Secrets To Better Piano Playing

I really like the book. And since it was written by a professional, you can only learn from it.

If you want inspiration to help improve your piano playing technique and make playing the piano more enjoyable, BUY THIS BOOK! I have this in ebook form and read this every chance I can get. If you’ve seen any of David’s videos, his piano playing is a true testament to prove he knows what he’s saying when he wrote this book. All of the literature is fundamental, practical, and makes perfect sense. A little background about myself as to why I chose this book. I started playing piano was I was about 8-years-old and was taught “old school” by a lovely piano teacher who played professionally. She was also taught “old school” and taught me the same was she taught. The instructional books back then were basic (which was fine) and as you improved, you went on to the next series, but these books lacked something - inspiration. Over the years, I played piano for church and school, but then I took a hiatus for several years when I started playing the violin and started playing competitively and performed more actively in concerts. I’ve returned to piano playing and after 40 years, I still play today. However, I’ve discovered I have more joy playing the piano because I love to play all kinds of music (everything from classical, gospel, contemporary, rock, jazz, etc.). However, I knew my piano technique was not quite right. As I read David’s book, I am actually breaking some bad habits that I didn’t even realize I was doing. I’m also improving myself by following the advice in this book and focusing on improving my technique with more sight reading, watching my posture and practicing scales. I will mention when I was first contemplating purchasing this book, I wasn’t sure if this book would include warmup exercises or scales along with the literature (like a workbook). It’s nothing like that, which is probably a very good thing. It’s straight reading. However, I found that most of the advice from this book makes sense if you happen to play another instrument like I do! However, if you want improve your piano playing ability, I would also recommend purchasing David’s other book, “The Ultimate Piano Workout.” Both books complement each other well and will be quite useful if purchased together. Get both if you can. You won’t regret it.

I played 4 hand piano yrs ago and my father was layering sound, playing violin,viola and cello. I loved every second of this piece and have listened endlessly recently remembering those wonderful times. The excitement of this piece and so many others are bringing back those precious years for me. So personal and oh so profound. I cannot say enough and could go on and on. It is my honor and joy to play with you through YouTube. I have such fun again and can't get enough it seems.
I will own all your books as I can. Forever grateful. Carolyn

Hi! I am an absolute beginner to piano playing. I purchased this e-book to help me on this interesting journey. I am very satisfied with the book structure. It is very systematic and concise. Thank you for such a great work!

David is complete with his information in this instruction book. The contents goes from expectations, training, choosing a piano, Things to do now, posture, technique, fingering, listening, studying, performing, tips for parents. As a piano teacher for 55 years, I have never seen such an instruction book and I say, "Bravo!" to you, David, for bringing this information to the public in book form. I would suggest if you are a piano teacher that each of you download and use this information in your lessons. Better yet, get the parents to buy a book for themselves! It is so useful for the parent who is starting a young one with lessons. Also, for anyone who is taking lessons as well because they will have questions answered from reading this book.
Thanks again, David, for having this on your website. Makes your information complete! Carol DuBe-Littleton, Colorado

Just on a quick read through Secrets to Better Playing made me think about how I play, how I practice and how I teach. Within a week I have changed my teaching to include sight reading, scales and improvisation every day, and to focus on music reading. My pupils are yet to come back to tell me whether they have enjoyed the experience, but I think they will have improved rapidly, as I have in the last week, in conjunction to playing David's pieces for piano and organ. Well worth the money. Thank you so much David.

David's book 'Secrets To Better Piano Playing' is an incredible support for those of us who are alone in learning the piano. I already have and use his Scales and Technique book, 'The Ultimate Piano Workout', so it was a very valuable addition to moving forward in a productive way.
Despite being a Conservatory musician (guitar), and having spent many years studying and practicing music, David has opened my eyes to many wrong decisions when facing study sessions. For example, the priority of reading over memorization. It may seem like minor advice, but it has completely and definitively changed the way I approach piano practice every day.
The book has a lot of practical advice, which I set as tasks to do, but it also transmits motivation and inspiration, just like you receive in so many of David's videos.
Art takes hard work (discipline and patience, YES !), and the book is helping me enjoy it, instead of suffer from it.

Many thanks to David for opening so many doors to new challenges for me.

I wish my parents would read and gift me this book many decades ago. During my music journey I experienced different ways to mastery, some which I progressed well, and others which seems to be impossible to progress on.

For start, my education started not too early on and with Solfège lessons and singing. For any pianist, being on the same path, the book is a must have.

Thanks to the free preview options on the books and beautiful melodies on Youtube - which I tend to listen for hours in one sitting, I was confident on the value the book is delivering even before bought it. Still it took me few days to read, from then on my relation with my instrument and songs are changed. Many of my inefficient habbit just went away, almost overnight thereafter. Despite I playing for many decades for my own and a small audience entertainment, the old songs get a new life. Songs that earlier I thought about being complicate to master, I became ready to give it a go. Well a kind of slowly, which is not that slow, but still.
Many of the ideas already resonated with me, Bach I also enjoy quite a lot, both listening and playing. Yes, part of the organ is easier to play compare to the whole set and legs involved, and still sounds nice.

I even enjoy the book and its wisdom, despite most of my instruments are not contains the hammer mechanics and other good parts the way as a grand piano would offer. These instruments are assist better to learn the cords though.

Beware though, I take the package offer and have the music theory and the other books at once. They are make sense to read and buy together for a pianist. It takes only a few more days to read them all.

