More than 1,500 students have enrolled in Piano Zen courses over the years.
Piano Zen has evolved through years of teaching, experimentation, and creative exploration. This newest program brings those ideas together in our most comprehensive approach to learning piano yet.
About the Course
Designed for complete beginners, Piano Zen is more than a series of piano lessons—it's a complete learning experience inspired by principles of mindfulness and mind-body balance. Each lesson combines instructional videos, demonstrations, written materials, exercises, and guided improvisation to help you become comfortable at the keyboard while discovering greater freedom and expression in your playing. You'll develop practical playing skills, explore music reading, technique, patterns, and harmony, and gain the confidence to create music of your own. Along the way, William will introduce you to a mindful approach that brings body, mind, emotion, and creative spirit together at the piano. Learn the fundamentals. Explore your creativity. And discover your own musical voice.
What People Are Saying
Students have described Piano Zen as relaxing, creative, freeing, and a refreshing alternative to traditional piano study.
I've been a horrible piano student since age 5 or 6. I just hated that thing. I was lured to this class more for the meditation part than the piano... but I find myself enjoying it. Who knows, maybe I'll learn something! Update 1: Three, maybe 4 weeks into this course, working my way through Inner Sojourn. I am not quite sure how to describe what it is I am learning in terms of piano playing, as I've had enough piano background to play that piece without trouble... but I think I am learning how to listen to what I am playing. What I am in love with though is the meditative approach, and the sense of profound peace I get with each practice session. I never thought I'd be looking forward to practicing the piano!
Working mom
My personal experience with Piano Zen Method was freeing and exhilarating. It gave me permission to explore through sound, breath, feeling, and trust. I found myself 'playing' the piano with spontaneous enjoyment after only a few lessons. While my family thought I was playing something I had learned, I was simply improvising and loving it! With respect to all things traditional that have enriched so many people's lives, including my own, there is appropriateness to allowing oneself the freedom to step over lines that at times may prevent us from being who we really are. My own life and work tells me that brilliance is within us all just waiting to be unleashed. The Piano Zen Method is an empowering self discovery tool that will guide you over such lines and offer you the opportunity to increase creativity and joy by making learning to 'play' the piano fun and meaningful.
tai chi instructor
The Piano Zen course is a very unique and wonderful way to learn play the piano. This course provides an approach to learning the piano without the internal mental stress associate with such endeavors. It provides a foundation for exploring ones creative spirit and covers music reading through improvisation. The combination of lucid learning, meditation and learning is deeply appreciated. Looking forward to more courses from Thomas in the future and am thankful that I purchased this course. I now use this approach to learning and playing. Thanks you for a wonderful experience!
Adult Beginner
Previously I had played saxophone for 12 years as a grade school and high school student, and did fine with charted music. In 1970 I switched to afro-Cuban percussion and began to learn via 'unwritten' third-world methods... speaking the rhythm. I caught on fast and began studying other culture's musical timekeeping. I studied with Brazilian, Cuban, Egyptian, and Syrian masters over the last 35 years. In the mean time I had forgotten how to read sheet music. Now I'm in a "pan-Mediterranean world-beatnik" lounge band called NEGARA (negaramusic.org) and have an opportunity to write and arrange pieces for performance. But I'm like a poet who can't read or write. I can listen, interpret, and play by ear only. When he began to introduce to me his method, I was immediately relaxed and felt like I was actually "taking a break" from the worries of life by sitting down to discover the piano. As we progressed, I realized I was learning about written notes, transferring them to my fingers, and making beautiful music... without any stress! Painfree piano lessons? Unheard of! His approach is vacation-like, and yet I was comfortably absorbing the technique without having to grit my teeth or memorize every detail. Making time to learn anything is nearly impossible these days! But, if you enjoy watching a movie or curling up with a good book, William has created an enjoyable, and almost addictive, relationship for the new student and piano.
Professional Photographer
I have never taken piano lessons, so when I was able to learn an intermediate piano piece in a very short time, I felt shocked. It was as if through the preparatory exercises I entered a relaxed, altered state that allowed music to flow out of my fingers. Not only was I more alert and at ease, I was more inspired and spontaneous. In one lesson I learned a beautiful piece of music that stuck with me for years. I am a yoga teacher and have been practicing yoga for 14 years, but this was entirely new and added an element that heightened the yogic aspect of the method--music. From the state of equilibrium that I experience when I deeply relax, I was now harmoniously expressing and that was so delightful. I was using parts of my brain I never had, and I didn't feel the awkward frustration that I would expect from not having any previous piano experience. I felt a state of transcendence and flow. I felt the expressive aspects of making music that would seem to only come after years. This is a method that will help so many people, not only those who want to learn piano, but those who want to deeply relax and heal. It has healing properties that extend beyond yoga, or piano playing individually.
