How do I know if the courses at Rebecca's Piano Keys are right for me?
All the courses at Rebecca's Piano Keys are designed for teens and adults -- people who are old enough to work independently and take their piano education into their own hands. With that in mind, if any of the statements listed in this checklist apply to you, then yes, this course is for you!
You have NEVER touched a piano before, but you have always wished you could just sit down at play something!
You have taken piano lessons in the past, but don't remember how to play any of the songs you learned, so you are left feeling awkward and embarrassed when people inevitably ask you to play something.
You play piano pieces with skill and confidence, but you find the idea of creating your own music intimidating.
Do I need a piano in order to complete these courses?
Yes, but there are a lot of options out there! If you will not be using an acoustic piano, use the checklist below to help make sure your keyboard or digital piano will meet your needs.
Ideally, your instrument will have a full-sized keyboard with 88 keys. But for starting out, you can get by on an instrument with 76 or 61 keys. I would not recommend anything smaller than 61 keys.
In order to play with expression, you need an instrument that can respond appropriately to your touch. A heavier touch means a louder sound; a softer touch means a softer sound. To achieve this, you will need to have weighted keys, or at the very least, touch sensitive keys. (If you simply want to create melodies without any expressiveness, a cheaper instrument will suffice.)
To create music that sounds rich and full, you need to be able to play chords, and to have both hands playing simultaneously. For this reason, look for an instrument that includes "polyphony" in its list of features.
You will most likely want a damper pedal (also called a sustain pedal). This is used to create music that has a smooth, flowy sound. You will not use the pedal for ALL your playing, and you can certainly make beautiful music without one. But for most of my students, playing music that uses the pedal is their favourite thing!
Make sure you have a stand for your instrument, AND a bench for yourself. These are necessary in order to set your instrument up in a way that allows you to play effectively--not to mention comfortably! An improper setup prevents you from playing effectively and can even lead to injuries!
Which course should I start with?
The course list at Rebecca's Piano Keys is growing! Use this checklist to help you decide where to start!
If you've never touched a piano before (or have very limited knowledge of the piano) you will want to start with the FREE course, "An Introduction to the Piano for Absolute Beginners"
If you already have a basic understanding of the piano, but are brand new to improvising, I would suggest you start with "Piano Improvising: Level 1."
"Piano Improvising: Level 2" will be perfect for you if you are already a confident piano player, but the idea of improvising makes you feel like a deer in headlights.
