The Gig
Chapter 23: Preparation and Performance
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Get ready to perform — preparing for the gig, interpreting and improvising, and the showmanship that carries an audience.
Preparing for the Gig
Get gig-ready with practical advice on rehearsing your parts, running your set on consecutive days, and preparing to perform live whether it's a metal bash, jazz gig, or recital.
Interpretation and Improvisation
Discover when to play a piece exactly as written and when to improvise, with guidance on interpretation across classical, pop, and jazz performance settings.
Showmanship and Faking It
Pick up performance survival tips from the trenches, including the golden rule of never stopping mid-piece and staying "in the pocket" so the audience misses your slips.
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Virtual piano
Play a piano in your browser — use your mouse, touch, or computer keyboard. Real piano sound, and a free Pro tab with up to 61 keys, sustain, MIDI keyboard input, a metronome, and recording.
Keyboard ear trainer
Hear a note, then click the matching key on the on-screen piano — with instant feedback, the right key revealed on a miss, and a running score.
Tuning drone
Hold a steady reference pitch on any note, in any octave, at A = 440, 442 or baroque 415, with an optional fifth — tune to it and practice intonation, scales and long tones right in your browser.
Introduction
Meet your guide to learning piano from scratch — what this course covers and how to use the play-along audio that brings every lesson to life.
Chapter 1: Getting to Know the Piano
Get acquainted with your instrument: choosing between acoustic and electronic pianos, setting up your bench, finding the white and black keys, and what each pedal does.
Chapter 2: Good Posture and Practice Habits
Build healthy technique from day one — the best posture for your back, arms, and hands, how to warm up, and how to get more from every practice session.