Interlochen Online's last session for the summer begins July 14.
Piano & Keyboard Basics 3
If you have previous keyboard experience but have always wanted to continue developing as a holistic performer, then this hands-on online piano course is for you.
Over four weeks, you will push the boundaries of your keyboard skills while gaining professional musicianship knowledge. Through a progression of exercises, you’ll explore, play, and master an arrangement of a Mozart sonata, perform a piece with theme and variations, and even improvise melodies.
At the beginning of the course, you’ll dive into popular chords and learn how to interpret lead sheets, while developing your ability to play more complicated rhythmic subdivisions. The course then explores how to integrate music theory more deeply into your playing and how to modulate to transpose a piece of music. You’ll learn to play chord inversions, seventh chords, major ninth chords, and sus chords, in addition to working on major and minor scales. You'll also learn the mechanics and functions of the three piano pedals (damper, sostenuto, una corda). The course culminates with a focus on improvisation, in which you’ll learn to improvise melodies based on the blues scale with guided harmonies and rhythms.
Come to this course with the skills of a basic musician and leave with a more complete understanding of the instrument and how to demonstrate its versatility in various settings.
What you will learn:
✔ Interpret and play from lead sheets in multiple keys
✔ Demonstrate proficiency in reading and executing rhythmic subdivisions
✔ Devise harmonies to accompany given melodies
✔ Differentiate between, and use, the three piano pedals (damper, sostenuto, una corda)
✔ Use modulation to transpose musical pieces
✔ Create improvised melodies based on the blues scale with guided harmonies and rhythms
Prerequisite Skills
- Completion of Piano & Keyboard Basics 1 and Piano & Keyboard Basics 2, or equivalent knowledge and/or experience.
Tuition
$299
Ages
Teens: Grades 6-12
Adult Learners: 18+
 | Receive expert guidance Learn from world-class faculty who provide personalized feedback |
 | Learn at your own pace Explore engaging video content and meaningful instruction |
 | Meet your instructor and classmates Join an optional weekly class to connect with other artists in real-time |
 | Practice and create Strengthen your craft over four weeks as you develop creative projects |
 | Find collaborators Collaborate on your projects—or just for fun—in direct messages and group chats |
- Computer or mobile device with Internet and camera. Internet speed must be at least 1.5Mbps download and 800Kbps upload. For students using a mobile device, download the Canvas mobile app and select “Interlochen Online” as your school.
- Electric or acoustic keyboard/piano, minimum of 61-keys
- Sustain/damper pedal (an example can be found here)
- The Complete Book of Scales, Chords, Arpeggios & Cadences by Willard A. Palmer, Morton Manus, and Amanda Vick Lethco
No, course sections are designed for their respective age groups, either for adults (students 18 and older) or young people (students under 18).
Yes, there are eight sessions of courses per year. View the academic calendar for more session dates.
This is one of three courses needed to complete the Piano & Keyboard Basics certificate program.
Our online arts certificate programs are perfect for...
✔ Adults looking to boost their creative résumé and LinkedIn profile
✔ Teens who want to earn high school credit for their passion
Upon completion of the program, you will receive a physical certificate and a shareable digital certificate. Certificates for students under 18 are accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS); high school-age students will also receive an official transcript to share with their current school for consideration for high school credit.
What are students saying?
Students who enrolled in piano & keyboard courses rated their experience 4.9 out of 5.
Interlochen Online's Learning Experience
World-class. Inspiring. Flexible.
Questions? Speak with an Advisor.
Email: online@interlochen.org
Phone: 231.276.5990
You can also schedule an appointment.
Play Your Next Song with Confidence
Get access to Six Steps to Learning a New Song on Piano & Keyboard, an exclusive guide developed by Interlochen Online faculty.
