Piano For Dummies

Learn to: Master the basics of piano Read music notation and understand notes and rhythms Play melodies, create harmonies, and hone your techniques Explore different styles and perform popular pieces and songs Your easy-to-use instruction set for learning to play piano Whether you're brand new to the piano or have been playing awhile, this fun and accessible guide is packed with clear instruction and supplementary materials that will soon have you tickling the ivories like a pro! With the help of Piano For Dummies, you'll discover how to read music, improve your playing skills, develop your style, and much more. Key up on the keyboard - get to know the types of acoustic and electric keyboards and find helpful advice on finding the best one for you Take note - discover how to read lines and spaces, get up to speed on rhythms and tempo, listen for those sounds of silence, and perfect your pick-up beats and measures Let your fingers do the walking - figure out proper position, find handy tricks for maneuvering your fingers, and start playing melodies with your right hand Put your right foot in, put your right foot out - get easy-to-follow instruction on exploring the keyboard's west side and start adding some pedal action to your playing Happiness is harmony - uncover the building blocks of harmony, play songs with key signatures, and fill out your sound with chords Open the book and find: How to choose and properly care for a piano Common time signatures Guidance on playing songs with key signatures Ways to dress up your music Great left-hand accompaniment patterns Strategies to improve your practice and performance Tons of video clips that demonstrate the instruction in the book Questions to ask prospective piano teachers