Learn & enjoy piano: a fast track method for beginners and returners

This is a unique method for adult beginners and returners to the piano. Andrew Quartermain, concert pianist and director of Britain's national chamber music school Pro Corda, has developed a fast-track method for beginner pianists.

The method is based on improvisation and has been used with great success by Andrew and his colleagues at Pro Corda with thousands of students and adults. Andrew used this method to teach actress Emma Thompson, as well as other busy professionals who want to experience the piano without enduring the slow methods designed for children. Now, for the first time, his method is available as a video course.

Improvisation at the keyboard used to be a key skill of any classical musician - Mozart was an improviser. Within the first lesson, you will be encouraged to try melodic improvisations with both hands, and Andrew will then introduce you to the tools a pianist has to deepen their improvisation: adding texture, extending melody, varying pulse and more. Before long you will be encouraged to get into performance mode, thinking about articulation and dynamics.

The power of playing with others is central to the method, and there are a number of backing tracks to get you started with this. Each backing track leads towards a touchstone piece of classical music, which you will be able to attempt by the time you have completed the course.

If you want to rediscover the piano and start enjoying it straight away, this course is for you. Improvisation develops technique naturally, and by the end of the course you will be ready to take on appropriate classical piano repertoire. By joining the course you will also have access to a piano community on Facebook, where you and fellow students are encouraged to share your improvisations and performances. Andrew and colleagues at Pro Corda and MusicGurus will be on hand to provide advice and guidance as your learning journey continues.