When I first saw your show, I was just flicking around and figured I'd see what hokey lessons PBS was trying out this time. By the end of your show, I was a changed person. I started seeking out fake books online and dusted off my semi-old keyboard that had received no attention beyond the lame "My Alise" (sp?) notes. Unfortunately, I cannot attest to being a good musician or even to holding down a groovy tune at the moment. The daily grind has crept up and taken priority over actually buying one of those fake books or devoting time to sitting down and playing. Yet one of the few thoughts in my mind every single day - even while working - is to learn how to play the very songs that bring me joy. Such yearning can only be ignored for so long. After all, when one really thinks about it, playing music and other arts are the single most important things a human being can do over any other task. Love, expression, and creativity are what sets humans apart from computers, machines, or doing what's necessary to put food on the table. Anyway, I don't mean to ramble, but my point is that you have inspired me beyond explanation. Scott, you rock! Thank you for doing what you do and for finally breaking open the secret that remained locked away for far too long. The key to music is now free to anyone who wants it.
T. Archambeau

OK Scott, everything you said was true. Abandoning my memories of two years of torture taking classic piano lessons, almost 50 years later I have returned to the keyboard with your CD and book in hand. Amazingly I can, after one week with your method, play three times as many songs as I could after two years of traditional lessons (and that would be a total of three.) Now, of great importance to me personally is this: Please tell me the name of the Duke Ellington tune you reference and play in the second part of your CD. I have learned only that part which you demonstrate in the program, but unless I can learn the rest I will never play again! Finally, can you tell me if anyone markets a Duke Ellington fake book. I find his tunes as a part of collections, but I am most interested in Ellington alone.Many thanks Scott, I can now die a happy piano player. Regards, Your New Best Friend,
L. Darling, Saline, Michigan

Scott, Just wanted to let you know how much I'm enjoying your show (in high definition no less.) I took piano lessons when I was small and hated it and stopped after 2 years only being able to play "When the Saints Go Marching In." I always kicked myself for giving up, but now that I've bought and read your book and watched the show, realize that I was never going to learn what I wanted to via the lessons I was taking. I since purchased a new Yamaha keyboard and am plugging away at learning a few tunes. Although I do get distracted each week when your new show airs, and I find I can't keep on one tune or topic long enough to truly master it, but it's fun nonetheless. Anyways, just wanted to let you know what I consider the best part of your show. It's when you have a guest on and you are breaking down the technique of the guest. I love when you point out some little trick or technique that the guest is using that THEY didn't even realize that they were doing. Really drives home the point that the sheet music isn't carved in stone and can be interpreted how you like. Thanks again.
Anonymous

You are amazing! Thank you so much! That chord finder is incredible. What a great tool! I hope you can take your ideas far! What you have here is something that the majority of people need and want. Thank you for taking the time to put this together. It took a lot of effort on your part and, you can only imagine how it will affect lives. Thank you again, Scott.
M. Gorun

First let me say you have rekindled my desire to play the piano, I had given up on the goal to play but when I saw your special on public television in Washington I started "playing the piano in a flash" just like you demonstrated. Thank you.
Troy, Marysville, WA

My husband gave me your book as a Christmas gift. I've wanted to play piano ever since I was a kid (and I'm 66 now!) There is no way I could ever adequately explain just how delighted I am with your method of piano playing. I'm having so much fun I've bought books for two other people I know who "have always wanted to play piano." Thank you so very much for giving me the tools to realize a dream I had almost given up on!!!!
C. Smith

Quickly want to say I thoroughly enjoy your class last night. Very informative as well as entertaining! I have been looking for a class like yours for at least 30 years! At the age of 15 (45 years ago) I had a teacher who taught with a very similar method. I LOVED IT! As the years went by and I got terribly rusty; my problem was I couldn't remember the composition of the chords and was never taught how to figure that out for myself. I used to go to my lessons with books containing blank staffs and she would ask me what current tunes I liked and would take a pencil and write them out for me adding the chords. What a blast! I just can't tell you how glad I am you came to our area. I've been wanting to get back to the piano, but just didn't want to go back to more traditional lessons. Thanks again for a great experience and for all your enthusiastic help! Sincerely,
Sharon Stanley, Beavercreek, OHio

Hi Scott, I saw your presentation on PBS and was amazed at the simplicity and the excellent way you teach how to play piano. I will be ordering one of your programs shortly as I want to give it as a gift for a birthday in June. Again, wonderful presentation and a sincere thanks!
Marce

I'm in Los Angeles and I use to watch your show on the PBS station here. I have noticed recently that I haven't seen it broadcast in a while. I assumed that it had just ran its course, and it was time for it to leave the air. I will send PBS an E mail asking them to start running it again. I hope that others will do the same. Like I said, I have 3 DVDs of yours: The piano Guy with Scott Houston, both volumes of the tricks and professional tips, 2 audio cds and your small paperback book. I have learned so much from reading the book and listening to the audio tape with left hand chord examples, and things to do with the melody etc. The 2 DVD's with the guest pianist on them are the best. Everytime I watch one of them I learn something. Your choice of guest pianist on the DVD's were very good ones. I enjoyed what every one of the pianist had to say. My favorite is I think his name is Dave Powers, well if I have his name wrong, it is the pianist that was playing the Beatles tune Yesterday. on tape two he plays "The Christmas Song (chestnuts on an open fire). Anyway thanks again for the left hand chord suggestion on the song that stays on the same chord for 10 measures. Oh yea! thanks for the quick reply. You responded real quick. I thought I wouldn't get a response for a day or so. So thanks!!!
T.S.

