Wow, what a daunting task...
I've always had an extreme love of music, there's no doubt about that. Back in school, I played the French Horn for about 5 years, trumpet a year or so prior to that.
I've always had a love for the Piano, if there's anything I want to accomplish, it's learning to play the Piano and play well.
So, I'm obsessive - I know this much. I spend too much time playing video games and the like, but I need to do 'interactive' things, even if it's just reading, I can't stand to just sit and stare at the TV.... So piano playing's a perfect distraction for me, it's something I can sit and do for a while and not feel guilty!
So my dad tells me he's getting his parent's old Organ and wanted to know if I wanted his Piano! Heck yes I do!!
So now all I gotta do is learn to play it

- I knew enough at one point (ok, don't laugh) to at least carry the tune of a few songs, like greensleeves and the easy parts of Fur Elise. It was never good enough for me, but I never really had the chance to practice daily.
Now I do - and fully plan on doing so. I never found, personally, practicing an instrument to be as much about work as it was about enjoyment. Even those 'stessful' times when I just couldn't get a bar or 10 just right...
So I found this book on the web, I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with it, so I'll link it here:
https://members.aol.com/chang8828/contents.htmI was a bit dubious of it at first, but after finding out it's basically free - I thought I'd read some of it, obviously his intention isn't to just make cash like 90% of the rest of the web... hehe
Any comments on it, if you've read it? It details practice technique and such. I find it to be pretty enlightening. My job as a server analyst requires me to learn new things constantly, I don't have the time to sit around and read 'job blows' textbook on how to maintain a server, if I did, I'd get nothing done. So I guess the logic in the book clicks in my own mind. I'm far more of a 'logical' person than 'abstract'.
So to sum it up; I learn best by just doing, I'm not much for study habits or any other 'set' technique in learning. I'll adjust my technique at anything at all, situationally. Sometimes, it's best to read a textbook other times I can just delve in and get it done. But on the same note, I'm not opposed to repeating something or using a set technique if it's effective.
And my question, primarily is: What's the best course for a 'newbie' to get started with learning the piano? I'm quite rusty on reading music, but a couple of cheat sheets will deal with that. I understand how to read music, I just (ok, don't laugh again!!) forget which note is what... lol.
Unfourtunately, for the next year or so; my budget's going to be a bit tight to pay for a teacher; although I'm fully intent on paying for a lesson or two. I'd rather get two lessons from an excellent teacher than 20 from a 'so/so' teacher...
I feel like I'm relearning all of this, but little by little it's all starting to click again.
I'm not sure it would be real productive of me to just play scales, although I'm intent upon playing them to re-learn the keyboard and notes. I knew it well years ago, but if you don't use something everyday, it sure gets 'cloudy', hehe.
Thanks for any feedback
