Let's Play: Amazing Grace in the Key of G
11.10 Where Do I Go From Here?
MODULE 3: How Music Works
(+ Advanced Chords)
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CHAPTER 12: HOW KEYS WORK
12.1 Core Song #4: Pachelbel's Canon
12.2 The C-Major Scale
12.3 Major Scales in Other Keys
12.4 Why We Need Frequently-Used Black Notes
12.5 The Transposing Shortcut
12.6 Pachelbel's Canon Using Chord Numbers
12.7 Pachelbel's Canon in D
12.8 Explain Later: Why We Won't Be Practicing Scales
12.9 Optional - How to Play "White Note" Major Scales
12.10 Optional - How to Play "Black Note" Major Scales
12.11 Explain Later: Why Do We Have C-flat Notes?
12.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 12
BONUS Play-along Song: Pachelbel's Canon in C
BONUS Play-along Song: Pachelbel's Canon in D -
CHAPTER 13: MOVING BEYOND CHORD GROUPS
13.1 Choosing Chords in Any Key: The Three-Step System
13.2 Chord Inversions for Pachelbel's Canon in D
13.3 Explain Later: The Benefits of the 3-Step System
13.4 New Song: Blues in Bb
13.5 New Song: Run, Run Rudy
13.6 New Song: Cockles and Mussels
13.7 Explain Later: How to Describe Chords
13.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 13
BONUS Play-along Song: Blues in Bb
BONUS Play-along Song: Run, Run Rudy
BONUS Play-along Song: Cockles and Mussels -
CHAPTER 14: 4-NOTE CHORDS
14.1 Introduction to 4-Note Chords
14.2 Major and Minor 4-Note Chords
14.3 The Importance of Root Position
14.4 Getting to Know Scales Through Chords
14.5 Major-Seven (Maj7) Chords
14.6 "Cheat" Chords - Leaving Out the Root
14.7 Seven-Chords (7)
14.8 Song: Adding 7-Chords to the Blues
14.9 Song: Amazing Grace with Added 7-Chords
14.10 Minor-7 and Major-Minor 7 Chords
14.11 New Song: Play Misty for Me
14.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 14
BONUS Play-along Song: The Blues (with 7-chords)
BONUS Play-along Song: Amazing Grace (with 7-chords)
BONUS Play-along Song: Play Misty for Me -
CHAPTER 15: HOW CHORDS WORK IN A KEY
15.1 Most Common Chords in a Key
15.2 Roles of the Primary Chords (I, IV, V)
15.3 Core Song #5: Auld Lang Syne
15.4 The Secondary Chords (ii, iii, vi)
15.5 Auld Lang Syne with Chord Substitutions
15.6 How Do 7th-Chords Fit In?
15.7 Dominant 7 (V7) Chords
15.8 The ii-V7 Move
15.9 The Circle of 4ths
15.10 Core Song #6: Ain't Misbehavin'
15.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 15
BONUS Play-along Song: Auld Lang Syne (with Chord Substitutions)
BONUS Play-along Song: Ain't Misbehavin' -
CHAPTER 16: MORE CHORDS YOU SHOULD KNOW
16.1 6-Chords and Minor 6-Chords
16.2 Sus Chords
16.3 Suspended Endings Using Slash Chords
16.4 Extending Major 7 Chords: Maj9
16.5 Extending Dominant 7 Chords: 9ths, 11ths, 13ths
16.6 Ain't Misbehavin' with 7th and 9th Chords
16.7 Diminished 7 and Half-Diminished 7 Chords
16.8 How to Think About Rock/Pop/Folk/Country Music vs. Jazz
16.9 Add 9, 6/9, and Augmented Chords
16.10 New Song: The Piper
16.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 16
BONUS Play-along Song: Ain't Misbehavin' (with 7ths and 9ths)
BONUS Play-along Song: The Piper -
CHAPTER 17: PLAYING IN MINOR KEYS
17.1 Introduction to Minor Keys
17.2 Minor Keys: The Classical Approach
17.3 Minor Scales
17.4 New Song: Greensleaves
17.5 Minor Keys: Modern Approach
17.6 Minor Keys: Jazz Approach
17.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 17
BONUS Play-along Song: Greensleaves -
CHAPTER 18: DOING MORE WITH YOUR LEFT HAND
18.1 Playing Octaves
