Early Art

In this all-audio lesson, you will learn an early intermediate-level arrangement of the hymn in three different styles. This allows you to not only learn the hymn for performance but also learn different ways of arranging the accompaniment for use in other songs. This lesson is suitable for most adult students who have been practicing regularly for a little over a year.

This haunting Porter Wagoner hit makes a wonderful piano arrangement and you can learn this one completely “by ear”! The lesson starts with a full demonstration of the song followed by a detailed note-by-note description of how to play the song, including the fingering. 

In this “by ear” lesson, you will learn an early-intermediate arrangement of “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” in three different styles. This allows you to not only learn the hymn for performance but to also learn different ways of arranging the accompaniment for use in other songs. This lesson is suitable for most adult students who have been practicing regularly for a little over a year.

In this piano by ear lesson, you will learn an early intermediate-level piano solo arrangement of this contemporary worship song completely “by ear”. The lesson begins with a full demonstration of the arrangement followed by a detailed note-by-note description of the song in two to four measure sections.

This lesson includes a full demonstration followed by a detailed “by ear” lesson teaching the song in two to four measure sections. When you learn without print or video, you memorize the song while you learn it and develop your skill to pick out other songs “by ear”.

In this “by ear” lesson, you will learn an early-intermediate level arrangement of the traditional Irish hymn “Be Thou My Vision” in three different styles. This allows you to not only learn the hymn for performance but to also learn different ways of arranging the accompaniment for use in other songs. This lesson is suitable for most adult students who have been practicing regularly for a little over a year.

This lesson is based upon the original version of the song in the key of D flat. This is not a simplified arrangement. This song is considered an early advanced level piece, so it is suitable for most third or fourth year adult students who have played consistently. The lesson includes a full demonstration at the beginning, and then sections of the song are played and taught in two to four measure sections. There is more detailed instruction on unusual or more difficult passages.

Almost everything you know about Mickey Mouse is wrong: He wasn’t Disney’s first star; Steamboat Willie wasn’t his first movie; Mickey wasn’t a nice guy - and Walt Disney didn’t invent him. In 1928, two very different best friends invented Mickey Mouse. And the success tore them apart. Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks’ friendship is a story of betrayal, love, war, money, power, tragedy, intrigue, humor, despair, and hope. You’ll love them both - when you don’t want to drop anvils on their heads.

This great hymn is taught in two levels so the student learns how to take a basic arrangement and fill it out. The arrangements are fully demonstrated before being taught and explained in two- to four-measure sections “by ear.” The entire lesson is taught using no music, print, or video.

This piano arrangement is based on the key excerpts of the original piece by Johann Strauss. The lesson includes a full demonstration of the song followed by a detailed “by ear” lesson, teaching the song in two to four measure sections. Learning a song this way, without print or video, allows the student to memorize the song while learning it and develop their ability to pick out other songs “by ear”.

This is another Bach minuet in Gm that is easy to learn “by ear”. The lesson starts with a full demonstration of the minuet followed by a detailed lesson teaching the song in two to four measure sections.

This minuet focuses on phrasing, legato technique, and the balancing of the tone between the two hands. The lesson starts with a full demonstration of the minuet followed by a detailed lesson teaching the song in two to four measure sections completely “by ear”. This minuet is rated at an early intermediate level.

This arrangement is from the famous “Notebook for Anna Magdalena” which was a volume of songs J.S. Bach presented to his second wife full of minuets, marches, sonatinas, etc. This notebook has become very popular through the years because it contains pieces of an intermediate level that help to hone the essential skills needed for proficient keyboard playing. This lesson starts with a full demonstration followed by a two to four measure sectional lesson of the entire song describing notes and fingering.

This lesson includes a full demonstration followed by a detailed “by ear” lesson teaching the song in two to four measure sections. When you learn without print or video, you memorize the song while you learn it and develop your ability to pick out other songs “by ear”.

This beautiful and well-known prelude by Bach has not only been played as it is but also eventually became the musical setting for Charles Gounod’s “Ave Maria”, which he composed in 1853. This piece is taught completely by ear in two to four measure sections using no print, music, or video. This allows the student to memorize the song while learning it and to bypass any difficulty or challenge in music reading. A full demonstration of the piece is included at the beginning of the lesson.

Bach’s affinity towards this piece was its development of consistent arpeggio playing in both hands. There are also plenty of partial scale passages to develop adjacent finger coordination as well. The lesson starts with a full demonstration followed by a detailed “by ear” lesson breaking the entire song down into two to four measure sections.

This song develops finger independence in that it introduces a drone tone that must be sustained while the other fingers develop the melody and its harmonies. This song is suitable for most second year adult students. The lesson starts with a full demonstration followed by a two to four measure sectional lesson of the entire songs describing notes and fingering.

This is the original version and not an arrangement. In this lesson, you will learn this four voice fugue by Bach completely “by ear”! The song is fully demonstrated and then taught “by ear” using no print, music, or video. Each measure is broken down note-by-note with fingering and tips on technique.

This Gavotte is a simple but interesting piece to play since it brings in counterpoint and legato phrases against staccato accents in separate hands. When the student finishes working on this piece, they will have better control of basic technique and simple trills that are essential for more advanced playing. The lesson starts with a full demonstration followed by a two to four measure sectional lesson of the entire songs describing notes and fingering.

This clever and fun piece is a nice introduction into Bach’s counterpoint style that set him up as the king of the Baroque period. The lesson starts with a full demonstration followed by a detailed “by ear” lesson breaking the entire song down into two to four measure sections.