Have you often dreamed of playing the piano, but feel it is a dream out of your reach? I was exactly like you before I stumbled upon some basic piano lessons which totally transformed my view. Not only did I learn to play the piano, but it had a true impact on my life.

When I started, I knew what a piano looked like, but I had not really taken notice of how the white and black keys make a pattern. That was the first little bit of instruction that helped me to realize that the piano might be decipherable after all. Since the keyboard could be broken down into sections, I had something to guide me in finding each individual key.

With those first lessons, I was able to start practicing the basic principles of piano playing. I started clapping out rhythms, writing and playing individual notes, and eventually I was tapping out simple melodies. Each lessons taught me something new and I would practice over and over, later on testing myself on each new skill to see how far I had advanced.

I developed my own practice schedule, finding time between my work and daily chores. It was satisfying to accomplish so much so quickly. The slow pace of formal lessons may be good for children, but as an adult, I appreciated the ability to go at my own pace.

There came a time when I wanted to play music that was easy for me - music that I recognized rather than what I was writing out in my exercises. So, I went to the music store and bought two books. I chose an Easy Piano Book and a Fake Book, just as the lessons had suggested.

My Easy Piano Book was filled with familiar Broadway show tunes that I had heard throughout my life, and after learning rather quickly to sight read I was able to actually play many of them quite well.

The Fake Book, on the other hand, was full of modern pop songs. I had read through the lessons and found out how to use a Fake Book, so I quickly began. I did not know all the chords, so I looked up the new ones before I tried to play each song.

Soon I was playing songs that I had heard on the radio. This was just as fun as the Broadway songs, and my friends seemed to like it even better. It was a lot of fun for everyone, me included.

Now that I know the basics of the piano I am a much happier person. I set out to learn something new and I accomplished it much faster than I imagined it would be possible. I will never be a professional performer and I am definitely not an expert on the piano, but I am a very content player who has taught herself something quite remarkable.