QUESTION 1 (by a visitor to PianoMagic.com):
I want to play by ear, but what makes
Piano Magic different from the MANY other courses I've seen
on the net??? Because they all promise the same things???
How do I know you're not a crook???
ANSWER (by Instructor Michael Anderson):
Since I haven't seen or investigated other courses available
on the net, you are probably in a better position to know
the differences than I. All I promise is you'll understand
how simple music really is, and as a result, you'll be more
likely to succeed and enjoy playing your instrument!
If you suspect I may be a "crook", you may be overlooking that Piano Magic is believed to be the first online piano course ever offered on the internet, and we've been online (via AOL) since August 1992. In addition, I teach in 128 colleges and universities across 7 southern states in the USA, have taught thousands of students face-to-face, sold thousands of my books around the world, and built this web site page by page - key stroke by key stroke. In my experience "crooks" don't generally go to so much trouble. If you're not convinced or willing to be convinced that I'm for real, or take the risk to find out, please feel free to contact me and let me know how I can reassure you! Otherwise, I wish you all the luck in the world to find what you seek (you'll need it)! ***** Michael Anderson
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
I've done a couple of other courses and nothing comes
as close to the interaction and help you get with Mike.The
first ever time I posted a question on the Piano Forums, I
got a personal A4 sized answer!! The time he gives each and
everyone of us is worth every penny I spent on this course.
I highly recommend it. Hey...he's no crook....if this is what
crooks are like than my front doors always open!!! Andy
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
This man Michael Anderson is DEFINITELY NOT a crook! He is
a genuine person , who wants to help. His responses to all
of my questions have been fast!!!Some within a few minutes!!!
I have tried a number of courses, with some success. The difference
with PianoMagic, is the fact that you UNDERSTAND what you
are doing, and can then apply that understanding to different
tunes of your choice.I had a problem with adding the melody
notes to the chords I was playing with my left hand. Michael
made it so simple--INSTANTLY! I now know which notes to look
for and which to overlook in any particular chord--all thanks
to Michael Anderson. He is a great teacher and I would encourage
you to start at the beginning with him. Progress WILL follow!
LOGS Enjoy!
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
in this course i learn something i can use. its easy and mike
is like a friend. so helpful and nice.
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
I have been a Piano Magic member since February, 2003. Michael
Anderson delivers to his members everything he promises -
AND MORE!!! I took six years of piano lessons as a teenager
and could never play anything besides written music. Now I'm
learning to play by ear and loving every minute of it! I can't
speak for other courses found on the net, but I have found
this to be a truly unique and inspiring course, and I'm addicted
for life!
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
I have been a member for 2 weeks. The cost of an annual membership
is a complete joke. I received that much value within the
first two days. Since then, I have received personal one -
on - one instruction (tailored to me) which I estimate would
have cost in the vicinity of $50-60 per session - and we are
just getting started!! If anything, the members are the crooks!
If I had known how I was going to be treated and the actual
value of a membership, I would have paid 10 times the price
without batting an eye. Tim Francis
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
The main difference with this course and all the other courses
is the interactivity. Mike is here (what seems like)24 hours
a day to answer all your questions...and I mean ALL YOUR QUESTIONS...with
the patience of a saint! If you want to play the piano really
quick and have fun Fun FUN...this is "THE PLACE"
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
I had just joined and within a couple of hours I was playing
music like I never imagined. Piano magic is different coz
I believe its an honest job from a guy who wants to share
this gift of music
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
What makes the difference is the instructor of this course.
There are no promises made here that are not kept. No crooks
here also. don g
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
Hi Mike I have been away from PMMO for a number of months
. I have just read your sustain info. If my analogy helps
anyone--great! I think of it like taking a quick breath, just
before each chord, so , like swimming, you take a breath,
and blow out the bubbles under the water,(or in other words,
the newly played chord)for as long as you play the chord.
So, BREATH IN , PEDAL DOWN, NEW CHORD. PEDAL UP.... repeat!!!!
Hope this helps?? Do let me know Laurie.
