Garageband music lessons

With 22 new genre-based lessons (40 in all), you can pick up the basics of piano, guitar or even both. Video demonstrations, synchronised notation and instrument animations make lessons fun and easy to follow. And you can learn at your own pace. You’ll jam with the Blues Guitar and Rock Guitar series. You’ll master classical piano pieces by Bach, Beethoven, Mozart or Chopin. And you’ll play Top 40–style piano with the Pop Piano series. The new built-in glossary is a great reference for tuning your guitar, changing strings, reading music, finding basic chords and scales, and more. With the Chord Trainer, you’ll master the most important guitar chords by shape, which makes it easier to keep them straight.

Has anyone used these features on Garageband? My MBP comes in the next couple of weeks and it sounds like I can learn something new with this as I have no musical training whatsoever.

mastasteez wrote:...
Has anyone used these features on Garageband? My MBP comes in the next couple of weeks and it sounds like I can learn something new with this as I have no musical training whatsoever.

I think I was about the same position as you. I've never had any musical training (if DJ cutting counts, that's another story, but I guess not.)

I've tried the piano lessons with GarageBand. I think it is great, but I preferred to teach myself with textbook and video combo, so I think I went though only a few lessens with GarageBand stuff. (I wanted to practice with my Rhodes, rather than using MIDI keyboard.)

The text book I've been using is "Alfred's Teach Yourself to Play Piano (Book & DVD)." It even comes with MP3 files of each practice songs, so you can play with it. Each lesson advances little by little, which is great.

I've been on this book for about 6 months now, and There are only a few lessons left on the book.

One thing I can say is that, you want to practice keyboard (for instance) that you really like.

I cannot imagine keep practicing piano with my so-so MIDI keyboard (my MIDI keyboard feels too springy) for this long. I'd recommend a MIDI keyboard with hummer action.

JVC wrote: I'd recommend a MIDI keyboard with hummer action.

You can get a keyboard that gives head? Awesome.

On the real though, thanks man. I was thinking about getting some book to learn keys or at least get the basics down and then saw that Garageband offered this. I thought maybe I could save myself some money.

I'll check that book out too. How would you say your piano playing capabilities are after 6 months???

... I'd recommend a MIDI keyboard with hummer action.

Ops! I meant weighted hammer action keyboard, but I guess I'd recommend MIDI keyboards with either action, LOL!

Weighted hammer action MIDI keyboard are all expensive compared to non-weighted keys, but I think it worth investing, if you don't own one.

... I'll check that book out too. How would you say your piano playing capabilities are after 6 months???

Umm, I don't know. Now I can barely play "Happy Birthday" (the original version, which was originally "Good Morning To You"). Long way to go...

I recently contacted the publisher (Alfred Music Publishing) about which book I should get next upon completion. This is the reply;

Thanks for your question.

As you finish up with “Teach Yourself to Play Piano,” you will be ready for the “Big Note Piano” level, or Late Elementary/Early Intermediate difficulty. Anything in our website, www dot alfred dot com, that you see in “Big Note” or Late Elementary or Early Intermediate levels will be pretty much appropriate for your reading and technical abilities.
Many modern pop, rock and movie collections are available, especially those arranged by Carol Matz, in Big Note level.

More specifically, may I recommend a great new series called:
Jazz Standards for Students, Book 1 (Level: Late Elementary)
Jazz Standards for Students, Book 2 (Level: Early Intermediate)

There is also a Book 3 which will be a bit harder (Item Number 39355). You will love Sharon Aaronson’s arrangements, and these will be a great introduction into jazz and blues styles.

I’ll be glad to give you additional recommendations any time.

I strongly suggest getting help from a qualified teachers or musician friend as you pursue your studies further. Things get more complicated after “Teach Yourself to Play Piano.”

So, I'm thinking about taking piano lessions after the book, maybe once in two weeks.
Most of it is practicing alone, getting piano lesson is for getting advices (I heard that you get "Oh, why I didn't think of that" moments with piano lesson) and avoiding developing bad habit.