Beginner's piano course

Author's update September 2024:  This course was based on a standard beginners course for adults like you would find in a music store.  Since this was created it has become obvious to me that this course needs to be completely replaced.  This is because when adults are not really limited by their music reading skills with WYSIWYP, they can focus on their playing skills.  So instead of playing children's tunes for a long time, they should be able to sooner take on music that interests them, even excites them.  I think this is what makes learning fun and motivating to continue playing music.

Beginner's piano course with WYSIWYP

This is an example of how a beginner's self-study course for the piano might look.  It assumes no previous knowledge of music theory, reading sheet music, or playing the piano.  As a self-study course, it is aimed at students who are capable of learning without a music instructor for guidance.  The obvious caveat is that without an instructor, misunderstandings and poor playing technique will not be corrected.  In the future, if the WYSIWYP notation is successful, it is hoped that it will be adopted by music instructors for students struggling to learn to read traditional sheet music.  

Here are a series of links to the lessons of  the course.  Each link opens into a new window.

1. Course overview

2. Posture for the piano

3. Very basics of music theory, the keyboard, and WYSIWYP

4. Scales and scores

5. SNapp basics

6. Playing from the C position

7. Note duration

8. The Grand Staff

9. Intervals and chords

10. Playing intervals and chords from the C position

11. Practice playing intervals

12. Practice playing chords

13. The C Major chord

14. The G7 chord triad

15. The F Major chord

16. Playing from the G position

17. Practice playing from the G position

...to be continued.