I watched you on PBS and started playing the piano in about ten minutes....not too shabby. I even make up my own songs which is way more fun! Is there anyway you could come up with a design to teach people to play classical music? I would love to play Bach, Beethoven and the boys. Feel free to tell me if this not your style. Keep up the good work.
G. Pietka, Harrison Twp, MI

Hi! I had trouble sleeping last night so I turned on the television to see you! What made this strange especially on this night was the fact that I was playing a keyboard that night and wished that I could read notes again like I once did as a child! Well, I know what you are going to say about that! I am also dreaming of singing and writing my own music like I have always dreamed of since I was a child and with your help maybe someday I can invite you to my opening concert!! Thank you for making my dream a reality...
K. Wilson

I saw your program in June on WTTW, Chicago but I only caught part of it as I was leaving on vacation, so I purchased the Book and Video. I have tried several methods of trying to learn piano using computer programs like the Miracle Keyboard but found them hard to use and gave up. I did learn the 2 - hand version of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” but only remember the right hand melody portion. After reading your book and watching the full video, I couldn't believe how much I learned that never was presented to me. I never could figure out chord placement, and I now understand the major and minor chord. I have played and taught Guitar for over 30 years and always thought I would need traditional piano lessons to learn piano and do not have the time to commit to that. I just want to say thanks for the material you have provided me. I have figured out a boogie - woogie variation and picked up “Greensleeves,” “Jingle Bells” and “Silent Night,” and can sound like Liberace rolling thru a F chord after watching your video. You're FANTASTIC. I am still not comfortable with chord finger placement, but I'm sure I will work that out as you mention in your video. Thanks for opening my eyes to your method of learning piano.
J. Michaels, Chicago, IL

Thanks to you Scott, and PBS for bringing me and my grandchildren hours of fun! After watching your show, some of my grandchildren elected to take piano lessons (traditional) even though they still do your stuff. It's not a competition. We are enjoying music on many levels, including as an audience. My grandkids even got excited listening to a PBS jazz program the other day, pointing out some rythems they recogonized from your teachings. What's so bad about that???????Thanks,
Lynn

I saw you recently on my local PBS station. Ever since then, I have not been able to stay away from my keyboard! Years ago I took a piano class at our local community college. I learned to play the right hand but it was just too difficult to read both lines of music. I bought several EZ Play books and played the melodies but it just wasn't enough. Now I know how to read the chord symbols, and I am working on several songs. It's only been a couple of weeks, and I can play something that sounds like a song. Thank you so much!
Anonymous

Scott, I called your office on 11-28-05 and spoke to you. I want you to know what a joy your book and DVD brought me. I tout your teaching to everyone I know. Keep up the good work.
C. Fine, Danville, IN

I watched you on Public Television. I am very impressed with you instruction. Now all I need to do is get the piano tuned up. Thank You.
W. Vigil, El Paso, TX

Many thanks for your book!!! Finally a method that really makes sense. Thanks to you I have started playing again after having giving up more than 12 years ago. I have a question I hope you can help me with. What is the best fingering method for chords? in other words, how do I figure out what finger should hit what key when playing a chord? I also like to play chords sometimes with the right hand. Should the fingering mirror that of the left hand? I look forward to hearing from you. Sincrely,
G. Tohme, Toronto, Canada

Hello Scott and thank you. It was unbelievably easy. I just need a little more fingering work to learn some more chords, and I will be better. I bought the entire set when I saw your show on PBS awhile back. Thanks again. I have impressed quite a few people. You have made one of my dreams come true - creating my own music that will last for my lifetime.
Hornsby

I have been playing now for seven months. I just knew "FACE" when I started. Your book is A1.
C. Currie

Hi Scott, I watch your show everyday here at SC Educational Television where I work in the day as a master control technician. I am a professional jazz pianist and I do that as a sideline. Maybe the next time you visit our network I can come out and meet you in person! Anyway, I am enjoying your lessons very much, even though most of it I know already. It's refreshing to hear what you have to say and I especially like your approach at simplifying music, and taking some of the mystery out of it. Keep up the great work! best regards,
K. Whitlock, Columbia, SC

