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Scott, I too, played drums for years (though not as accomplished as your credentials). Your program on the local PBS station in Albuquerque, NM inspired me to learn more about the piano. Please keep up the great show and know that you are appreciated by many. Best Regards,
M Ray

Scott, I try to catch every show on KBYU every week,and although I do not have a keyboard at present, I am inspired to get a good one as soon as possible. As a jazz lover for about 45 years now, I think your program is nothing short of a miracle which has gotten me interested in playing piano. Thanks,
J Andrews

Just stumbled across your program on PBS. Outstanding! Why don't more people teach these methods to beginning adults? My history... piano lessons at age 5 -6. Then quit.Trombone lessons in 6th grade. Then quit. Around high school, I took up playing bass guitar, a few years later. I had a band. I went from band to band eventually headlining clubs in L.A./Hollywood (500 miles from home). Somewhere in the middle of a 15 year career I went to junior college to study music theory, and later apprenticed as a recording engineer for a few years.I currently play keyboards, guitar, bass and sing backups. Ispend most of my time songwriting on my computer (multi-track digital recording.) I seriously wish you tremendous success with your program... Every person on the planet should experience the joy of the creative process of either writing music, learning someone else’s music, or even fiddling around to create their own simple melody. Our public school systems have resorted to cutting music programs at the first sign of budget cuts. This is a huge loss for our kids. Even in the schools that continue their music programs, they are using the "classical teaching methods" that seem to turn kids (most of them) off eventually. Your method is truly exactly how I taught myself to play, as well as 96% of the musicians I've ever worked with.I hope your books/CDs/videos and seminars all sell out and reach as many "musical newbies" as possible. Your methods, as well as your presentation, has incredible potential to hold the interest of anyone even slightly interested in playing music for self-enjoyment. Best of luck to you.
J. Johnston, San Jose, CA

I used to sing a lot, but school and work kept me busy for a long time, so I stopped and never got back to it. Now I'm 2 months into learning cello for the first time and having a ball. I started watching your show recently; even though I don't play piano or have one available. A lot of the musical principles you discuss on theory, harmony, etc are applicable to other instruments. I may even try the piano when I have access to one. Seeing the principles played on keyboard, as well as hearing them, combines visual and auditory learning, making the concepts clearer and more easily recalled. I look forward to watching and learning from more of your episodes. Regards,
L. Branham

I played piano for 3 years, became discouraged then quit. No one could teach me how to play accompaniment. They could play well but could not teach me. Watching Scott renewed my desire to play, and starts out simply and then he adds some embellishment to add to the beauty. Thank you Scott!!
Dave Nelson, Ks

SILENT NIGHT - a tune familiar to all. I am a senior citizen (age 71), listened or sang this tune hundreds of times and have never played a note in my lifetime. Now I can play the basic version of Silent Night thanks to Scott Houston's one on one DVD series of Silent Night. The overall goal of this DVD is to learn the song and have fun doing it. It may take you a day, week, or month but do it stress free. Scott will tell you that your are not playing for perfection but enjoyment. Make it your tune, your style, your enjoyment and above all stress free. Through out the lessons Scott will present what he calls "nuggets" (tips and tricks) that will make your playing easier or the tune sounding better. Would I recommend this DVD? YES Would I purchase another One of One DVD? YES - already have purchased Imagine tune by John Lennon for my next endeavor.
Richard Bonin, North Carolina

Hi Scott I have just found your website after stumbling across one of your books when on holiday in England(I live in Scotland) and thinking, that looks good, I'll remember the website and have a look. I didn't buy the book at the time but am now wishing I did. Like many of your correspondants, I learned to play piano when I was young but learned it by left hand, right hand, both together "Learn your scales!" etc etc. The result is I can read music but often felt utterly uninspired to play piano. As a result I stopped for many years, tried again and got fed up pretty quickly because I struggle to feel inspired to play this way so gave up. I recently started trying again and came across your book and website. The 6 minute clip to your show on your website had given me more inspiration than the umpteen years of lessons and practicing as a youngster and feel motivated to take it forward. All the Best
Anonymous

