Fundamental Keys
An introductory piano method for everyone

Fundamental Keys is a comprehensive system I have developed for anyone seeking clear and simple instruction covering the basics of piano playing and music reading. It is a classical piano method designed for any child or adult beginner who is ready to enthusiastically pursue the unique rewards and challenges offered by the piano. It consists of a book that can stand alone as a complete course as well as a series of videos in which I explain and demonstrate all the content of the book.

Who is it for?
The method is for teachers who are looking for a new, classically-oriented approach to use with their adult and child beginners. It can also be used by adults who would like to work on their own at first before taking the step of finding their first teacher.

Why Fundamental Keys?
When I began to take piano lessons at the age of five, I quickly got bored with all my piano method books. They seemed to progress very slowly, and they presented material in a childish way that - even then - I found pretty patronizing. It wasn't until I was exposed to real classical music that I became fascinated with playing the piano. Now, I have two degrees in piano performance, and I've been teaching piano for over 15 years. When I first started teaching, I used the best method books I could find, but I saw in my students - both children and adults - that same restlessness that I felt long ago. Once I started teaching my own way - presenting the basics thoroughly but quickly and efficiently and getting to real pieces as soon as possible - my students and I all seemed to have a much better time. That's why I decided to compile all my materials into this book and publish it. I hope that other teachers and students will find its clear approach useful for getting an excellent foundation in music-reading and piano-playing.

What's in the book?
Fundamental Keys has pages that present concepts, rhythm exercises, note-reading exercises, many classical pieces, innovative technical warmup exercises, and theory materials. The pieces I have selected give students the practice they need with all the basic playing and reading skills. They are works by classical-era European composers that were originally composed for instructing students. I think that learning these kinds of pieces is the best way to prepare for not only continued classical studies, but also for transitioning to any other kind of music. In fact, this was the traditional way of studying the keyboard for two centuries and is the kind of education that produced the great musical masters of our culture. It is only recently that the kinds of piano methods popular today came into use. So, while it does employ modern pedagogical techniques to teach reading skills in the most clear and efficient way possible, I also consider Fundamental Keys to be a return to a more traditional way of learning to play the piano that really encourages students to reach their full potential. It assumes that any beginning student of any age deserves to get a solid enough foundation to go as far as one can go in the field of music.