...Without Mastering Music Theory, Spending Thousands On Private Lessons or Leaving The Comfort Of Your Home! Join Dozens of other Adult Piano Players!
"Confidently learning to read music and play the piano—so YOU can finally enjoy the songs you have always dreamed of playing!"
Finally get the skills YOU need to find enjoyment with your piano playing!
Here is what Caryl has to say; “Awesome job and very well put together! Extremely helpful and found such a great help for review. Fantastic!” -Caryl Chapman Nebraska, USA
Does this sound like you?
You secretly wish you could sit down at the piano and play your favorite songs and pieces and learn how to read music once and for all!
The site of your keyboard gathering dust breaks your heart...
Or you are retired and you're looking for a fun, new hobby...
Then it's the perfect time to "Play my favorite song on piano" off the bucket list..
What if there is a way to…
Finally play a song all the way through… and your partner actually recognizes it!
If you wanted to, you could even sing along.
You aren’t afraid to play in front of other people anymore. Playing for your family, friends, or even leading your church through songs becomes a regular thing.
Now to sit at the Piano. Practice isn’t a chore but something you look forward to every day. You notice your skills improving.
Wouldn’t it be exhilarating to achieve something you always wanted to do?
I can help you make that happen.
But before I show you how, we have to address these...
5 False Beliefs Keeping You From Enjoying
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You might think the ship has sailed when it comes to playing along with your favorite songs. Let me tell you, my oldest student was in his 80s! He was so excited to finally play Chords & Melody on his piano. In fact, the majority of my students are in their 50s, 60s, and 70s.
Even if your fingers feel stiff right now and don’t move as fast as they once did. And even if you suffer from arthritis, (I DO TOO!) it’s not the end of your piano career. I'll show you some easy exercises to improve finger dexterity and strength, so you don’t have to give up on your dream.
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I’m the living proof that some sort of magical natural talent isn’t needed to play the piano well. I’m the only musician in my family, so I inherited zero talent from my parents. But, I learned through consistent practice and good teachers. And now I'm happy to say I'm really really good.
You can do the same! Don’t even let a lack of rhythm discourage you. I can show you how to improve that fast.
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Many of my students were frustrated with their previous teachers. They were forced to learn complicated music theory, even though they just wanted to play songs.
Or their teachers skipped the basics and started with skills that were way too advanced. Constantly feeling like their teachers were speaking a foreign language, they didn’t understand. No wonder so many piano enthusiasts simply give up.
You see, unlike most professionally trained teachers, I never studied "just piano at a university. For the most part, I have been exposed to all different types of musical trainings and instruments. (Piano and percussion)That’s why my teaching style is VERY different from a lot of online and offline piano teachers. I have a knack for breaking things down and making it as simple as possible because that's how I had to learn to play. It's something my students value a lot.
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You can learn piano on your own, but it usually takes much longer, and bad habits can form that are hard to fix. Some of my students started with books that didn’t inspire them or YouTube videos that felt too fast or disorganized. Eventually, they hit a plateau.
I taught myself for 10 years before YouTube even existed. But once I worked with a teacher, I learned more in one year than in the previous 10!
From experience, I can tell you: following a structured program with a knowledgeable guide will speed up your progress dramatically.
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There's no doubt that regular practice is crucial to learning the guitar. But how and what you practice matters.
Without a plan and routine to follow, you’re likely jumping all over the place. it's difficult as a beginner to know if you’re doing it right. When you don't see much progress, you lose your motivation and throw your piano back in the case, (or cover the keys) thinking you don’t have what it takes.
But the truth is...Learning Piano Is Much Easier Than You Think
...when you follow the right process and know what and how to practice.
I found that the best approach is the one that lets you have fun with your keyboard as fast as possible. That’s the basis for my system. This involves learning the 3 fundamentals of playing the piano:
#1 Increase Proper Technique #2Finger Dexterity and Coordination #3Increase Rhythm & Music Literacy
What adult beginners say about Piano Foundations.