Yoga Instructor - Film maker
This is the most amazing musical course I have ever taken. It teaches a kind of discipline only achieved through patience. I have taken piano lessons from many different types of instructors, but the Piano Zen Method is by far the best I have ever experienced. Why? It builds on a stress-free foundation which is enjoyable for both the pianist and the listener. So much is learned in so little time, it is indeed, as the instructor says, effortless effort. I highly recommend using the Piano Zen Method approach to any learner of any age group including those wanting to retrain and reorient themselves to the piano in a better more beautiful way.
Beginning student
I've been a horrible piano student since age 5 or 6. I just hated that thing. I was lured to this class more for the meditation part than the piano... but I find myself enjoying it. Who knows, maybe I'll learn something! Update 1: Three, maybe 4 weeks into this course, working my way through Inner Sojourn. I am not quite sure how to describe what it is I am learning in terms of piano playing, as I've had enough piano background to play that piece without trouble... but I think I am learning how to listen to what I am playing. What I am in love with though is the meditative approach, and the sense of profound peace I get with each practice session. I never thought I'd be looking forward to practicing the piano!
Working mom
The Piano Zen course is a very unique and wonderful way to learn play the piano. This course provides an approach to learning the piano without the internal mental stress associate with such endeavors. It provides a foundation for exploring ones creative spirit and covers music reading through improvisation. The combination of lucid learning, meditation and learning is deeply appreciated. Looking forward to more courses from Thomas in the future and am thankful that I purchased this course. I now use this approach to learning and playing. Thanks you for a wonderful experience!
Adult Beginner
I have never taken piano lessons, so when I was able to learn an intermediate piano piece in a very short time, I felt shocked. It was as if through the preparatory exercises I entered a relaxed, altered state that allowed music to flow out of my fingers. Not only was I more alert and at ease, I was more inspired and spontaneous. In one lesson I learned a beautiful piece of music that stuck with me for years. I am a yoga teacher and have been practicing yoga for 14 years, but this was entirely new and added an element that heightened the yogic aspect of the method--music. From the state of equilibrium that I experience when I deeply relax, I was now harmoniously expressing and that was so delightful. I was using parts of my brain I never had, and I didn't feel the awkward frustration that I would expect from not having any previous piano experience. I felt a state of transcendence and flow. I felt the expressive aspects of making music that would seem to only come after years. This is a method that will help so many people, not only those who want to learn piano, but those who want to deeply relax and heal. It has healing properties that extend beyond yoga, or piano playing individually.
Yoga Instructor - Film maker
My personal experience with Piano Zen Method was freeing and exhilarating. It gave me permission to explore through sound, breath, feeling, and trust. I found myself 'playing' the piano with spontaneous enjoyment after only a few lessons. While my family thought I was playing something I had learned, I was simply improvising and loving it! With respect to all things traditional that have enriched so many people's lives, including my own, there is appropriateness to allowing oneself the freedom to step over lines that at times may prevent us from being who we really are. My own life and work tells me that brilliance is within us all just waiting to be unleashed. The Piano Zen Method is an empowering self discovery tool that will guide you over such lines and offer you the opportunity to increase creativity and joy by making learning to 'play' the piano fun and meaningful.
tai chi instructor
Previously I had played saxophone for 12 years as a grade school and high school student, and did fine with charted music. In 1970 I switched to afro-Cuban percussion and began to learn via 'unwritten' third-world methods... speaking the rhythm. I caught on fast and began studying other culture's musical timekeeping. I studied with Brazilian, Cuban, Egyptian, and Syrian masters over the last 35 years. In the mean time I had forgotten how to read sheet music. Now I'm in a "pan-Mediterranean world-beatnik" lounge band called NEGARA (negaramusic.org) and have an opportunity to write and arrange pieces for performance. But I'm like a poet who can't read or write. I can listen, interpret, and play by ear only. When he began to introduce to me his method, I was immediately relaxed and felt like I was actually "taking a break" from the worries of life by sitting down to discover the piano. As we progressed, I realized I was learning about written notes, transferring them to my fingers, and making beautiful music... without any stress! Painfree piano lessons? Unheard of! His approach is vacation-like, and yet I was comfortably absorbing the technique without having to grit my teeth or memorize every detail. Making time to learn anything is nearly impossible these days! But, if you enjoy watching a movie or curling up with a good book, William has created an enjoyable, and almost addictive, relationship for the new student and piano.
Professional Photographer
This is the most amazing musical course I have ever taken. It teaches a kind of discipline only achieved through patience. I have taken piano lessons from many different types of instructors, but the Piano Zen Method is by far the best I have ever experienced. Why? It builds on a stress-free foundation which is enjoyable for both the pianist and the listener. So much is learned in so little time, it is indeed, as the instructor says, effortless effort. I highly recommend using the Piano Zen Method approach to any learner of any age group including those wanting to retrain and reorient themselves to the piano in a better more beautiful way.
