Playing with Chords

Piano Students' Chord Course.

Also available here

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What is the best way to teach lead sheets?
Diminished chords. Interesting facts
Why no black note between B and C?
Can learning the piano be fun?
Harmony; 3rds and 6ths
My secret to successfully recruiting students
Can independent hand control be taught?

"Playing with Chords is fabulous. Teaches lead sheets in a really methodical, practical way."
Barbara Leest. Perth, Australia

Structured, step-by-step course that teaches how to play from a lead sheet.

Digital version and studio license available at a very friendly price.

Perfect course for adults who want to teach themselves.

Creating a good sounding arrangement from a lead sheet is a joyful and satisfying experience for a
pianist but knowledge and skill are required. It is relatively easy to learn the notes that make up each
chord, especially for those familiar with scales,but knowing what to do with them is crucial. There is
always a multitude of possibilities.

A beginner playing from a lead sheet can produce a simple but pleasing arrangement if good choices
are made, while an experienced musician using the same lead sheet can create a stunning arrangement
and possibly do it spontaneously. Playing from a lead sheet can be viewed as the ultimate improvisation.

So, should piano students be taught how to play from a lead sheet? Yes, absolutely they should. It will
open up a whole area of creative, satisfying and pleasurable music making. Playing from a lead sheet
meets a basic human need to be creative and learning how to do it can be addictive and absorbing. This
is a vast subject that can provide enjoyment for a lifetime. There will always be something new to learn.

As students progress they can learn, for example, how to add richer harmonies or interesting patterns, or
how to substitute chords that will pleasantly surprise their listeners with an enchanting moment.

One or two students from each piano studio will possibly go on to make a career around classical piano
and a few classical pianists will probably become valuable contributors in their community. The majority
of students will probably do neither but if these students can play using chords they will have an added
skill set that has a marketable value. It can be the point of difference that their listeners will appreciate
and they will appreciate too.

Students learn all this exactly the same way they learn everything else, by mastering hundreds of
small achievable steps. Usually chord based instruction will be just one component in a lesson and not
necessarily every lesson, although,concentrating only on lead sheets would be absolutely appropriate for
some students. Sometimes switching to chord based lessons can save a student who is considering quitting.

Playing with Chords Book 1

Playing with Chords Book 2

Playing with Chords Book 3

Playing with Chords Book 4

Playing with Chords Book 5

Playing with Chords Teachers Guide

6 pack - all 6 books

SPECIAL! All 6 books - Digital version with Studio License

What people are saying

"Playing with Chords is fabulous. It's the first method I've found that actually teaches lead sheets in a really methodical, practical way and without overwhelming students."

Barbara Leest. Perth, Australia

"I am very impressed with these books."

Maria Aitken, Palmerston North, New Zealand.

"I bought the Playing with Chords books and I really like them! I use them all the time as supplement to standard pieces. Knowledge of chords is a fundamental aspect of teaching for me. I was always on the lookout for help to play from lead sheets, and when I came across Playing with Chords, I was so thankful that someone filled this gap!"

Susan Theron, Howick, New Zealand

"I am the teacher but I have learned so much from these books and my arranging skills have improved dramatically.The books are great."

Adam Miller, California

"Love your books. Have used them with my adult students learning LH chords."

Dianne Morgan, Warkworth, New Zealand

"The Playing with Chords books are awesome. A mix of well-known songs supplemented with information on how to play chord style. My students are enjoying them."

Anna Hope, Bluff, New Zealand.

Studio License Terms and Conditions

You can use Playing with Chords in any way you wish with all your current and future students.
You can print complete books or individual pages to give to students.
You cannot share the material with any other teachers, or students of other teachers, even teachers who are in the same studio. They must purchase their own license. You can share files with your students electronically but they cannot share this material with anyone else.
You cannot use the material in this course for any other purpose.
You are expected at all times to protect the copyright owners interests by not allowing illegal copies to be made, and not allowing the copyright files to escape to the wider internet.

FAQ

Can I still place an order?

Yes you can! We are open for business.

What if I am not happy with my order?

We accept returns and exchanges within 60 days after the product is delivered. If you have concerns about your item, please let us know by calling us through phone (027 373 8942) or email ron.ottley@xtra.co.nz and we will be happy to help.

Do I need to have experience with this method to be able to teach it?

There are many opportunities in the course for teacher input, but this is certainly not a requirement. Teachers with no experience teaching this method will find that the course contains everything needed to enable both the teacher and the student to succeed.

How complete is the Playing with Chords. Will I need other resources?

This is a vast subject and no course could be complete. There will always be new things to discover and new ideas to explore and develop.

The course provides a framework and additional material can be inserted if desired.

The course provides a solid foundation and may be enough to satisfy some students, but there are unlimited opportunities for further study and development.

Ron Ottley
027 3738 942
48 Every Street
Andersons Bay, Dunedin 9013
New Zealand

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Playing with Chords