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
You got that right. I took several other online courses before
I found this site. Some were better than others but nothing
compares with Piano Magic. NOTHING! Mike is here and does
exactly what he says and more. I can't say enough good things
about this site and the instructor and other members. Its
amazing and one of a kind! Jim
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
Don't know what's different, as this is the only course I've
ever done. More importantly, I feel it's the only course i'll
ever need. It's not boring, you get a lot of fun and satisfaction
from the word go, and Mike is endlessly and rapidly helpful
with your own individual progress and problems. Buffy (UK
member)
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
Any reputable business has a way for potential customers to
contact them. Mike's home telephone number is posted right
on his sight.
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
I'd like to answer the last question first--Mike gives 110%
to both Piano Magic and EACH member. He gives us personal
help with the songs we are working on and encourages us to
learn and have fun playing piano. In my estimation, Piano
Magic is TOPS on the Net, maybe, partially, because I'm finally
learning to play piano the way I want to play it. Of course,
I also like the fact that WHAT Mike teaches is making me sound
really good right from the beginning. I've been a member since
Dec. 2003 and loving it. To learn to play by ears means, to
me, that I can learn to play any song I can hum or sing. That
right there is a big savings on buying sheet music or books.
Best part---IT IS SO MUCH FUN!!! Rusti Smith-Phoenix, AZ
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
Michael is the Musical Director in our church. He is highly
thought of and I can tell you that there has never been a
more honest and loved man than Michael Anderson!.....Betty
Gottberg...Marietta, Ga.
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
What makes it different? Michael Anderson is right here with
us guiding all the way. No other course i've taken claimed
the author would work with me and no other course has given
me what they promised. Piano Magic is what I wanted all my
life to find. The price is ridiculous - too low.
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
I have investigated several courses and found no other course
that does not give you babblespeak about scales, keys, etc.
This course begins with your playing music. I am impressed
with the truth that we speak before we read. So why not play
before we read?
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
I've not only seen courses on the net, I've paid for them!
This course is truly THE COURSE! It is SO simple, so workable,
so easy. My only problem was clearing out of my head my prior
musical 'knowledge.' Who needs it!
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
Mike, my response doesn't show up on my computer, so I am
retyping. If it has already gone through, I am sorry. I would
like to tell others that I have seen my Dad play any instrument
he wanted by ear and he sounded so good, especially on the
piano. I wanted to play like that, too, but I had never had
a good ear for music. I took one of Mike's introduction courses
through a local college, went home and played around on the
piano for a few minutes, and knew I just had to take his course.
It has been a good investment, well worth the time and money.
I am now playing at church and at nursing homes and love it!
If you want to learn how to play quickly and sound very professional,
take Mike's course. Pam Shedd
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
PMMO is for real. Mike Anderson, through PMMO, actually teaches
you how to play 'by ear.' The main idea throughout PMMO is
to learn how music 'thinks,' and Mike has has made it VERY
simple to understand. Once you understand how music (any music
except classical) 'thinks', you can apply the knowledge to
whatever genre you enjoy. It's easy and Mike is always available
to help.
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
OK, let's just cut to the chase here. Is this a scam? Are
you just "lining the pockets" of the website owner
when you buy a membership? After more than a year here, I
am now fully qualified to comment on the above. The answers
are heck no.... and ha! ha! ha! ha! Scams are things that
don't produce what they appear to promise. This produces for
the student, many times over what it promises. As for who's
getting the bargain here, I can tell you that if I would have
paid a monthly fee equal to the yearly membership, it would
still be a bargain!! You've heard it said that most things
that sound "too good to be true" ... are ... well
this is the exception. If you doubt it, just email Michael
Anderson - he will answer you - and not with a form letter!
I am not being prompted or paid to say these things. The truth
is the still the truth whether you believe it or not. Tim
Francis
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
If you want to play by ear, belive me, this IS the internet
course to take. Don't go looking elsewhere or else you will
regret it. In fact, for the last 3 years, I have taken 4 other
internet courses that promise me I will be able to 'play by
ear' but after finishing their courses, I still could not
'play by ear'. I finally came to this site. Piano Magic is
definitely different (in nature and in approach) from the
other courses. I joined in May 2005 and within these short
months, I can ACTUALLY play many many songs by ear (can you
guess how many? At least 50+ with no exaggeration) just sitting
at the piano spontaneously playing the songs with beautiful
melodic sounds using the Right Hand and professional harmonic
sounds produced by the Left Hand accompaniment. Mike the instructor
DOES keep to his promises. So how can he be a crook??!! He
doesn't run away with your money as he is here online to make
sure ALL his students to "get it", and true to his
words, I am 'getting it' (Whew.... I almost thought I was
a hopeless case). I am experiencing a LOT OF MIRACLES here
in playing by ear. All the other courses did not make this
miracle to happen. Do you know why? It's NOT just the course
itself, but the INSTRUCTOR behind the course. Don't let this
golden opportunity to pass you by. When you come in, you will
see it for REAL. Rosa
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
Piano Magic is different because the beginner and advance
course is written in simple to understand language, and there
are audio/video samplings which show you step by step what
to do. There is also much information to read from the forums.
