ONLINE LESSONS

for modern piano

Pop/Rock and Jazz Fundamentals

Chord Theory

Improvisation

Music Technology

& More

We take on students from many backgrounds:

- Adult and teen beginners

- Pop/Rock/Jazz band musicians wanting to juice up their sound

- Classical pianists wanting to tackle the unique intricacies of contemporary music

- School and university students developing their modern playing chops in solo, accompanying, and band situations

- Music 1 HSC students in NSW developing their final exam performance program

The common denominator is a love of modern music, an open mind, and a willingness to learn

  • "I have found James to be a fantastic role model to our students, with exceptional musical skills. His experience as a working musician allowed him to pass on valuable knowledge of the industry to our students. I would highly recommend James as both a piano teacher and performer"

    Mel Hale, Creative Arts Coordinator at Kildare Catholic College Wagga Wagga

  • "I’ve been having lessons with James for over 5 years. I was drawn to James unique style of teaching. I have enjoyed every lesson and my continued confidence in my ability to play piano. I can highly recommend James as a piano teacher"

    Jenny Powell, Student

  • “James’s ability to not only connect to his students learning needs, but act as a musical mentor was an instrumental factor in us continuing tuition online with James this year when we moved across the state. I cannot recommend James highly enough”

    Emily Dunn, Parent of Student

Our Focuses Include

  • Unlock the secrets of chords to elevate your piano playing:

    • Master common chord voicings to add richness and depth to your sound.
    • Discover useful chord hacks that simplify complex progressions.
    • Explore passing chords and reharmonization techniques to create sophisticated transitions.
    • Build a versatile "playing vocabulary" where these concepts flow naturally into your music, enhancing your creativity and confidence.

  • Leverage technology to expand your musical possibilities:

    • Learn to program keyboard patches from basic setups to advanced configurations tailored to your needs.
    • Get hands-on experience with notation software, making sheet music and charts a breeze.
    • Dive into the essentials of DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) recording software, from setup to multitrack recordings.
    • Explore strategies for utilizing computers in live performances, ensuring seamless integration into your setup.

  • Bridging traditional and contemporary approaches to music reading:

    • Learn to read and interpret traditional sheet music with confidence.
    • Get fluent in reading and writing modern chord charts and lead sheets, the foundation of contemporary music.
    • Apply your knowledge of chord theory and improvisation to enhance your interpretation and performance of written music.

  • Adapt your playing to any performance scenario:

    • Develop solo piano techniques to fill every gap, creating a full and engaging sound.
    • Learn how to accompany a vocalist or instrumentalist, respecting their musical space while enhancing the performance.
    • Understand the dynamics of band playing, mastering the art of restraint where "less is more."

  • The art of improvisation is essential to contemporary styles like pop, rock, and jazz:

    • Develop the skills to listen, react, and create in the moment, making your performances dynamic and engaging.
    • Learn how to manipulate scales and modes to craft unique melodies.
    • Use chord tones and stylistic techniques to build improvised phrases that suit various genres.
    • Gain confidence improvising in any setting, whether you're soloing or jamming with a group.

  • Unlock the unique sounds and capabilities of your instruments:

    • Program a perfect FX chain for a sparkling, iconic Rhodes sound.
    • Fine-tune your Wurlitzer to get that classic, punchy tone.
    • Shape your Hammond organ sound using drawbars and explore advanced techniques like palm glisses and held tones.
    • Make your piano cut through the mix in any setting, whether live or recorded.
    • Learn the basics of sound design to create unique synth patches that reflect your style.
    • Master layering and splitting techniques to combine multiple sounds for performance or production.
    • Discover the secrets to creating a powerful, phat sound that commands attention.

TRIAL LESSON

We're opening a handful of 45 minute trial lessons in the last week of January 2025

FAQ

Bookings and Cancellations

Lesson availabilities are emailed towards the beginning of each month and are booked exclusively through our online booking system

We're fully flexible up until 1 hour before your scheduled lesson

If you need to cancel/reschedule:

  • Up to 1 hour before your lesson: you can reschedule for free or cancel your lesson and receive a full credit for a lesson back to your account
  • Within 1 hour of your lesson: you forfeit the full lesson fee

If Wicked Keys cancels your lesson:

You'll be provided a full credit for TWO lessons for each single lesson we cancel (yep, you read that right: if Wicked Keys cancels your lesson you get two for the price of one)

What time zone are lessons in?

Australia: 7 days a week in the early evening (most weeks)

UK/Europe: 7 days a week in the afternoon (most weeks)

How often are lessons required?

We operate on a “book when it suits” principal - that means the regularity is completely up to you. We aim to give enough song work, theory, and technique during your lesson to keep yourself busy for a solid few weeks

How do your online lessons work and do I need any special software?

We use "Rock Out Loud" for our online lessons - it's a video chat software designed specifically for musicians (believe us, for musicians it's miles ahead of some of those other video chat brands out there)

Rock Out Loud prioritises high quality sound, you'll even be able to see exactly what James is playing via the onscreen notation and midi keyboard.

Best of all? You don't need a user account and Rock Out Loud will run on the Google Chrome browser on your computer, or via the Rock Out Loud app on your iOS/Android phone or tablet.

Any questions?

Email James at info@wickedkeys.com.au