Hi Scott: I used to play the accordian (8 years) and have now started to learn piano on a keyboard I got at a garage sale. I think you are a GREAT teacher!!!!! I have seen your show at least 10 times on PBS. Please keep teaching just the way you are!!!!!! I hope you have a new show sometime soon. I live here in Los Angeles and watch you on KCET. Thank you and take care.
Eric

I originally discovered you on my local PBS channel and was amazed but skeptical as to what you were saying. As a kid I had no interest in playing the piano but as an adult I have thought about taking some lessons for years. I bought your book about a week ago and have been very pleased with the results that I am seeing already. Thank you for writing such an easy to understand book. It's great. Regards,
Jeff, Vancouver, Canada

I'm really enjoying your show and my new hobby. I'm just an ol' redneck country boy from Arkansas that never envisioned himself actually playing a piano. But your method makes it fun to learn. Hope you're on the air for many years to come.
Ken

Dear Scott, Thank you for opening up a whole new world for me! I'm sure that my piano is pleased that it is now being used ... instead of collecting dust in the living room! When are you coming to CANADA? Thanks again! This is JUST GREAT!
L. Shaw, Canada

Thank You SOOOOOOOOOO much... I really appreciate all that you do and especially the questions you ask your guest. It really helps tremendously... I'm glad you stop them when you see something or have a question and have them explain what it is they are doing.
Ben & Jeana

Dear Scott, Below is a copy of a letter I sent to our PBS station: I'm writing in regard to the Scott Houston "Scott the Piano Guy" program airing on your station. I am a forty year old New Orleans Native and student under Mr.Houston's "Play Piano in a Flash" course. As a local station you already know the importance of music in our city, and it's rich history. As a viewer/ student I'm thrilled to report that Mr Houston's program has had the single, greatest impact on my life and countless others. It has afforded me an artistic outlet many crave and the gift of music many enjoy. I had taken piano lessons as a child but of course got bored and quit like a large percentage of the population. This program had me playing almost immediately, and since it's fun I practice daily. Additionally I have spoken with family members and friends in the community who view the series simply for listening pleasure. It has a great blend of education, entertainment, and local flavor that keep us watching and supporting your efforts. Thank you very much for staying in touch with the heartbeat of New Orleans. Best Regards, J Gremillion
J Gremillion, New Orleans La

Scott, I really want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for enabling me to learn to play in such a short timeframe. I am going like gangbusters!!!
JR

Great show! very valuable information. THANKS! This System is great!
A. Crethar, Hollywood, FL

You are fantastic! Although I study and play classical piano, a whole new world has been opened up to me by your show! I love the format too - just make it longer - an hour! Please do your workshop in Vegas soon -we need you here!!!!Cheers,
D.Striker, Las Vegas, NV

Hi Scott, Thanks for responding so quickly to my questions. Looks like I will have to learn to play in different keys, I think that's a good thing, but it means more learning curve. However, I would like to join the throngs of people asking you to do another fakebook, blues and jazz all in the key of "C", it would help me to move along faster in the style of music I dearly love. I will also be buying the book and cd's on playing boogie woogie and blues styles; thanks for the tip. I can't even begin to thank you enough. I'm now starting to hit the right keys without looking at my fingers each time. I have always wondered how piano players can play, sing, talk to other people while playing, all at the same time. It must feel good to be able to do that so naturally. Thanks again,
T. Van Dyke

