It’s time to start playing the songs you love and stop wasting time searching for online tutorials.
Do you feel sick and tired of:
Searching all over YouTube to find a quality piano tutorial for a song you want to play?
Being constantly dissapointed with the quality of the free online tutorials you find?
Feeling like you never really understand how the music works, you’re just imitating tutorial examples?
I get it! I want something different for you! With the information taught in this course you will no longer feel left in the dark on how music works and you’ll have the freedom to play the songs you love most, without searching for tutorials.
Don’t let your lack of piano knowledge get in the way of playing the songs you really love!
Introducing …
Piano Essentials
ONLINE COURSE
No matter your current skill level, you can learn to play the songs you love using the Piano Essentials course.
This fully online course also includes VIRTUOSO Piano Lessons’ three most powerful teaching tools:
The VIRTUOSO CHORD BOARD Collection
The VIRTUOSO CHORD CHEAT SHEET Encyclopedia
The VIRTUOSO SONG SHEETS Library
By the end of this course you’ll know exactly how to:
Play any song using just chord symbols — no music reading is required.
Make simple and satisfying arrangements of the songs you love the most.
Improvise using the chords of any song to create your own music.
“Encouragement to be creative”
I have had many piano teachers for 'non-classical' classes, but none came close to Leon's VIRTUOSO method.
While teaching us some theory, Leon encourages us to be creative within the pieces we are learning. He is very flexible, patient, and encouraging and is available between lessons through the discussion board if we need assistance.
Suzanne M. — VIRTUOSO Student
“An unexpected joy & adventure!”
I have been taking VIRTUOSO lessons with Leon for about a year now and have found his teaching clear, organized, friendly, and instructive.
I'm beginning to understand the mystery and magic of how music is constructed - and joining the "dots" so to speak - This course has turned out to be an unexpected joy and adventure!
Katie E. A. — VIRTUOSO Student
What’s Inside the Course:
MODULE 1
CHORDS
Chords are groups of three or more notes played together, and they form the foundation of much of the music we hear. Understanding how to play and create chords on the piano is essential for accompanying melodies and creating harmonies.
In this module, you’ll learn to master the major & minor triad to unlock the world of music at the piano.
MODULE 2
RHYTHM
Rhythms, or the patterns of long and short sounds and silences in music, add interest and energy to a composition. Being able to play and feel various rhythms is crucial for bringing a piece of music to life.
In this module, you’ll learn to keep time and synchronize your hands while playing exciting piano rhythms.
MODULE 3
SCALES
Scales are sequences of notes played in a specific order, and they are the basis for much of the music we hear. Knowing how to play scales on the piano is essential for understanding music theory and for improvising.
In this module, you’ll learn to turn chord symbols into real music using the power of “penta-scales”, the building blocks of the harmonic universe.
MODULE 4
PATTERNS
Patterns, or repeating groups of notes, can be found in many pieces of music and are an important aspect of playing the piano. Recognizing and creating patterns can help a pianist play more smoothly and with greater musicality.
In this module, you’ll learn to bring your playing to life with the addition of patterns to link chords, rhythms, and scales into songs.
MODULE 5
MUSICALITY
Musicality, or the ability to express oneself through music, is an important aspect of playing the piano. It involves using dynamics, phrasing, and other musical elements to bring a piece of music to life.
In this module, you’ll learn to make your piano playing more vivid with dynamic contrast and phrasing that pulls the audience in.
MODULE 6
IMPROVISATION
Improvisation, or the act of creating music spontaneously, is a valuable skill for any pianist to have. It allows a musician to express themselves in a unique and creative way and to play spontaneously with others.
In this module, you’ll learn to turn chords into spontaneous music right at the keyboard. You’ll be making music effortlessly.
MODULE 7
NOTE READING
Notation, or the system of symbols used to write down music, is important for being able to read and play a wide range of music. It is also useful for communicating musical ideas to others.
In this module, you’ll learn to shed the fear of note-reading as you learn the secret of the number system for melody playing.