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Here's what Barbara Stanley has to say:
"Really helping me sight read (basics) more efficiently!" Hi James, I just wanted to say thank you for including me in your Adults Learning Piano for Beginners course. I started the course tonight and it is really helping me sight read more efficiently. I have been studying Alfred's Adult All-In-One Course since January 1, and am up to page 45. Your class and exercises are really helping me review and emphasize what I have learned, and I am also learning some very helpful tips in your course. I a
GrassRootsPiano offers piano lessons, courses, and products to help you begin your musical journey and enjoy learning music.
m really enjoying the finger exercises and plan to use these exercises for practice with my sight reading. I depend way too much on writing the notes on the music sheet above the notes on the staff. Your exercises are helping me to learn the keys on sight and not depend on having the notes written out. I am finding this very challenging but I feel I am making good progress.
-Barbara Stanley, Georgia, USA
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Here's what David Olchewsky has to say:
I really do like your curriculum and going through it and going back to repeat something as needed, but I like even more your availablity to ask questions and your quickness to respond. And even more so, I really like having you as a teacher and mentor. I really do enjoy our 1 hour sessions on Saturday. Thanks so much Jim! David from Pennsylvania, USA
Focusing on these essential elements as a beginner has produced the fastest results for my students.
You’ll be able to:
Read Music quicker and smoother, so your piano playing sounds more musical.
Move your fingers more nimbly, which makes playing easier and more effortless.
Improve your rhythm and dexterity so you can play along with the songs you love.
And finally play a song that actually sounds like a song!
Most importantly, working on these 3 fundamentals will give you the confidence that you CAN learn and you WILL improve. It’ll give you a quick sense of progress, so you stay motivated to continue practicing and playing for a long time.
So who am I and why should I teach you piano?
Hi, I'm James Johnson!
You and I have a lot in common…
We’re both passionate about music.
We both always wanted to learn the piano (it’s such a fun instrument!)
And we both don’t have a formal music performance degree in piano and I am approaching my mid 50s! (mine was in Music Education and Percussion Performance, actually).
After 30+ years teaching music in the classroom and in teaching private studios. I decided to continue with my piano practice and upload piano tutorials to grass roots YouTube channel.
While I may work at a school teaching music and arrange music at my very busy full time music job, I have taught thousands of students to play piano over the years...
I still remember very well what it was like to struggle through every practice session, the trial and error of randomly jumping from parts of one song to the next. And the frustration of not knowing what lesson I should study next while feeling like I should be a lot further along.
That’s why I teach the piano in a non-traditional style. I don’t start with boring music theory or terminology. No need for mumbo jumbo that you don’t understand or need. Instead, we do a bit of music reading Boot Camp as you will have the foundation to pick songs in pieces that you wanna learn years down the road!
Instead, I focus on the fundamentals-these are the skills you need to have fun with your keyboard as soon as possible...so you can start impressing your family and friends with your tunes!
And my students seem to agree with my approach…
That's Why I Created Piano Foundations for Adult Beginners
After a decades of studying what worked and what didn’t for my students, I developed a simple step-by-step curriculum that focuses on the absolute of piano.
You’ll learn how to play the piano even if you’ve never touched an instrument before. This curriculum provides a solid foundation that you can build upon endlessly to level up your piano skills.
It’s a simple, straightforward plan. There’s no skipping around or learning things in the wrong order, which leaves you frustrated, trying to figure out things that are too hard for you.
Piano Foundations is the adult beginner piano course, where you’ll never feel overwhelmed or like you’re in over your head. You'll progress steadily, accomplishing goals at each level, giving you the confidence and motivation to continue.
The system is completely self-paced, so you can practice at your own speed on your schedule. There’s no pressure, but you also won’t get bored, I promise! Remember, I'm just an email away! It's important to me to know that you're learning and enjoying yourself so be prepared to hear from me!