PMMO is a real site, with real people, who are not crooks.
Sharon O. NYC
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
Try it and see for yourself. I'll bet if, after a week, you
feel you were robbed, Mike will give you your money back and
disconnect you.
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
Piano Magic comes with Michael Anderson, who not only founded
this method of teaching piano, but who also is here with us,
interacting with us, and showing and teaching us how "piano
tricks" are done. Crooks? No crooks here. This course
delivers the goods.
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
I'd tried four other online methods. The one thing that they
fail to do that Mike Anderson and his Piano Magic does from
the very first is to teach you how music "thinks."
I'd been teaching myself for nearly three years (using those
other methods) and, no kidding and no exaggeration, within
four-hours of Piano Magic, I truly understood more of "why"
I was doing what I was doing than ever before. As for Mike
Anderson being a crook? A man who spends two-hours talking
to you on the phone (his expense) BEFORE you sign-up and then
another two or three (also at his expense) helping you set
up a midi-program is not the stuff of being a "crook."
Piano Magic is a reflection of his passion for teaching, not
making money. (I'm betting he does rather well playing the
piano professionally.) Randy V.
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
Just sign last week, I was not to sure if where the right
thing to do spend $ 189.00 But now I now was the right decision
I learn more in few hours here than in 2 months I went to
a Music Institute and I pay more than $500.00 in 2 months...
go for it is good come in!!! welcome!!!!
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
Well, This is Popeye and I've been a member since Feb. 07.
This is the only piano lessons I've had in better than 50
years. It will be the only course I'll have in the next fifty
too. Mike's turned me into a piano player, just like he said
he was gonna do if I could follow directions. I'll be extending
my membership right on schedule and would do it if he doubled
the fee.
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
Just a note to those of you who are 'considering' a PM membership.
The primary reason you do not see a large number of "current"
posts in this area is that most of us are totally busy having
fun with PM and what it offers us as active members! Yeah,
Mike is a cook, OK - he leads you to spend more time at the
piano having fun and less time doing what you probably 'should'
be doing! PM does present to you the simplest and most direct
'connection' to understanding and playing piano music that
I have seen anywhere. I have not actively enrolled in any
other courses - but I have checked them all out and as far
as I can tell, PM is in a league of its own. So if you have
a lot of chores and projects that fill your life - run fast
and do NOT join!! Balladeer
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
In ten months I`ve improved a lot and now can easily pick
out melodies and creatively add chords to make "my"own
music instead of playing another`s composition. In PM Mike
says that we need not worry if the wrong note is played as
we would quickly go on the the correct note.
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
I've tried a few net courses and they've all taken a somewhat
different approach to teaching chord style piano. But there
was no feedback... I never knew when I should move on or why
things didn't sound as good as I wanted or even worse, when
I was way off base and didn't really know it. I'm fairly new
to Piano Magic but the difference is really clear. First,
where before I was completely tied to sheet music (a few weeks
without playing a song, I would be lost), I can now play a
whole list of songs "by ear" -- and correct myself
fluidly if I hit a glitch. Second, PM students regularly post
recordings that the instructor and other students comment
on in a friendly and constructive way. I've received advice
on things I didn't even know I needed advice on! You learn
a lot by listening to your fellow students and the responses
to their postings. The PM group is very tolerant of the same
questions being asked over and over. Third, the supportive
community is a great resource. It is incredibly encouraging
to listen to an experienced student play and also hear what
he was like (and seeing the questions and frustrations that
he was posting) just a year or so ago -- it provides a clear
incentive to follow the plan.
