**The winner is Cynde Fail**
The Progressive Pianist is a complete piano program that allows your child learn to masterfully play the piano, whether you know anything about music or not! Much like trying to teach your child a foreign language when you have no prior skill, teaching an instrument with no prior skill is a formidable task and it is hard to find study materials that will allow you to accomplish this in a way that you can feel comfortable with. I felt completely comfortable with using this program with all four of my children, especially my special needs son whose thoughts altered weekly between whether his last teacher was moving too fast or too slow. He can safely pick up music lessons again and it will be at his pace and that helps keep his stress level down… awesome for HIM… awesome for Me!
There are three books available with this program: Book One, Book Two, and Book Three. Each book is basically the equivalent of one year of lessons. It is recommended that you start with the first book, even if you have had lessons before. This made complete sense to me as our daughter has had three different piano teachers who used three different types of books. You may move as fast, or as slow, as you need through the book. Remember, though, that you need to master playing each piece without hesitation before moving on. Our last teacher pounded our daughter on this and I was pleased to see it in the notes of this program as well.
The books are all relatively inexpensive and range in price from $35 for a downloadable book to $53 for a print book. We typically spent $50 per month on lessons in previous years and our newest estimate for a teacher here in North Carolina, where we just moved to, was $12 per lesson. The book can easily pay for itself in about a months time if you use it exclusively, especially considering you won’t be spending money on gas, or your time away from home, to go out for lessons. There are also extra books for purchase that include Christmas songs and Hymns.
Each lesson contains a theory and finger exercises. That is impressive to me because I have seen many children taking lessons in recent years where theory is no longer taught but rather the focus is just on playing the notes, or even worse, only chords. You truly can not know piano well if you do not learn theory, in my opinion!
You will find digital recordings at the website to go along with the lessons and this is truly an added benefit worth having. This is useful to both you and your child(ren) that you are teaching. It is especially useful if you have no prior music background. One great tip that was offered to me when I took the challenge of reviewing this product was that many children like to put the digital recordings on their ipod’s or mp3′s to listen to. This was such a great idea and proved very helpful!
I also appreciate the fact that they have a fully staffed support team that offers online support. It is nice to know that if an issue arises, then help is only an email away!
Overall, I really liked this program!! I did previously have one year of lessons (a gift for my 30th birthday so I was a late start at learning and am still on the lower end of the scale as far as knowledge goes) and my daughter has had approximately 4 years of lessons. The books were very easy to maneuver through in a .pdf format and all were easily read. If I had to find a con to give with the review it could only be that I did find one smudged note on one page… truly not bad when you consider there are more than 450 pages in the three books I looked at.. but it did nothing to take away from the lesson and was still completely readable. Wait, does that even count as a con?!
Anyway, I think you really can’t go wrong with this program! It was easy to understand and follow. I feel like children who try this program will still get the satisfaction of learning to play quickly while still getting the theory and facts they need to know as well. It truly is a well rounded program!!
Please feel free to go look around more at The Progressive Pianist Website.
We are very please to give you the opportunity to win a Level One package which includes the bonus Christmas Favorites!! To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment. Comments will be closed Friday, November 7th at 10pm EST and the winner will be announced on Sunday in our weekly newsletter. You can sign up by entering your email address in over in the right sidebar. As always please make sure you leave your email address or that it is clearly listed on your profile or blog. If we can’t email you, you can’t win.
Sallie is an off-again, on-again homeschooling mom to her 4 children, ranging from elementary to high school. In her writings, she discusses the challenges of homeschooling a child with disabilities and offers insight to those who sometimes feel all alone in a round hole world. Please visit her at Seaside Tales.
Thank you for your review of The Progressive Pianist. It was so timely for me. My children took piano for many years, fortunately with the same wonderful teacher. This year, we had to scale back our outside commitments and piano lessons had to go. It has been in the back of my mind to research “piano curriculum” so we could continue to enjoy learning without having to travel to lessons away from home. Thank you for your helpful review! Kim in Ohio
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This would be sooo awesome! I have two children with autism & they LOVE music. My son recieved a keyboard for his birthday & is anxious to learn play.
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Thank you for the review. I would like to try this with my 6 year old boy who has always loved music. Maybe I can learn as well.
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Sounds interesting. I would be interested to see this as I like the idea of not having to travel for lessons and that the theory is included as well. I can’t imagine a “teach yourself” curriculum so that has definitely peaked my interest. Thanks.