For sure, the book will make you a better piano player, compared to my experience so far it does that faster then earlier official and non official ways I have tried during the past 3 decades.

I really enjoyed the book. I wanted to read it because I wanted to make there were no holes in my knowledge, and there weren't. It confirmed for me that I am doing all the things listed, and it was a rewarding feeling. I think this book will be very helpful to the serious student.

After retiring after my 70th birthday, I decided to go back to the piano after a 35+ year ‘break’. I knew this would be a challenge but I forced myself to go back to the basic. Scales, exercises, breaking pieces down to relearn them. Then I came across David’s book “Secrets to Better Piano Playing” after watching a number of his YouTube videos. He absolutely nails it for developing a proper practice regimen. His book gave me some much needed direction and allowed me to refocus on the music and not just punching keys. I’ve got a long way to go but his book has helped me focus on what I need to do. Patience is the key.

As a beginner I’m enjoying the lessons and love the notes.
Like everything else needs practice but looking at David’s videos playing, helps a lot to know how to flow over the keys, and playing these notes are fun and definitely joyful to listen to.
Thank you David 🙏

This book will give you all the information you need to become a world-class pianist. However, whether you become one or not depends on how you use and respect the information contained in this book! 5 stars!

Secrets to Better Piano Playing, is a delight to read, easy and straight to the point, and yes, I am finding it extremely useful. It brought my mind into perspective and thus it is helping me a lot even though I am an adult learner. Together with The Ultimate Piano Workout, I feel I have improved a lot.

I have read through David's book several times! I have been playing for 40 years along with teaching students. Secrets to Better Piano Playing has provided me with some great insights and tips that I have used with students that instantly produced results for them! Thanks David for taking the time to write this book and share your "best practices." I recommend this book to everyone who longs to enhance their playing!
— October 9, 2015 by John Kulikowski (Glassboro, NJ)

For me it was a bit of a "mind liberation" as I learned playing piano in a very tradional way....2 years of "solgège" then you were allowed to start with the instrument. I played so many years classic music and now since 10 years I tried all kind of different styles, to find the way I like to play. And your book just gave me this last touch of - yes you can do it....And I do!
Thank you for your music and for the great tips!
— October 10, 2015 by Christine (Zürich, Switzerland)

I took very traditional lessons in the mid 1970s and played for a few years at church while in High school. Went to college, professional schooling, training, and in the military and didn't play again until my first son started lessons about 9 years ago (~ 30 year gap in playing). Obviously, I forgot many things, and developed many bad habits/practice techniques (or lack thereof). Reading this ebook has helped immensely in getting back into a proper practice routine, learning how to identify the problem parts of the piece I'm working on, and how to go about getting it right.

I appreciate the short, concise, to the point nature of the book.

Recommend to all students of piano -- you will learn something.
— October 23, 2015 by George Miller (Grenada, MS)

David's book is concise, to-the-point and set out in a clear, easy-to-read format. It gives you exactly what it promises- a set of guidelines that will systematically improve your piano playing as you continue to play.

If you're expecting a book that will magically improve your ability to play within the span of minutes, this isn't the book for you (and I wish you good luck in finding it). Instead, following the instructions in this book will give you a really solid framework for getting more bang for your buck every time you practice.

Definitely worth it.
— February 13, 2016 by Simon Bourke (Perth, Australia)

David's book is a fundamental strategy for building the skills needed in your quest to master the piano.

Be prepared to work at this quest and following David's advice you will make the best use of your time actually practicing rather than thinking you're practicing the piano.
— February 13, 2016 by John Marien (NH, USA)

I really enjoyed David's book.

Sometimes someone telling you what you already know intuitively helps more than any basic instruction.

Thanks David, very much.

CS
— February 13, 2016 by Chuck Schmieler (Edenton North Carolina)

This book is amazing. This is what I was looking for. I believe in simplicity. A data is valuable only if it works and David's instructions do. Follow them and you will get the results. I can find all the tools I need in this book to improve my piano playing. It gave me so much. Thank you.
— February 13, 2016 by Istvan (England)

I would consider myself an amateur pianist. This book was very helpful on understanding basic piano skills as well as more advanced techniques.
— February 13, 2016 by Mose (Ohio)

Looking for a book for my daughter on a better way to learn the piano I was lucky to come across this book. David's lays it out quite simply and his practical tips and practice methods are easy to follow; while still aiming for high achievement.

I like the fact that he tells it like it is. The writing style is personal and reaches out to the reader. Recommend it for a child that it learning the piano or for that matter any other instrument.

Personally, I am returning to the piano after some 30 years of being away and this book has helped me progress faster than I other wise would have. It has taken the mystery out of learning the piano.

Thank you David
— February 14, 2016 by GS (Canberra, Australia)

About halfway through my classical training I find this gem. David really hits the nail on the head, he is factual about the truth, and on point with the details. Every pianist must have this book if they want to get into the mindset.
— February 14, 2016 by Josua van As (Vaalpark, Free State, South Africa)

This is one the best books you can buy...
It doesn't teach you how to play the piano,
it teaches you how to enjoy the learning process,
how to keep strano and go on,
and how to maximize your efficiency and effort.
It is about passion, commitment and dedication.
Priceless.
— February 14, 2016 by Vittorio (Germany)

David's book is like having a coach always at your finger tips. I have the ebook version in my phone where it's always handy to read his words of direction and encouragement.
— February 14, 2016 by Jim (Kansas City, MO)