Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Scott Houston piano guy

Due to the revamped programming in my viewing area PBS
doesn't carry the piano guy's program, if you are a fan
take heart! www.pianoguy.tv

hahahahahahahahahaha :P Oh I am sure watching that will make playing piano that much easier and happen "in a flash" haha this guy needs HELP LOL

The problem with the "piano guy" is that he really doesn't teach you anything. His guests are the ones who I wouldn't mind learning from but all they do is some small talk and then play the tune at their very advanced level and you're left with saying "huh?". Early on I bought into this program but really didn't go anywhere at all until I actually got a teacher and then things started coming together.

I get your point BT..I learned by watching..IE guest Dave Powers played "I've Got You Under My Skin" and demonstrated the opening riff.. and I did learn from watching..
it

Dave Powers is my favorite guest on the show and "I've Got You Under My Skin" and "Fly Me To The Moon" are played wonderfully by him. Wish I could take lessons from him.

oh, that's the guy that has the emmy award. He should sometimes mention that on his site and advertising ;P

I'm not here as an apologist for Scott. But lighten up. There are many ways to learn. Scott's approach is one of those ways. Some of us are simply not interested in the traditional methods.

I have bought some of Scott's material and found it useful.

If nothing else Piano Guy TV is very watchable as infotainment.

Cap'n

+1. But I'm also agree with Captain Kawai on not throwing out the baby with the bath water. Just because Scott's don't doesn't mean that there aren't products out there that do--for those of us who, for whatever reason, can't manage a private teacher.

Yeah I've watched a few of his vidoes on youtube... as a complete beginner they don't help me learn anything because they are too fast and talk about stuff I haven't learnt yet. I do however, enjoy the gung-ho, positivity of them. He's just so enthusiastic about it all. I simply enjoy watching/listening to them talk about how to play music... so yeah for me its infotainment rather than teaching.

Very good motivator. I like him.

My thoughts exactly... Scott does a great job of encouraging and motivating learners of all ages, but particularily adult learners. Plus, he is an all-around nice guy!!!

The fact that his TV programs and DVDs are successful speaks for itself.

Rick

That all depends on how you define successful. They are certainly successful from a marketing and sales standpoint, but from a critical user's point of view, I'm not so sure. A lot of his dvd's have received only average ratings from viewers on Amazon and there are a lot similar products by others that consistently receive much higher ratings. His image as being such "a nice guy" might be part of his marketing strategy, but image and truth don't always jive.

You mention "similar products" that receive much higher ratings.

I would be interested in what those products are.

I agree with most of your views, I like Scott. He is enthusiastic and has the ability to get people's attention. I too watched the video on Bluberry Hill and just wondered, will I ever be able to do that?

Could be helpful to try some of his products, and have access to Scott through email. I've tried a few online lesson packages and when i've sent emails to the providers they've been helpful. Still I avoid spamming them, think I've only sent between three and six emails to each of those, over a period of six to twelve months.

Was that really needed joeb84 ?

i've watched many of Scott's free vids, and have learned a few things from him and his guests, but i can't get much out of watching somebody's hands. Maybe his pay-for products are notated/transcribed? I don't expect much from anything free, yet there's nothing that would tempt me to order anything either. Sorry Scott.

It might be useful to keep in mind that the comment was made almost a year ago. If we need to have another discussion on this topic, it seems like it would be better to start a new thread rather than resurrecting a zombie from the past.

You are absolutely correct.

I resurrected it in an effort to find out about the "similar products" mentioned by Starr Keys as more highly rated.

I know she frequents this forum and thought she would notice this topic and jump in.

I probably should just PM her.

Hi Don,

I don't want to offend Scott or his fans--both of whom, in almost the year that's gone by since I last posted in this thread, I've learned also frequent this forum. So, yes, feel free to PM me.

I am puzzled by your sudden interest in the topic since, as you've stated, you've been studying piano for over six years and, last I heard, were studying jazz with a private teacher and were extolling their virtues. From what I've seen, Scott's materials are mostly geared to a lower level of accomplishment and self-study.