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Sounds interesting. I think my 10 year old might enjoy it. Thanks for the review.
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How cool! This could even work for me.
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I have been looking for a way for my daughter to start taking piano lessons again, but just haven’t found the money to be able to do that. This book looks very interesting, and I would really like a chance to win the first book. Thank you for putting this contest out there.
JoAnn
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That sounds like a great program! I have lived in a tiny house in the last few years, forcing me to put my piano in storage. I will be getting it back shortly and this program would be a great kick-start for my son and I to learn (relearn).
Thanks for the review!
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Sounds like a great program! I’ve been teaching my kids beginning piano for the past year using piano books from the library. It would be nice to have our own piano books and go from there.
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Thanks for this review. This program sounds wonderful! I would love to try to teach my children with these books.
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Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll have to check that out.
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Thank you for bringing this program to our attention. I had not heard of it. It sounds great and a nice change from the program I have been using with my daughter.
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Maybe I could actually learn how to play something
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This is just what we need! I had to give up lessons for my son and daughter this year because of the high price of gas and the fact that we live out in the country and have to drive 25 miles for lessons. Both of my children are very musically talented and this would be a godsend! My daughter has had several years of lessons but my son has had only one year so far.
Thank you for this opportunity
Dorothy in Huffman, TX
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Thanks for the review. This would be a terrific mother/daughter learning opportunity.
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This looks fantastic! Thank you so much for your review of this product. I have been teaching my son with Asperger’s to play the piano, but I have been looking for another curriculum as I haven’t been thrilled with the one we have been using. This looks like something we would enjoy.
Thanks for the opportunity to win the level 1 book!
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Brenda — My son, Caleb, has Asperger’s as well. The program should allow your son to move at the speed he needs without frustrating him
Feel free to email me if you have any AS related questions!!
God bless,
Sallie
anderklan@yahoo.com
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Today,s our 13th anniversary
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We would love to win this. My boys want piano lessons and with their multiple therapy & doctors appointments (3 special needs sons) we just can’t fit in any more weekly trips from home….time or money wise.
And I have no musical skills whatsoever!
Thanks for the opportunity.
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Dear Friends:
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Dear Friends:
I am new to this site and found the review interesting. Certainly it sent me to their site to check out further details. Piano lessons can be very expensive or even impossible if one does not have an instructor close at hand. In our case impossible has been the ongoing challenge. We have nine children and the first was able to get a few years of instruction before a teacher became unavailable. He now teaches the others but that is not an ideal solution. This program sounds like a God-send. Thanks for the info.
Cheryl
http://www.PracticalLegacy.com
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Sounds like a wonderful program. My daughter is currently in a group music class where she is learning basic piano skills. She’s in the second year of this two year program and we’ll have to decide on whether or not to continue with private individual lessons. This program you’re offering in the giveaway may be just what we’d need. Thank you for offering it!
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What an exciting offer! Thanks!
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Thank you for referring this program. I played piano when I was much younger and inherited my piano from my parents. I so want my children to learn to play, but each time we try we don’t get very far. What a wonderful gift to win and give to my children. (and me — playing no is still easier than teaching)
I hope we win!
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Thanks for the review and giveaway!
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Can Canadians enter? Sounds awesome!
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Thanks for the review! My dd just told me yesterday she wanted to learn to play the piano. Maybe the two of us will learn together as I have always wanted to learn to play!
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This looks great. I have been keeping my eye out for something to use for my 3 boys. I would love to incorporate something like this into their learning.
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Both my daughters and I play the piano. I believe we would benefit greatly if we won this give away. It sounds like a wonderful course. Please include me in the drawing.
Thanks.
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Sounds like a wonderful program, and perfect timing for us!
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This program sounds very doable. I have a teenage son that wants to learn to play. Thanks for entering me in the contest!
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This sounds like a great curriculum!!
Jolanthe
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Thank you for this great review! It sounds like a wonderful curriculum!
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Thanks for the review, and what a generous giveaway!
Maybe for one of the video memes here we can post the videos of the kids playing their instruments.
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I like the fact that you have the students master each piece with NO hesitation before they continue to the next. I am self taught in many subjects, one that I have not had the privelege of trying to teach myself is piano. I am encouraging my 16 year old son to try piano lessons and think that we could both enjoy the lessons that this book brings. You have ‘peaked’ our curiosity about the ease of learning this instrument!!
Blessings, G. Gauthier
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This would really help with teaching 2 that want to learn!
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This would be awesome!!!
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