Q & A with Kate P.

For this blog post, we interviewed a long-time student of mine, Kate P.! Kate splits her time between New York and Florida (USA), and is becoming one of our VIP students with how much she is preaching the Piano in a Flash method to her friends! Ha!

Keep an eye out for more Q & A blog posts like this one: I enjoy hearing from students, and I want you to be able to read about their story with Piano in a Flash too!

Q: When did you first learn about Scott and Piano in a Flash?

A: In 2018, I signed up for an intro course. I was very impressed and soon after, I actually bought the entire package. I put all my faith in his program and I haven’t looked back. I scream from the rooftops how well Scott’s lessons worked, they’ve been nothing short of fantastic for me and my learning style.

Q: Do you play for others? If so, in what settings?

A: I’m a closet pianist: I’m not confident enough to play in front of anyone except family, and they’re very gracious in their compliments. Playing is almost meditative for me. I actually have a keyboard at my beach house, and I have a full baby grand at my house in New York.

Q: Did you have any prior musical training? Do you play any other instruments?

A: I don’t play any other instruments. I picked up the guitar briefly as a kid, but as a young child, my favorite toy was the Emory Organ. You’d have to dial the switch and it would hum to warm up. I’d spend hours playing it. I wish my parents had signed me up for lessons because I was so interested in it.

My husband got me a baby grand for my birthday, I got piano lessons for both my kids and myself, but lessons didn’t work out for me. I walked away from it for years. I found Scott in my sixties, and he has truly made a difference in my playing abilities. He’s very blunt and real with you in the lessons, and I’m a better player because of it.

Q: Who inspired you to start with the piano?

A: My mom knew I had it in me to finish what I started. When she passed away, I told myself I was going to do this for her. I have a little memory table next to my piano. I have a picture of my mom, smiling at me. I know she is in heaven, looking down on me practicing. I hope she is proud of me.

Q: How was learning piano with Scott’s method, versus learning other instruments?

A: My teacher came to the house to teach my kids, and then teach me afterwards for a half an hour. It wasn’t interesting to me, she had me playing what I would consider to be “baby” songs. Scott immediately got me playing Jingle Bells and other songs I wanted to play. He used songs I recognized and loved, and songs that other people would enjoy. The books are written for our age level, and that is enough to keep adults going. The music was still easy, and I could understand the explanations, but the content and detail was still at our level. I appreciated that, and felt like I could work toward the next book in the series.

Everything about Piano in a Flash is great. The technical side, how Scott teaches, how you can watch previous lessons over and over again… it’s really a lifelong gift you’re paying for, not just a skill.

Q: Has playing piano helped you in other areas of life?

A: I am a pretty structured person. I like routine, and I like to learn. With the piano, I feel like everytime I sit down, I’m learning something. That makes me feel satisfied and productive. The meditative aspect of it, the feeling that I get… I get lost in the music, and I’m not thinking about whatever else is happening in my life, because I”m focused on making music. It’s gratifying when you know you’re getting the song right after a lot of practice. I can hear the differences now, between notes and how chords can and should be played. It is extremely therapeutic for me. I’m 66, and Scott has proven it’s never too late. My mom always told me to keep exercising my brain, and piano is how I can do that.

I do have arthritis starting in my hands, and piano has helped. I don’t realize I’m stretching my hands and joints, and afterwards, my hands feel better.

Q: How did you get inspired to start playing?

A: I”m a jack of all trades and master of none. I don’t usually finish what I start, whether that’s pottery or tap dancing. I’m always trying to learn something new and I was thinking about getting a ukulele, when my husband mentioned me learning the piano. I found Scott on Facebook and the rest is history. Scott’s program is so well planned and formulated, you can’t not learn. I’ve told all of my friends about Scott and Piano in a Flash— some people think I’m getting a commission for how much I preach about Piano in a Flash.

Q: What’s your next music-related goal?

A: Being able to play memorized songs in other places. I’d love to get to the point where I could sit at a piano anywhere and play something.

THANK YOU Kate for sharing your story with us! I really enjoyed hearing how you came to find Piano in a Flash and how it has helped you with your music skills!

If you’d like to learn more about Piano in a Flash and how Scott teaches online lessons, check out the rest of our website!

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