18.2 Play-along Song: G-D-Em-C
18.3 Adding the 5th
18.4 Play-along Song: Dm-Bb-F-C
18.5 Left-Hand Arpeggios
18.6 Play-along Song: FMaj7-Dm7-Gm7-C7
18.7 Walking Bass
18.8 Stride Piano Playing
18.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 18
BONUS Play-along Song: The Entertainer -
CHAPTER 19: THE RIGHT HAND: MOVING BEYOND RHYTHM PATTERNS
19.1 Changing Inversions / Octaves / Fingering
19.2 Improvised Broken / Split Chords
19.3 Adding Notes from Outside the Chord
19.4 Auld Lang Syne with Added Notes
19.5 Musical Clichés You Should Know
19.6 Amazing Grace - Gospel Version
19.7 Playing Faster Songs - Beginners
19.8 Playing Faster Songs - Intermediate
19.9 Playing Faster Songs - Advanced
19.10 Top Note Melody
19.11 Freedom of Musical Choce -
CHAPTER 20: IMPROVISATION AND ARRANGING
20.1 Getting Ready to Improvise
20.2 Improvisation - Adding to an Existing Melody
20.3 Improvisation - No Given Melody (Part 1)
20.4 Improvisation - No Given Melody (Part 2)
20.5 How Melodies Relate to Chords
20.6 Beginner Arranging
20.7 Intermediate Arranging
20.8 Advanced Arranging
20.9 Pitfalls to Avoid in Arranging
20.10 Improvising in Modern Style (no given chords or melody)
20.11 Improvising in Jazz Style
Is This Course For You?
PLAY FIRST PIANO is perfect for:
- YOU - if you are an adult beginner or former piano student frustrated by traditional lessons.
- YOU - if you want to learn to play popular songs, rather than Classical music.
- YOU - if you want to lead others in a sing-along, play in a jam session or simply play for yourself.
- YOU - if you want to learn from home, on your own schedule.
- YOU - if you want to learn to improvise on the piano or write your own songs.
- YOU - if you just want to have fun playing!
Students love it!
Check out what current and former students have to say.
"As an adult student, I thoroughly enjoy Steve's style of teaching that quickly covers new material and allows you to play in a more current style of piano."
Carolyn Handy
Ontario, CANADA
"Steve's friendly, approachable style makes the lessons fun and easy. And I love that I can go at my own pace. It's such a confidence boost to sound like I'm making real music."
Juanita Wootton-Radko
Ontario, CANADA
"It is amazing how quickly you can start to play songs. I highly recommend Play First Piano."
CareyAnn Mayer
Ontario, CANADA
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(All prices in Canadian Dollars)
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What's included (everything):
- Modules 1-3 (223 video lessons)
- Play-along songs (34 videos + .mp3's)
- Song Sheets (Pop, Rock, Country, etc...)
- Chord Charts and Cheat Sheets
- Downloadable Keyboard Cutout
- Online Membership Community
Why not get lifetime access to PLAY FIRST PIANO!
Keep it forever for one simple payment of $247.00
(All prices in Canadian Dollars)
Plus you're protected by my 14-day 100% Money Back Guarantee!
Get lifetime access right now.
Get lifetime access right now.
$247.00
(one-time payment)
(one-time payment)
Start learning a skill that lasts a lifetime!
14-day Money Back Guarantee
Try PLAY FIRST PIANO for 14 days, and if you are not completely satisfied, I will fully refund the cost of the program…no hard feelings.
What's included (everything):
- Modules 1-3 (223 video lessons)
- Play-along songs (34 videos + .mp3's)
- Song Sheets (Pop, Rock, Country, etc...)
- Chord Charts and Cheat Sheets
- Downloadable Keyboard Cutout
- Online Membership Community