Beginning student
Learn Through Creativity from Day One
Piano Zen introduces creativity and improvisation from the very first lessons. You'll explore the keyboard, create your own sounds, and discover that making music doesn't have to wait until you've mastered years of technique.
Build Skills While Finding Your Voice
Develop foundational piano techniques, music reading, and theory—but in a way that feels natural and connected. Our mindful approach helps you develop a genuine relationship with the instrument, building confidence and comfort at the keyboard with less tension and frustration.
Designed for Beginners
Whether you've always dreamed of playing, tried traditional lessons and felt stuck, or want to reconnect with music, Piano Zen meets you where you are. Designed for pre-teens through adults, the program lets you learn at your own pace while developing confidence and creativity at the piano.
The Story of Piano Zen
Piano Zen began with a simple idea: learning music can be about more than mastering notes. It can also be a journey of creativity, awareness, and self-discovery. In the novel "Piano Zen: Where Reality and Dreams Converge", young William Longfellow Emerson discovers this approach through his piano teacher, Rosa Carreño. Rosa teaches William to experience music through the Four Elements of Piano Zen: Earth, Air, Water, and Fire, bringing mind, body, emotion, and creative spirit together at the piano. Fifteen years later, William carries Rosa's teaching forward through Piano Zen. This is that studio brought to life. Through William's lessons, you'll learn the fundamentals of playing piano while developing the skills to play expressive, contemporary sounding music that goes well beyond typical beginner exercises. You don't need to have read the novel to begin. But if you have, you'll recognize something special: the story continues here—and this time, you're invited to become part of it.
What You'll Learn
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Welcome to Piano Zen
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The Story Behind Piano Zen
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How the Piano Zen Program Works
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Tell Us a Little About Yourself
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Download the Level 1 Lesson Book
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Lesson 1.1 - Improvisation - Music of the Smiling Pond
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Piano Zen Practice Tip: Pause the video lesson - Practice & Explore
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Lesson 1.2 - Literary - Densho's Bell
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Lesson 1.3 - Music Theory - Names of the White Keys
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Lesson 1.4 - Flash Cards - Musical Terms and Symbols
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Lesson 1.5 - Literacy - The Big Gong
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Lesson 1.6 - Technique - Finger Warm Up Exercise
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Lesson 1.7 - Rhythm - Introduction to Basic Rhythms
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Lesson 1.8 - Improvisation - School of Blues
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Lesson 1.9 - Music Theory - The Music Alphabet
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Listening to the Ripple: A Mindful Musical Alphabet
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Lesson 1.10 - Literacy - Densho's Bell
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Lesson 1.11 - Improvisation - Music of the Smiling Pond
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Lesson 1.12 - Flash Cards - Rhythms
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Lesson 1.13 - Repertoire - Ukumari and His Drum
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Lesson 1.14 - Technique - 5 Finger Warm-up
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Piano Zen Practice Tip: Pause, Practice & Explore
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Lesson 1.15 - Mystery Song
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Lesson 1.16 - Music Theory - Review of the White Keys
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Lesson 1.17 - Repertoire - Ukumari and His Drum
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Lesson 1.18 - Special Performance - Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
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Lesson 1.19 - Technique - Finger Exercise No. 1
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Lesson 1.20 - Flash Cards - Rhythms
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Lesson 1.21 - Literacy - Snowflake Blossoms
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Lesson 1.22 - Improvisation - School of Blues
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Lesson 1.23 - Repertoire - Ukumari and His Drum
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Lesson 1.24 - Mystery Song - Paws and Claws
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Lesson 1.25 - Flash Cards - Clefs and Landmark Notes
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Lesson 1.26 - Rhythm - Review of the Basics
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Lesson 1.27 - Technique - Finger Exercise No.3
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Lesson 1.28 - Literacy - Review Snowflake Blossoms and Touching the Pond
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Lesson 1.29 - Special Performance - William Longfellow Emerson
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Lesson 1.30 - Mystery Song - Paws and Claws
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Lesson 1.31 - Improvisation - School of Blues!
