Jim, I took your course, Instant Piano For Hopelessly Busy People in February. I had taken lessons as a child and as an adult, but never knew how people were able to just start playing songs for a party. I did notice that when I looked over their shoulders, what they were playing wasn't what was written. After your class I went home and was immediately able to play songs from sheet music I purchased and had subsequently put on the shelf because I couldn't devote the months it would have taken me to learn the songs the ways they were written. I look forward to your next visit to Jacksonville so I can take the next class. ... Thank you for the great learning experience. I really doubted I could learn in an afternoon what had eluded me for 37 years. I was wrong. I look forward to hearing from you. Dan Leonard Jacksonville, FL.
In just 3.5 hours you have removed the mystery of chord construction and playing. -- Howard Spencer (age 77), Ponte Vedra, FL, Nov 98
I took Mr. Templeton's workshop Oct. 10, 1997 in Kalispell, Mt. I then began to play piano per instructions I received at the workshop, and by the middle of November the following month began to play pretty well, astounding my family and friends. This has been done with about 1/2 to 1 hour a day playing.
I have had much fun with the course, and I would highly recommend this workshop to anyone who has ever wanted to play piano! P.S. I have never played piano before this workshop. This is an excellent course. -- Jeff Allen (age 44), Martin City, MT, Oct 97
Hi, Jim!:
I was surprised yet pleased to get you letter about your upcoming workshops at SFCC in Gainesville. I was planning to come out and buy some more materials from you on Feb. 14.
I took the class last February and bought the extra Blues Boogie course as well as the Tricks and Licks tape. I was skeptical, and it took a while for me to grow into some of the material, but I have HAD SO MUCH FUN WITH THAT STUFF!!!!!!
I fell like it has really improved my piano abilities and even my regular teacher has been impressed with my progress. Part of that is just because I'm smart and wonderful (tee, hee), but your materials have really taught me a lot. I want to be able to play, play.....as well as to read music, and that's exactly what your course material teaches.
I've been through the Blues stuff you sold and I've pretty much got it down--about 2/3 of it, I guess. and I can do "Frankie and Johnnie" and "Battle Hymn" all 3 ways (somedays-ha) from the Tricks and Licks tape.
I'm interested, I think, in buying the whole course, and looking at anything new you might have. I didn't buy the whole thing before because I didn't know if I'd really like this approach or be able to do it. But it is great and I did, so I'm ready to try more. I can't really afford to take a class AND buy more stuff right now so I hope you'll bear with me when I come out to shop.
This has gotten too long so I'll close for now. Please let me know what's up with the classes and what time would be best for you for me to come shop. (I don't want to wait until the very end for fear what I want will be sold out.)
Let me hear from you.
--Judith Rowlands, Gainesville FL, Jan 1998
I FINALLY got started with my blues/boogie teacher.....I've only had three lessons, but he teaches much the same as your method--very little written music and lots of going just on guts and glory. He plays in bands around the downtown scene as well as being the jazz director for the local PBS-FM radio station. I waited over a year to get in with him and I'm so thrilled to be finally getting somewhere with the style of music I love best.
I feel that I was well-prepared to start with his style of teaching because of the materials I got from you. He even makes practice tapes for me to follow at home. Your materials certainly helped me bridge between "regular" lessons and what I'm doing now.
--Judith Rowlands, Gainesville FL, Oct 1998
My lessons are going well. I've been with my blues teacher now since September. He's a professional musician and is connected with UF. He's a lot of fun to take lessons with, and I think I'm learning lots with him. He teaches very much along the "chord piano" approach . Everything I learned through your programs has been directly applicable to what I'm learning now, and sometimes he's amazed that I can already do some of the things I learned through your programs.
I take my tape recorder and we tape parts of my lessons so I can refer to them at home. I had gotten used to working from the tape recorder with your materials and using it for my lessons really helps me once I get home.
--Judith Rowlands, Gainesville FL, Jan 1999
Click Here to return to Jim's Schedule Page