After reading Play Piano in a Flash, I bought your fakebook. I love it! I had piano lessons as a kid but didn't practice, LOL! Hey, I LOVE music but those songs were awfully dreary sounding! AND, no one was whipping me to practice, LOL! Then, at 15 I tried again. Seemed too arduous a task to get to the point of being able to play songs that sounded good... Now I am 51 and even though I am musically illiterate for all intents and purposes, I am enjoying playing the lovely sounding chords along with the melodies in your fakebook. Since you said, "Have fun" that is just what I am doing. I sit at the piano, and flip through your fakebook attempting to play all the songs that strike my fancy at that moment. I get too bored practicing just one song over and over which is too much like work, so I skip around. I am learning chords pretty fast. I can see that I am getting a bit better every day and one of these days, I may even get up to tempo! What beautiful sounds I am making! I am finding that I love some of the tunes that I loathed before because of the schmaltzy renditions I had heard on the radio! Do another great fakebook, Scott!
M. Palombi

Your program is the best for learning quickly. Scott you make it simple, practical and easy to learn piano. Not only that, but you're very patient in your explanations which is perfect.
Rafael, Orlando, Fl

I have watched a couple of your shows on our local PBS stations and I'm so impressed with your style of teaching, that I'm going to purchase your book and start on my way to learning how to play my mother's organ. Thanks very much for making it sound so easy!
R. Ravich, San Jose, CA

Scott, I watched you. Then my wife bought all your stuff. I took lessons for years and kept trying to play... Now I sound like I wanted to sound all those years ago. I have your DVD and your book. Thanks. I wish you well. I lived, worked, married, had our first child in Columbus, and of course went to OSU!
M. Quilty

Dear Scott,  thanks for the Jingle Bells hopped up version.  I printed it out and am having a ball with it.  So good to hear from you again.  My playing is really improving because I've had time to sit and play lately with no interruptions. I'm learning a lot of new chords and songs. Your DVD is just fantastic.  I'm so glad I've found you and your company when I did.  I JUST CANT BELIEVE THAT I CAN ACTULLY  PLAY A SONG ON A KEYBOARD NOW WHEN I COULDNOT  PLAY A TUNE OF ANY KIND BEFORE.  THANKS A BUNCH!
Joe

Scott, Just a note to say "thank you," and that I love the show. What a great gift you are giving to musicians at all skill levels. Your show has fantastic information, cool "tricks," great guests and an awesome tone. Well, well done!
Anonymous

Hi Scott. Boy I have been listening to all of your mp3 examples and reading your book. They're awesome. Thank for making it so easy to play piano... awesome!
Anonymous

Hi Scott! I just recieved your book: Play Piano in a flash. I had taken classical piano lessons for 6 months, but I was missing the simple logical thinking of how does this fit in with everything. YOUR book is so fantastic! I had no idea that there was a different set of rules for playing non -classical music. Although I am only half way through your book, I am enjoying it so much. You really do make it simple, and you bring it all home. It is much better than memorizing. Now I know how to figure the notes in a chord using the half steps. The best part is when I say, "Oh, now it's making sense!" In fact I bought the book for me, and I have to hide it from my husband! Anyway I am excited to finish the book and to continue on with your other books. I have adopted you as my music teacher and plan on buying your books. It would be most helpful if you could post on your website a good natural sequence on what books would build on each other. Do you think that is possible? If not, can you advise me in what order to buy them. I would like to build on each other. I look forward to hearing from you, and I am glad we accidently saw you on TV. I have always wanted to learn the piano since I was a little girl. My husband had purchased a piano for me 3 years ago, and I still can't play. Hopefully I can now learn. Thank you for your time in reading this letter. Sincerely,
K. Hahn