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Lesson 1.32 - Repertoire - Ukumari and His Drum
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Lesson 1.33 - Music Theory - White Keys and Landmarks
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Lesson 1.34 - Technique - Finger Exercise No.3
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Lesson 1.35 - Repertoire - Ukumari and His Drum
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Lesson 1.36 - Performance - William Longfellow Emerson
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Lesson 1.37 - Flash Cards - Rest Symbols
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Lesson 1.38 - Level 1 Review
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Download the Level 2 Lesson Book
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Level 2.1 - Repertoire - Inner Sojourn
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Lesson 2.2 - Repertoire - The Entertainer
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Lesson 2.3 - Literacy - Busy Brain
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Lesson 2.4 - Music Theory - Grand Staff and Landmark Notes
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Lesson 2.5 - Technique - Gates of Parthenopolis
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Lesson 2.6 - Literacy - Reading Landmark Notes
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Lesson 2.7 - Rhythm - Rhythm Combinations
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Lesson 2.8 - Improvisation - School of Blues
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Lesson 2.9 - Repertoire - Für Elise
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Lesson 2.10 - Repertoire - Inner Sojourn
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Lesson 2.11 - Flash Cards - Music Terms and Symbols
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Lesson 2.12 - Technique - Moving Finger Positions on the Keyboard
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Lesson 2.13 - Mystery Song - Paws and Claws
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Lesson 2.14 - Music Theory - Landmark Notes and Passing Notes
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Lesson 2.15 - Music Theory - Landmark Notes and In between Notes
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Lesson 2.16 - Performance
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Lesson 2.17 - Technique - 5 Finger positions
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Lesson 2.18 - Literacy - Life Is But A Dream
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Lesson 2.19 - Rhythm - Rhythm Combos with Rests
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Lesson 2.20 - Repertoire - Ukumari and His Drum
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Lesson 2.21 - Repertoire - The Entertainer
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Lesson 2.22 - Flash Cards - Stepping and Skipping
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Lesson 2.23 - Repertoire - The Minuet in G
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Lesson 2.24 - Music Theory
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Lesson 2.25 - Literacy - Reading Music Notation
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Lesson 2.26 - Repertoire - Für Elise
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Lesson 2.27 - Flash Cards - Review
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Lesson 2.28 - Repertoire - Inner Sojourn
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Lesson 2.29 - Rhythm - The Gates of Parthenopolis
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Lesson 2.30 - Performance by William
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Lesson 2.31 - Improvisation - School of Blues
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Lesson 2.32 - Music Theory
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Lesson 2.33 - Literacy - Reading Exercises
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Lesson 2.34 - Across the Dunes of the Rubi al Khali
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Lesson 3.35 - Literacy - Life is But a Dream
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Lesson 2.36 - Technique - Fiver Finger Pattern No. 1
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Lesson 2.37 - Literacy - Life Is But a Dream
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Lesson 2.38 - Literacy - Going to Shinichi's
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Lesson 2.39 - Repertoire - Inner Sojourn
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Lesson 2.40 - Rhythm - Tapping two measure rhythms
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Lesson 2.41 - Literacy - Swan on the Reflecting Pond
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Lesson 2.42 - Literacy - Sight reading
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Lesson 2.43 - Literacy - Merrily We Roll Along
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Lesson 2.44 - Improvisation - School of Blues
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Lesson 2.45 - Technique - Five Finger Pattern No. 1
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Lesson 2.46 - Repertoire - Inner Sojourn
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Lesson 2.47 - Literacy - Life is But a Dream
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Lesson 2.48 - Repertoire - Minuet in G with Alberti Bass
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Lesson 2.49 - Litarcy - Merrily We Roll Along
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Lesson 2.50 - Review - Part I
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Lesson 2.50 - Review - Part II
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Lesson 3. 1 - Repertoire - Inner Sojourn
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Lesson 3.2 - Literacy - Mindful Walking
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Lesson 3.3 - Technique - Five Finger Pattern No. 2
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Lesson 3.4 - Repertoire - The Entertainer
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Lesson 3.5 - Repertoire - The Entertainer
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Lesson 3.6 - Rhythm - Two Measure Rhythms
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Lesson 3.7 - Repertoire - Ode to Joy
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Lesson 3.8 - Theory - Landmark Notes
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Lesson 3.9 - Literacy
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Lesson 3.10 - Repertoire - Inner Sojourn
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Lesson 3.11 - Literacy - Mindful Walking
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Lesson 3.12 - Rhythm and Improvisation
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Lesson 3.13 - Improvisation - School of Blues
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Lesson 3.14 - Repertoire - Ode to Joy
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Lesson 3.15 - Literacy - Swan on the Reflecting Pond
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Lesson 3.16 - Litearcy - Swan on the Reflecting Pond
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Lesson 3.17 - Technique - Five Finger Patterns Nos. 1 and 2
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Lesson 3.18 - Flash Cards
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Lesson 3.19 - Literacy - Merrily We Roll Along
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Lesson 3.20 - Repertoire - Across the Dunes of the Rub' al Khali
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Lesson 3.21 - Literacy - Life is But a Dream
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Ready to Begin Your Piano Zen Journey?
Every musical journey begins with a first note. Whether you're 12 or 72, completely new to the piano or returning after years away, Piano Zen invites you to begin where you are, with curiosity, creativity, and an open mind. William's studio is waiting.