What’s Included In Piano Foundations
✅ 12+ video lessons with simple follow-along exercises. Using terms that are easy to understand, I'll only introduce music theory concepts when you need them. And you can stop and go back or replay the video as many times as you want.
✅ 12+ practice lessons and play along videos to help you improve the speed of music reading and correct fingering/technique.
✅ Song Vault These are easy songs ideal for beginners. I’ll show you several ways to play a song, and it's a fun challenge to keep up. Many of these songs have been arranged as they are aligned with my curriculum.
*Note: all songs are public domain pieces.
✅ PDF course workbook with instructions, tips, exercises, chords, and strumming patterns. The workbook follows the 7-Level System and outlines goals to aim for and helpful tips.
✅ Lifetime access to all lessons. Rushing through my program is that last thing I want you to do. Once you buy the course material, you own them. Students love progressing through the course at their own pace. This is YOUR piano journey. Take as long as you need.
✅ The Perfect Practice Routine Worksheet to help you create and organize the perfect practice session every time.
✅ Pedal Suggestions we will explore different ways that pedaling is notated, as well as easy ways to start incorporating the piano pedal.
✅ Dozens of tips to help you solve practice problems with music and piano learning!
Although this is a self-paced course, I want to make sure that you don’t ever feel alone while you’re learning. You aren’t fending for yourself.
That’s why I’m including this special bonus for absolutely free...
✅ Two 30 minute online private lesson.(within the first 6 months of purchase)
Have your questions answered and interact with me!
I believe in you!
Here’s What We’ll Cover In Piano Foundations Course
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In the intro chapter, you’ll get started on your path to having fun playing songs you’ve always wanted to play. We’ll begin by covering various fundamentals, including…
Piano posture and technique – basics!
Hand Placement at the keys! Relaxing your body and hand the best you can will help you with dexterity and proper bench height is essential as well as other posture techniques that I address through multiple camera angles.
Overall Learning Goals and now we are a team!
…and much more.
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Lesson 1: Basic play C-5 finger position
Lesson 2 Rhythm Basics Part 1
Basic symbols of musical will be discussed such as time, bar lines, measures, and basic duration. Time signature focus: 4\4 times.
Example basic musical symbols will be covered:
Time signatures
Bar lines
Measures
Basic note durations
Emphasis will be on the 4/4 time signature.
Lesson 3 Unit 1 & Unit 2 Play | Read
Apply knowledge of pitch names, piano fingerings, and basic quarter pulse/beat
Complete these two exercises to build stamina in reading notes and playing on the keyboard
Use this as a preparation activity before moving on to multiple exercises
Lesson 4 Rhythm & Beat Examples
The Clave part represents the beat, and the piano will play the rhythm. Remember, rhythm is short and long durations, and the piano part will play one pitch: C
Basic durations: whole note, half note, quarter note and eighth notes.
Your goal is to be able to follow along and if you can tap the rhythm and be sure to count out loud!
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This chapter is the cornerstone of the course! Between chapter 3 and chapter 4, you'll have over 110 exercises to prepare you reading level to succeed!!
Lesson 1: Play&Read CDE
I break the activities into three parts:
Reading Pitches: CD&E Right Hand
Reading Pitches: CD&E Left-Hand
Reading Pitches: CD and E Both Hands
Durations: whole, half and quarter notes. I play each exercise slowly and provide practice tips!
Lesson 2:Read&Play CDEF
As in the previous lesson, we add one more element: the pitch “F.” Focus less on fingering and more on internalizing the beat and hearing the lower pulse in the recording, which is the pitch C.
Some students prefer to play the left hand with just the pitch C, but this is not required, as it can be more challenging.