The PLAY, PLAY, PLAY message iS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TRUE. I HAVE GOTTEN SOOOOO GOOD I CAN'T BELIEVE IT, JUST FROM PLAYING AND PLAYING. I AM AWARE OF THE CHANGES THAT SEEM TO ALL OF A SUDDEN BE THERE. IT JUST AMAZES ME. MY ABILITY TO HAVE MY HANDS GO TO KEYS WITHOUT CONSCIOUS EFFORT, MY LEFT HAND JUST GOING TO MELODY NOTES WHEN IT'S EASIER. SONGS IN THE FAKE BOOK THAT WERE SO DIFFICULT FOR ME A YEAR AGO ARE NOW SIMPLE. MY READING ABILITY HAS SO ADVANCED FROM WHERE I STARTED--WHICH WAS ABOUT ZERO DESPITE THE 3 SEPARATE GROUPS OF CLASSICAL PIANO LESSONS I HAD HAD DURING MY LIFE. MY LIFE TRULY HAS CHANGED. THE ELECTRONIC CHORD FINDER IS GREAT TOO, ESPECIALY WHEN I WANT TO DO INVERSIONS. "INVERSION" IS A WORD I HAD NEVER HEARD OF IN MY LIFE. I STILL HAVE THE 2FT X 3FT CHORD POSTER SITTING NEXT TO THE PIANO. IT COMES IN HANDY NOW AND THEN ALTHOUGH I RARELY NEED IT ANYMORE. I DO BLESS THE DAY I WALKED INTO MY MOM'S ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY AND JUST HAPPENED TO CATCH YOU ON PUBLIC TV. AND,,,,,,, NOW ALTHOUGH I'M NO LIBERACE, I GO AND PLAY FOR THE PEOPLE IN MY MOM'S FACILITY. THEY ENJOY IT, MISTAKES AND ALL (THEY'RE HARDLY A CRITICAL AUDIENCE.) I ENJOY IT.
S Sturm

You are a genius! I am beginner and have learned so much with your book. I think you have a really good, simple and fun teaching method. Everything is very clearly explained, and even I can understand it (my native language is finnish and can understand your books in english easily). I have yelled many times here in my home, I LOVE YOU SCOTT :)
Sanna, Finland

I saw you on PBS, and It was like an answer to my prayers. I am a singer/songwriter, that plays piano by ear. I was looking for something to help me with the rythmic patterns. After that one evening, I started practicing the examples you used on TV. It really helped. I bought the e-book, and now I want to hear the examples. This is great. If you ever come to California, let me know I would love to go to one of your seminars.
E. L Abston, Vallejo, CA

I caught your show by the wonders of Tivo which allowed me to tape all of your upcoming episodes. Your show is truly refreshing and makes me smile everytime I watch it. This is how music should be taught. I cannot tell you how many musicians I have played with who do not understand ANY music theory and cannot improvise and play along with other instruments due to their lack of understanding of what underpins songs.This is the real secret of your show that I love. You blend the basics of theory with modern application to entice everyone including me to try out new things to expand our playing style. Best of wishes- A piano playing fan in California
P. Greco

Dear Scott, Mine is a typical story. I started lessons at seven,continued until high school. My piano teacher, a Nazi with nail clippers, managed to wring all the joy of music out of the experience. Nonetheless, I received an excellent classical education. After I won't say how many years (many, many) I discovered the piano again. This time I was determined to put in practice time (I would never practice as a child) and do you know, I've become very, very good in less than a year. Would you believe Beethoven's Fourth Piano Concerto? Would you believe the second movement of the Moonlight? The one with five flats? Practice does make perfect. As a child, I also picked up the rudiments of the lead sheet, because popular music was my first, forbidden love. I know chord basics, melody lines etc., but after seeing your program on public television last Sunday, hearing you play and listening to your ideas about quick tricks I realize I wanted to go further. I love the old standards, Gershwin, Porter, etc. and have several fake books but I am getting bored with my limited knowledge. I want to get into jazz riffs with my right hand and do more than just broken chords with my left. I want to stretch the melody as far as it can go and then come back to it. Can you advise someone like me who is a little more advanced? Do you have any books or materials geared to my level? (I loved your explanation of blues C F and G chords, for instance. It wouldn't be something I would pick up on my own). I want to know all your secrets! Many thanks for your program. It was inspirational even for a non beginner.
C. Homard

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