Easy Note Learning

One of the hardest parts of learning piano, for the beginner, is learning notes.  This can be a headache for teachers and parents!  Help is at hand.

Fun Music This software programme makes learning notes fun and is done at the computer where children naturally feel happy.
Fun Music software: this software is only Windows compatible at the moment.  Click here to view the Fun Music site

Free Downloads:

Manuscript Paper:

4-stave paper

8-stave paper

10-stave paper

12-stave paper

Online Instrumental Courses

I love my pupils and my studio, and hands-on is definitely the way to learn an instrument.  But sometimes it is not possible to attend lessons regularly.  Perhaps you are a busy parent who would like to learn, or you just want some lessons so that you can help your kids.  Although it is always better to have one-on-one personal lessons, the courses below have impressed me by their professionalism and affordability. If you have a yen to learn piano, guitar or drums but are unable to commit to regular lessons, I thoroughly recommend the following, which are top quality products.

Online Piano Courses

Rocket Piano This is one of the top sites for online piano lessons.  It is very thorough and very reasonably priced. Click here to view the Rocket Piano site

Piano for All Again I like this course very much. The approach is aimed at getting people playing as soon as possible, but it is very well grounded and explains many different styles so that you can really decide what music you like.  Click here to view the Piano for All site

These sites are very different  in their approach so you really need to check their sites to decide which style you prefer.

Online Guitar Courses

From time to time I am asked if I teach guitar.  The answer is no, but I’ve done a little bit of research for you and again come up with two very different courses that look fun to me, and seem to have a good reputation..

Jamorama This has been around for a while and rates in the top few. These are acoustic guitar lessons and they have made the lessons fun and easy to follow. Click here to view the Jamorama site

Crash Course Beginners Guitar Lesson This is a very different course.  It is an electric guitar course, though acoustic guitar could be used.  The aim is to get people up and playing as soon as possible and I must admit when I tried the trial lessons it looked lots of fun! There are trial lessons with all of these courses, and you do have the option of joining up for different lengths of time, eg month, two months etc.  Definitely worth a look!  Click here to view the Crash Course site

Online Drum Courses

And finally, although I don’t get asked very often if I teach drums (I guess it is obvious that I don’t!), I know there is a lot of demand for drum courses and I think drumming is a wonderful thing to learn.  Such a great help with mastering rhythm and control, as well as being great fun and opening so many doors.  There is also evidence that ten minutes drumming a day is very good for relieving stress (believe it or not!)

Begin Drumming This is a great course, I must admit I signed up, and am now learning drums.  Wow!  It has always been an ambition of mine.  I find Jim McCarthy very easy to follow and you can tell immediately that he is a real pro.  Click here to view the Begin Drumming site

More resources for busy parents (and teachers!) coming soon.