Lesson 3 Piano& Play Pitches CDEFG
Lesson 4: INTERVALS
First Small Piece: Ode to Joy
Lesson 5 C Major Scale & Intervals within the C Major Scale
Lesson 6 Pedal Basics
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Lesson 1 G Hand Position
Lesson 2 Read & Play pitches: GABC
Lesson 3 G 5 Finger Reading
Lesson 4 Basic Dotted Notes
Lesson 5 The basics: Sharps, Flats, Naturals, Enharmonics
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The main focus is on G Major Titanic chords, C major review and chord inversions
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Each piece is aligned on what we've been learning and I go over important steps before I demonstrate each piece. Some of the pieces I have created a few arrangements as each arrangement goes up a level. I do plan to add a few more pieces into the song vault in this course as who doesn't like fun surprises!
Very Beginner Friendly public domain pieces:
Ode to Joy
Clair De Lune
Shenandoah
When the Saints Go Marching In
Silent Night
Still Not Sure if “Piano Foundations” Is Right For You?
Let Me Take All The Risk!
Here’s my promise to you…
“Piano Foundations” will help you learn the skills you need to play the songs you know and love.
Soon you’ll be sitting with friends and family listening and playing your favorite pieces as well as Holiday songs. You have everything you need to get started right here in this course. You will have confidence to purchase your favorite pieces/songs and we'll have the skill to read many beginner, late beginner, and intermediate pieces of music.
I guarantee you’ll see BIG results…
But...I can’t practice for you.
That's why I’ve given you everything you need, and much more, to see real, steady progress!
As soon as you enroll, you’ll get an email giving you complete and immediate access to all the videos and tools.
Use the Perfect Practice Routine worksheet and with 15-minutes a day, 3 times a week you will start seeing progress just like thousands of others who have gone through my system.
But...
If after 60-days of using my Piano Foundations you do not see any improvement in your playing or are unsatisfied with the quality of the lessons…just let me know.
Send a quick email to grassrootspiano9@gmail.com within 60 days of purchase, and we’ll send you a full refund.
That's Is a “60-Day” Money-Back Guarantee
Which means you have 60 days to go through the course and bonuses before you decide if you find it valuable.
Sound fair? Start Having Fun Playing Piano For As Little As $1.99 Per Lesson!
8 Ways To Know If You’re Ready To Make Significant Progress With Piano...
You’re just getting started. As an absolute beginner, you might not even be confident that you’re not learning piano properly. Don’t worry, I’ll show you everything you need to know.
You’ve tried learning the piano for months (or even years), but haven’t had much success and are about to give up on your dream. I believe everybody has the ability to play the piano in their own special and unique way. You, too!
You care about setting a solid foundation for your piano practice that you can build upon. When you’ve mastered the fundamentals, you’ll be able to tackle more advanced techniques with ease.
You’re willing to put in at least 15 minutes 3-5 times a week to learn and play. Because you know that every bit of energy you invest is a strategic and meaningful step forward. And it will be!
You’re already investing time and energy practicing the piano, but without a clear plan to follow, you haven’t seen much progress. I’ll set you up with a proper routine and goals to ensure that you steadily improve.
You’ve had a bad experience with a teacher. Maybe they were too impatient, had no structure, or insisted you spend hours learning music theory. My focus is on you having fun playing your piano as soon as possible.
You’re excited about a fun, easy way to learn music thought a layered learning approach. I’ll show you the simplest possible way to learn the fundamentals of the piano.
You feel confident getting the course because you know you have 60 days to test out my system. If you’ve worked through the intro classes and first level, and STILL don’t see any progress with your piano, I will give you your money back.
If you caught yourself nodding your head to at least 4 of the 8 points above, then I absolutely can't wait to meet you inside the Piano Foundations!
Questions Fellow Piano Enthusiasts Asked Before Saying “Yes!” To Piano Foundations!
