How to Play Piano

Course Overview

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, offering a gateway to music theory and practice. From folk melodies to jazzy improvisations, this versatile instrument allows for both melodic lead and harmonic accompaniment. Many aspiring pianists don’t know where to start or worry about the difficulty, but “How to Play Piano” demystifies the process, empowering you to enjoy the simple joys of playing.

Instructor

Professor Pamela D. Pike, an acclaimed pianist from Louisiana State University, guides you through 36 accessible lessons. With a blend of music theory, history, and practical instruction, you’ll progress from novice to expressive player. The self-guided nature of the course offers flexibility, with Professor Pike providing foundational and advanced techniques, as well as practice tips to enhance your learning journey.

Video Lectures

01: Basic Piano Rhythm and Fingering

Start playing immediately with basic exercises, rhythm patterns, and “Ode to Joy.”

Duration: 34 min

02: Pitch and Off-Staff Notation

Learn pitch, meter, measures, and notes, plus the C major five-finger pattern.

Duration: 31 min

03: Tonic and Dominant Harmony

Explore melody and harmony with tonic and dominant notes.

Duration: 31 min

04: Intervals and Basic Notation

Understand tempo, intervals, and basic notation with practical exercises.

Duration: 30 min

05: Major Chords and Simple Accompaniment

Familiarize yourself with landmark pitches, five-finger patterns, and chords.

Duration: 30 min

06: Fourths, Accidentals, and Relaxation

Discover accidentals, and play songs like “Aura Lee.”

Duration: 31 min

07: Primary Chords

Dive into primary chords and popular progressions.

Duration: 33 min

08: Transposition at the Piano

Learn to transpose melodies across keys, enriching your repertoire.

Duration: 29 min

09: Chord Inversions

Master inverted chords and recognize their staff representation.

Duration: 33 min

10: Chord Progressions and Arpeggios

Focus on chord inversions and cross-hand arpeggios.

Duration: 31 min

11: Accompaniment Patterns and Sight-Reading

Practice blocking, chord patterns, and sight-reading techniques.

Duration: 27 min

12: Harmonization and Damper Pedal

Explore G flat patterns, harmonization, and the damper pedal.

Duration: 33 min

13: Minor Finger Patterns and Chords

Shift focus to minor keys and learn new pieces.

Duration: 29 min

14: Articulation: Legato and Staccato

Develop artistic expression with staccato and legato techniques.

Duration: 29 min

15: One-Octave Major Scales and Major Intervals

Practice full scales in C major, G major, and D major.

Duration: 33 min

16: Dotted Rhythms and Isolated Repetition

Work on new rhythm patterns and Beethoven’s Minuet in G.

Duration: 27 min

17: Secondary Chords and More Dotted Rhythms

Review and explore secondary chords and dotted rhythms.

Duration: 31 min

18: Sixteenth Notes and More Secondary Chords

Deepen understanding of secondary chords and advance your skills.

Duration: 28 min

19: Compound Meter and Technique

Learn about compound meter with new pieces like “Cheerful Tune.”

Duration: 27 min

20: Parallel Major and Minor Keys

Explore parallel keys and learn pieces like “Elephant Stroll.”

Duration: 30 min

21: Three Forms of the Minor Scale and Syncopation

Elevate minor scale knowledge and experience syncopation.

Duration: 33 min

22: Artistic Expression and More Minor Keys

Enhance musicality with techniques for artistic expression.

Duration: 34 min

23: The Classical Period and Fortepianos

Understand the Classical era and play Mozart’s Sonata theme.

Duration: 29 min

24: Seventh Chords and Sonata Form

Study the significance of seventh chords and sonata form.

Duration: 33 min

25: Sight-Reading and Technique

Tackle sight-reading with new pieces and technical études.

Duration: 34 min

26: The Romantic Period and Seventh-Chord Arpeggios

Shift to the Romantic era and practice seventh-chord arpeggios.

Duration: 35 min

27: Extended Arpeggios and Pianist as Artist

Explore Romantic techniques with exercises and a lullaby.

Duration: 31 min

28: More Romantic Repertoire

Refine repertoire and tackle Liszt’s Liebestraum.

Duration: 29 min

29: Sonata Form Revisited

Revisit sonata forms with various masterworks.

Duration: 35 min

30: The Baroque Era and Harpsichords

Travel back to the Baroque era to understand its style and instruments.

Duration: 29 min

31: Baroque Repertoire

Learn and refine harmony with Baroque classics.

Duration: 30 min

32: Deliberate Practice and Learning Music

Use deliberate practice strategies for challenging pieces.

Duration: 33 min

33: The 20th Century and Modern Music

Explore modern styles and composers like Sibelius and Bartók.

Duration: 33 min

34: Chorale-Style Repertoire

Survey chorale-style music, enjoying hymn-like harmonies.

Duration: 31 min

35: Impressionism and the Una Corda Pedal

Examine impressionism through Debussy’s techniques.

Duration: 28 min

36: Triplets and Continuing Piano Study

Conclude with triplets and Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata.

Duration: 36 min