HUGE THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!! I have been enjoying all the products that I received from ya"ll. I have played the piano for years but never have been able to master the professional sound of running chords. Nor have I been able to play from memory or by ear until now... Who said you can't teach old dogs new tricks. I am 50 years old and have played in church for at least 25 years. Now with the demand for the new age sound of praise songs I was feeling depressed for not being able to meet the challenge and achieve the sound the rest of the praise team was wanting. We bought a new keyboard thinking that would help. But without the skills I have learned from your cds I have been studing it would not have been possible. We are also loving the Praise songbook it is a must for all Praise leaders. I endorse all your products highly and have told other music leaders in our neighborhood churches about you. Thank you all for the television program that introduced me to your web site and to every one that has anything to do with the selling of these wonderful tools. If you ever need anyone to endorse your product please let me know. I remain faithful to God through more beautiful music because of you. THANK YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!
J. Wasson, Buras, La

Scott, I am a professional musician, 51, currently playing country/country rock, oldies etc. I think your methods are revolutionary in the respect that most all teachers REQUIRE their students to read first. I taught keyboard and guitar for many years in a music store environment. I too was one of those teachers who required reading first, but went out and played the way you teach your viewers. I never tried to incorporate my shortcuts into my lessons because most of the students would give up before they attained the proficiency to understand what I was talking about. I now tell my friends who are learning, about your show on PBS. I am getting loads of thanks from them all. I tape your shows for myself and find something in every episode that I will use in the next few weeks, though sometimes they're used that very same night! The piano players that you bring in to review a technique or a particular song are the cream of the crop as far as performers go. I am impressed weekly. Keep on keepin' on, you're making a differance in a lot of players lives. Take care,
T. Wheeler

I took your class on Oct 19 at SWIC, Belleville, and It was one of those classes that uplifts your spirits and makes the whole day feel good. I have talked about it to several people and they noticed how "bouncy" I was. I haven't got my keyboard out yet --- gotta find room ---- but I now have a MOTIVE for reducing my clutter!!
R. Hale, Belleville, IL

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

I am a 45 year old women who has watched my husband and my children (we have 7) play piano, but I could never figure out how they could play until I saw you on the public TV. We bought your stuff last January. Well, you should see me play... I am so impressed. I have not enjoyed anything more in my entire life. To play music on the piano and to worship the Lord in this way is the greatest thing!!!! I am so addicted to my piano that it is hard to get away from it. Just for the record, your way of explaining really clicked for me as my husband has tried to teach me but to no avail. All our children can play some and the older ones are very good, but I thought there was just no hope for an old timer like me. Well, I fooled even myself. Thank you for showing us the easy way to play the piano. I am a no- nonsense kind of a lady and your teaching is so practical. I can not believe all those people who take time wasting/expensive piano lessons only to find that they can not play the music they want. We have friends who have spent tons of money and time for their daughter to get piano lessons only to find that when she saw my daughters playing (their Dad taught them the way you play) she could not figure out how they were so much better than she was. Well, being very competitive, she went for the big theory piano classes and spent tons of money. Well, your ways are so much better and thank you for teaching me, and now I am showing others. Sincerely,
Jayne

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

Dear Scott, Thank you so much for your book. It is great! I just got a baby grand piano and thought it was just going to be a piece of furniture. My husband can't believe how quickly I caught on to playing after reading the book. It's unbelievable. I had a little bit of organ lessons as a kid. This book really cleared so many things up. I can't thank you enough. Cindy
Cindy, PA, USA

Scott, I looked through every one of your testimonials and it was wonderful to read them - but I was sorry mine was not on there. I wrote when I first saw you on PBS, telling you how you have made one of my deepest desires for over 40 years come true - to be able to finally play the piano after years of lessons that did not help me play. I know you must receive so many testimonials that you are unable to post them all. You have given me one of the greatest gifts - I still am blessed and amazed every day that I can sit down and get so much joy from playing the piano. It is because of you! My life is changed on a daily basis because you have made this a possibility for me by your teaching! Thank you! May God bless you. I look forward to seeing you on PBS again very soon!
Anonymous

Dear Scott, Thank you very much for the Great Piano Tip. You don't know how much I have followed your programs and music teachings over the past 18 months. But to make a long story short, I can play almost any song . . . although with great practice. (Lead Sheets ONLY.) I'm very grateful to you. Also, I hope to meet you, someday . . . in person just to say a special "Thank You!" I really like and appreciate your new newsletter format.You're really a special person, Scott.
G. Wells,

Thanks so much for your program. I'm a piano lesson droppout (taking traditional piano lessons) and so are my children, who now have children. Music is important to us, and our conclusion is why couldn't our traditional teachers teach chords like you do. Your system has given us the WHY for memorizing the chords in the theory part of the traditional lessons.I've enjoyed making up tunes with my grandchildren, based on your instruction. I'm involved right now in teaching Watercolor and other art media, but as soon as I have summer break, I'll be reviewing and purchasing your books and programs. I'm excited about your new programs.
Lynn

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