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Obviously, you don’t want to waste your money. And you won’t. I’ll let my student Barbra Stanley tell you why:
“When I turned 60, I wanted to take piano lessons. I signed up for classes at a well-known music store. Four instructors, two music schools and two years later, I didn’t feel like I had learned very much. Each instructor taught in a different style and I always felt like I was starting from square one. I decided to try to learn on my own with YouTube.
Explore piano lessons, courses, and products at GrassRootsPiano. Begin your musical journey with step-by-step guidance for all skill levels and enjoy playing the piano.
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This is a self-paced course that starts with many videos covering the basics of piano. This ensures you have a solid foundation to build your skills upon or even fill in the gaps from learning on your own.
This is followed by detailed chapters and lessons carefully crafted over two years. There are many Fundamentals of music and piano that every beginner should focus on to see real progress:A downloadable PDF-workbook covering the not only the piano foundations, but I continue to revise every 8 to 12 months as it's always as simpler and more effective way to teach something.
But my students tell me the 'secret sauce' is in the community and having access to me and my other students for support and motivation.
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Yes! My students tell me their favorite part about my course is that they can go at their own pace. And because you have lifetime access to the lessons in the course, they feel like they are not rushed to move through the materials.
Not only that, because you own the course once you buy it, you can review the lessons and practice play alongs as many times as you need to make sure you fully understand each and every lesson in the course. -
Piano Foundations is the perfect place for a total beginner. Going through my foundation lessons will make sure you have a solid base to build your piano and music skills upon.
From the very first lessons in Level 1, you will be learning important skills to help you have fun playing songs and pieces.
I also offer a 60-day money back guarantee. If this program doesn't work for you, let us know and we will issue you a full refund. -
Due to copyright laws, I can’t teach copyright protected music in a paid course. With that being said, I do incorporate songs from the Common Domain as examples.
Remember that a huge problem students face is focusing only on songs. The course teaches you the skills and techniques you need to play ANY popular song.
Throughout the course, I'll suggest songs you can learn that are featured in videos on my website or YouTube channel. This way, you know which songs might be best for you based on the level you are at in the course.
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How does as long as you need sound?
Rushing through my program is that last thing I want you to do. Once you buy the course material, you own them. Students love progressing through the course at their own pace. This is YOUR piano journey. Take as long as you need.
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Yes! I love my overseas students. I have helped students from all around the world including South Africa, Japan, Australia, Canada, Europe and Syria just to name a few.
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Piano Foundations will help you play songs you love with ease and confidence. Soon you’ll be sitting with friends and family around the holidays providing wonderful memories of your favorite songs and pieces!. You have everything you need to get started right here in this course.
I guarantee you’ll see BIG results… that is, if you actually use the Piano Foundations course system, but I can’t practice for you. But I’ve given you everything you need, and much more, to see real, steady progress!
As soon as you enroll, you’ll get an email giving you complete and immediate access to all the videos and tools. All you have to do is put them to use and sit back to enjoy the results.
If after 60-days of using Piano Foudations and you do not see any improvement in your playing or are unsatisfied with the quality of the lessons…just let me and my team know.
Send a quick email to grassrootspiano9@gmail.com within 60 days of purchase, and we’ll send you a full refund.
We unfortunately do not offer refunds due to financial hardships after purchase. We only offer refunds based on the course quality issues.
Piano Foundations will introduce you to an easy-to-follow way of learning the piano, one that finally makes it fun to practice so you can...
...Feel happy doing something you love.
...Get relief from a stressful job or life.
...Share your gift with family, friends, or your church.
...And have the satisfaction of achieving something you always wanted to do.
But unlike other programs, I don’t want you to wait weeks or even months before you kinda, maybe, sorta see results.
You can learn to play REAL songs within the first 60 days of the course. Yes, you read that right!
And not just a little piece of a song. I’m talking a full song beginning to end. I firmly believe that you can achieve that with 15 minutes of practice 3-4 times a week.
Are you up for the challenge?
Great! Then meet me inside my Piano Foundations where I will help you make you lifelong dream of playing guitar come true.