How to Play Piano

Overview

Course No. 7794

Tickle the ivories and awaken your inner Beethoven with lessons from a master piano instructor—no appointment required! The piano is one of the most gratifying instruments to play, making it an excellent introduction to the theory and practice of music. From folk melodies to challenging classical forms, the piano is a versatile instrument that allows both melodic lead and harmonic accompaniment.

How to Play Piano is your opportunity to develop this marvelous skill. Taught by acclaimed pianist Professor Pamela D. Pike of Louisiana State University, these 36 accessible lessons provide the building blocks needed to evolve from an interested novice to an expressive and talented player. Professor Pike combines music theory and history with hands-on examples, guiding you on a journey from learning how to sit at the piano to mastering chords, arpeggios, sight-reading, and more.

The course is entirely self-guided, offering assignments to work on between lessons and allowing you to progress at your own pace. By the end of the course, you’ll possess a substantial skill set and the confidence to continue your musical journey for years to come.

Video Lectures

01: Basic Piano Rhythm and Fingering

Begin playing music and familiarize yourself with the piano. Perform basic exercises and explore rhythm patterns, ending with Beethoven’s Ode to Joy.

Duration: 34 min

02: Pitch and Off-Staff Notation

Delve into pitch and meter concepts, find out about measures and different types of notes, and explore the C major five-finger pattern with your first étude.

Duration: 31 min

03: Tonic and Dominant Harmony

Explore the tonic and dominant notes of a scale and revisit Ode to Joy to understand these concepts in action.

Duration: 31 min

04: Intervals and Basic Notation

Continue working on harmony and melody while exploring intervals and basic notation in this foundational lesson.

Duration: 30 min

05: Major Chords and Simple Accompaniment

Familiarize yourself with landmark pitches and practice five-finger patterns, introducing the concept of chords that allow for richer accompaniment.

Duration: 30 min

06: Fourths, Accidentals, and Relaxation

Study the major five-finger patterns and accidentals while enjoying “When the Saints Go Marching In” and adding “Aura Lee” to your repertoire.

Duration: 31 min

07: Primary Chords

Delve into chords and examine the popular chord progression I-IV-V-I, an essential pattern in Western music.

Duration: 33 min

08: Transposition at the Piano

Learn transposition—moving melodies from one key to another—and practice with melodies such as “Woodland Jaunt.”

Duration: 29 min

09: Chord Inversions

Build a technical foundation by learning about inverted chords and recognize how they are notated on the staff.

Duration: 33 min

10: Chord Progressions and Arpeggios

Expand your knowledge of chord inversions and practice C major cross-hand arpeggios.

Duration: 31 min

11: Accompaniment Patterns and Sight-Reading

Discover the practice technique of “blocking” to aid in sight-reading and explore different types of accompaniment patterns.

Duration: 27 min

12: Harmonization and Damper Pedal

Learn about the final five-finger pattern—G flat—and how to harmonize melodies using the damper pedal.

Duration: 33 min

13: Minor Finger Patterns and Chords

Shift your focus to minor finger patterns and chords while continuing to practice sight-reading.

Duration: 29 min

14: Articulation: Legato and Staccato

Improve the artistry of your playing by exploring articulation techniques and practicing contemporary pieces.

Duration: 29 min

15: One-Octave Major Scales and Major Intervals

Practice full eight-note scales and add new pieces to your repertoire while mastering their patterns.

Duration: 33 min

16: Dotted Rhythms and Isolated Repetition

Hone your musical skills by reviewing earlier pieces and experimenting with new rhythm patterns.

Duration: 27 min

17: Secondary Chords and More Dotted Rhythms

Review your knowledge and expand your theory while assessing your progress in learning.

Duration: 31 min

18: Sixteenth Notes and More Secondary Chords

Deepen your understanding of secondary chords while practicing with Beethoven’s Minuet in G and the Harp Étude.

Duration: 28 min

19: Compound Meter and Technique

Explore new time signatures and review previous material while practicing rhythmic patterns.

Duration: 27 min

20: Parallel Major and Minor Keys

Reflect on parallel major and minor keys while practicing harmonization techniques.

Duration: 30 min

21: Three Forms of the Minor Scale and Syncopation

Deepen your knowledge of the minor scales and how they contribute to musical patterns.

Duration: 33 min

22: Artistic Expression and More Minor Keys

Explore expressive quality in music while applying your learned techniques.

Duration: 34 min

23: The Classical Period and Fortepianos

Examine the Classical period and the development of the piano as an instrument while practicing pieces by Mozart.

Duration: 29 min

24: Seventh Chords and Sonata Form

Study the sonata-allegro form and seventh chords while playing pieces by classical masters.

Duration: 33 min

25: Sight-Reading and Technique

Tackle sight-reading challenges with new pieces while refining skills on earlier compositions.

Duration: 34 min

26: The Romantic Period and Seventh-Chord Arpeggios

Shift focus to the Romantic era and build on arpeggio techniques while understanding their historical significance.

Duration: 35 min

27: More Romantic Repertoire

Refine your repertoire through pieces by Liszt and practice increasing musical expression along the way.

Duration: 29 min

28: Sonata Form Revisited

Engage in a musical tradition by revisiting the sonata form and practicing themes from classical pieces.

Duration: 35 min

29: The Baroque Era and Harpsichords

Learn about the Baroque era and its instruments while practicing pieces from this significant period.

Duration: 29 min

30: Baroque Repertoire

Study renowned Baroque pieces and refine your skills in harmonization through various compositions.

Duration: 30 min

31: Deliberate Practice and Learning Music

Integrate effective practice techniques to help you continue honing your skills.

Duration: 33 min

32: The 20th Century and Modern Music

Survey 20th and 21st-century music trends, including significant composers and innovations.

Duration: 33 min

33: Chorale-Style Repertoire

Explore chorale-style piano music, practicing pieces across different eras and composers.

Duration: 31 min

34: Impressionism and the Una Corda Pedal

Study impressionism and learn how to use the una corda pedal to create specific musical effects.

Duration: 28 min

35: Triplets and Continuing Piano Study

Conclude with the last rhythmic pattern—triplets—and discover how to continue your piano studies beyond the course.

Duration: 36 min