MODULE 8
ARRANGING
Arranging for the piano can be a creative and rewarding task that allows a musician to put their unique stamp on a piece of music to make it their own.
In this module, you learn to put it all together into your own masterpiece with professional arrangement techniques that combine all 7 of the essential musical elements.
With techniques taught in this course, you’ll go…
FROM THIS:
Beginner at the piano that is struggling to play songs and make real music.
An uninspired piano player that plunks out melodies with little to no chord-playing support.
Locked into the sheet music, struggling to read complicated rhythm and eye-crossing notes.
TO THIS:
Comfortable playing songs using just a chord sheet with little to no practice required.
Musically inspired to create your own melodies that fit along with the chords from your favorite music.
Freed from the tyranny of traditional sheet music, playing exciting rhythms and harmony that impresses.
Ready to get started?
The Piano Essentials course from VIRTUOSO Piano Lessons is designed with you in mind.
This course is available exclusively for students of the VIRTUOSO Piano Club.
What VIRTUOSO students are saying…
“Having a small class with lots of immediate feedback from the teacher felt personal and geared exactly to my own learning needs.”
Beth K. - VIRTUOSO Student
“The group is fun, interactive, and surprisingly achievable; even for a 57-year-old, technology-challenged student like myself!”
Mim W. - VIRTUOSO Student
“I'm beginning to understand the mystery and magic of how music is constructed - This course has turned out to be an unexpected joy and adventure!”
Katie E. A. - VIRTUOSO Student
“I have had many piano teachers for 'non-classical' classes, but none came close to Leon's VIRTUOSO method.”
Suzanne M. - VIRTUOSO Student
Meet Your Piano Coach
Hi, I’m Leon!
Since 2008 I’ve been helping adult learners develop their piano skills by teaching my VIRTUOSO method.
If you’re ready to develop your piano skills and start playing the songs you love, I invite you to take my Piano Essentials course.
And if you like the added interaction of live coaching, consider adding the bootcamp or semester option to your course purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
QUESTION 1
Is the Piano Essentials course right for me?
If you have always wanted to play piano using chords, without the need to read every note you are playing this course will be a perfect fit for you.
QUESTION 2
What tools do I need to participate fully in the live group lesson option?
Ideally, you will have all the following items, but they are NOT required to participate fully in lessons:
1. A computer or tablet with a camera and microphone so you can participate in the live online lessons via Zoom. An iPad (or tablet) is the recommended device to use, as you can simply place it on your piano during the lesson, but any other computer device with a camera and microphone can work.
2. An acoustic or digital keyboard with at least 49 keys. For digital keyboards, 88 keys are recommended as that is the standard number of keys on a traditional acoustic piano.
3. The ability to print any lesson handouts or sheet music.
QUESTION 3
What is expected of students in the live group lesson option?
The only expectation is that you have a desire to learn and an interest to make improvements over time.
You won’t be required to practice between live sessions any more than you desire to and you won’t be asked to perform or do anything on-the-spot you are not comfortable with.
QUESTION 4
What will I learn in the live group lessons?
We will review all the material covered in the online course, with interactive exercises. This gives you the chance to ask questions and demonstrate your understanding while your piano coach can guide you every step of the way.
QUESTION 5
What time are the live group lesson options?
All live lessons are hosted every other Wednesday at 10 am in the Chicago timezone (CDT) beginning on 1/18/22.
The semester option live lessons are hosted every Wednesday at 10 am in the Chicago timezone (CDT) on 9/28, 10/5, 10/12, 10/19, 10/26, 11/2, 11/9, and 11/16.
For any student that can not attend the Wednesday lesson live a second lesson time is added based on the student’s availability between 10 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday. Additional availability can be added by request if needed.
QUESTION 6
What is the refund policy?
VIRTUOSO Piano Lessons offers a full money-back guarantee to any student who is not satisfied within the first 2 weeks of a course. Simply email our customer support within 2 weeks of purchase and you will receive a 100% refund.