Lovin' Leadsheets! - Mastering the Process
Learn the skill of reading from a lead sheet to play piano songs quicker than ever!
Watch Promo
Start learning hundreds of songs on the piano without having to spend years learning boring theory and countless hours reading sheet music.
Break free from note-by-note scores and gain the skills to instantly access hundreds of songs, you’ll learn musicianship skills that can be applied over different musical styles, and become fearless in the face of unfamiliar material.
The ability to fill in the blanks and play as if the notes just naturally come from your fingertips, without copying note-for-note what someone else has written on a page - this seems like a magical power that one could only dream of harnessing, right?
WRONG!
Playing from a leadsheet is a skill and like any skill it can be learned.
I've spent years playing in almost every type of band, group, ensemble & even solo – playing from a leadsheet was essential for picking up a song quickly and then interpreting it into my own cool arrangement.
I wasn't born with that ability, I combined my many years of traditional training, my knowledge of theory and my practical skills from experience as a performing & recording musician, and I learned all the tricks of how to add my own flavour to a song with just a simple 1-2 page leadsheet to guide me.
I've put all of that knowledge and experience into this course, so that you can begin to play from a leadsheet and put your own spin on it, without having to go through the years of music theory and learning how to read sheet music just to get a song coming out of your fingers!
In this course you will learn the full 5-step process of learning from a leadsheet, broken down into easy, manageable chunks.
Each step includes tips & tricks, exercises, quizzes, practice tracks and demonstrations so that you can go through the course bit by bit, when it’s convenient for you.
And you'll learn versatile skills that can be applied to ALL your piano playing, like:
- how to play both hands together,
- how to learn the melody as quick as possible,
- how to read basic notation,
- how to add your own rhythms, syncopation & riffs,
- and much more!
And there's bonus lessons...
- Tips for pedalling through a leadsheet properly.
- Alternative methods for switching up the roles of each hand,
- Looking ahead - a skill to develop in time,
- Playing with others (rules for accompanying in a variety of settings),
- Basic improv tips!
You can enrol now at just $139 for lifetime access!
~OR~
Join our membership program for a small monthly fee to access ALL courses (including this one + 6 more!), workshops & a new training each month for just...
$35 per month!
(Cancel any time)
Get started now!
Today is the day that you can take a big step toward becoming a creative and 'natural' pianist!
This course will give you the skills to systematically interpret the essential elements of a song, just from a 1 or 2-page leadsheet and fill in the gaps to create your own unique arrangement.
By mastering the process of quickly interpreting a leadsheet, you’ll be poised to experiment with your own riffs & rhythms to make each song your own and impress with your display of ‘natural’ ability.
*Remember: ‘Natural’ means you worked hard at it!
Get started now!
Your Instructor
Kia ora! I'm a lifelong pianist and piano-music enthusiast from New Zealand! After my music degree, I cut my teeth as a developer and presenter of the highly successful Rocket Piano method (teaching 90,000 students worldwide), then spent 7 years as music editor for Europe's largest print music publisher.
While working in the industry I noticed a lack of accessible, easily-digestible piano resources online. So in 2016, after moving home for the sunny beaches of NZ, I began creating online courses with the primary goal of making the piano quick, simple & fun to learn: Piano Picnic was born!
Three years later and I've taught over a thousand students how to make progress on the piano without becoming bored with the whole thing! My specialty is coaching piano in a way that feels like a friend is at the piano with you, motivating you toward real progress!
"If you're at all curious about lead sheets or being able to create your own arrangements on the fly then I highly recommend taking the fun and fast route to success with Lovin' Leadsheets."
"Learning to play from lead sheets is one of the most liberating and empowering things you can do as a pianist - but it's something that's hard to figure out how to do by yourself, even if you already have a good level on the piano.
Ruth has a unique way of bringing this material to life in an easy, fun and accessible way. She understands the value and importance of putting musicality at the heart of your music-learning and that comes through clearly in the Lovin' Leadsheets course.
If you're at all curious about lead sheets or being able to create your own arrangements on the fly then I highly recommend taking the fun and fast route to success with Lovin' Leadsheets."
- Christopher Sutton, Director, Musical U
"Ruth's passion for piano and helping her students succeed is second to none. If you're looking for someone to take you from where you are now, to the pianist you want to be, Ruth's the one to guide you!"
- Charlie Wallace, Founder - Guitar Mastery Method
"I wish I had come across Ruth's course when I was first trying to learn how to use lead sheets!! (Alas, internet courses weren't a thing then!) Her process would have saved me a ton of time. I love the way she's organized the modules -- they're logical, easy to follow, and they get you playing awesome sounding music so quickly!"
- Sara Campbell, Founder - Sara's Music Studio
Course Curriculum
-
StartThe benefits of learning from a leadsheet (3:06)
-
StartWhere do leadsheets come from? (1:10)
-
StartWhat does a leadsheet look like? (1:28)
-
StartAre they different to chord-sheets? (1:42)
-
StartWhere should I source leadsheets from? (0:57)
-
StartHow to prepare for playing from a leadsheet. (0:35)
-
StartHow to practice playing from a leadsheet (1:25)
-
StartCheck yourself before you wreck yourself! (0:52)
-
StartThe importance of the melody. (3:12)
-
StartClef Hanger - looking at the clefs. (1:40)
-
StartJust look at the time! - Time signature. (1:04)
-
StartThe key signature. (3:14)
-
StartA crash course on reading notation. (3:43)
-
StartQUICK WIN! The shortcut to learning the melody. (3:40)
-
StartThe leadsheet police... (2:05)
-
StartHow to practice the melody. (3:03)
-
StartFocus on the fingers. (6:09)
-
StartRemembering Rhythm (1:26)
-
StartHave a go! (0:26)
-
StartAnswer Demo (Have a go & Song snack) (1:14)
-
StartWhen to move on to Step 2 (1:51)
-
StartRevision (2:06)
-
StartLet's get quizical!
-
StartCongratulations! (0:19)
Get started now!
Frequently Asked Questions