Would you like to be able to play whatever you hear, whatever you can imagine?
You can!
With your commitment and the help of a good teacher, you can progress much faster than you might guess.
But it will take some work. Some focus. Some fundamentals.
A great painter must master technique before becoming a master of experimentation and innovation. So it is with music. Understanding the foundation of music frees us as artists to express ourselves creatively.
Here at Picasso Piano Academy™, we specialize in helping musicians take their skills beyond the printed page to become fluent in the language of music. Fluency allows us to understand and play what we hear, whether it’s music we hear all around us, or our own musical ideas that we hear in our heads.
Behind the Magic
Music may seem magical when you watch a stunning performance. But let me assure you, behind those performances are thousands of hours of work. Even Mozart had to learn scales. The key is to make the most of your practice, to use your time efficiently and effectively, so you can learn a skill and move on to the next challenge. That’s where good teachers come in.
A good teacher helps you to PROGRESS, to move past those stumbling blocks and put them behind you. A good teacher helps you make the most of your time and effort, so you can keep moving forward.
Hi music friends! I’m Jeff Lantz, and Picasso Piano Academy™ is my online music education site.
I’ve been a professional performing artist for over half a century. And I’ve been a composer, teacher, producer, and recording artist for nearly as long.
At the age of eight, piano called me. I answered. By middle school, I was playing with high school kids in local bands. In college, I studied classical music, and later branched out to become a rocker. I’ve been committed to piano and to music my entire life.
I perform frequently with a lot of different musicians and bands, playing jazz, blues, rock, pop, bluegrass, country, and classical. I have a new album coming out soon. And I love teaching.
I used to think that teaching would be a fallback position, if I didn’t “make it” as an artist. Then I had an opportunity to teach, and while I knew I had a lifetime of knowledge to share, I was intimidated at first. But I quickly discovered that helping others pursue their musical calling was tremendously joyful and satisfying, more so even than applause.
I hope to encourage you to pursue your music calling, whether it’s gathering around the piano with friends and family or pursuing a professional career.
Let’s Do It!
So if you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and do some work toward achieving your musical dreams, maybe I can help.
Jeff Lantz
Hi Jeff
I hope you are well and safe during these crazy times.
I can’t believe I “stumbled upon” your YouTube piano lessons which led me to your website. It is always such a pleasure to hear you play ~ and you LOOK FANTASTIC! I remember how healthy you strived to be back when I met you in Sarasota ~ and then you moved to CO. I had no idea you now live in CA. Life is treating you well. I still think of you when I eat Almond Butter (you turned me onto it). Weird, right?
Anyway ~ on my bucket list has been to play the piano well enough to discuss music intelligently with other musicians and to accompany myself someday. It’s embarrassing that I am still learning the same stuff I have been learning. Not moving the meter forward very much ~ and your videos and technique and CALM AURA captured my attention. I’m sure I “stumbled” upon you for a reason.
To quote you –
“The key is to make the most of your practice, to use your time efficiently and effectively, so you can learn a skill and move on to the next challenge. That’s where good teachers come in. A good teacher helps you to PROGRESS, to move past those stumbling blocks and put them behind you. A good teacher helps you make the most of your time and effort, so you can keep moving forward.”
I’m not getting any younger… so time is an essential key (no pun Intended).
Out of work since March with due to the Covid pandemic ~ gigs are zip as you may know ~ and money is tight.
I have no idea what you charge or how this could be possible, but I did want to ping you to plant the seed.
‘Hope I haven’t been too chatty. Sure miss you.
Best regards ~
Melanie Massell
Hi Melanie — Great hearing from you! I think it is a wonderful idea to learn piano (and what better thing to do with your extra time???). I think you’d take right to it. You’re an accomplished vocalist, you have rhythm… you have musical sense. If you were able to accompany yourself, it would give you more options professionally. And, like you say, it would help you communicate more efficiently with your players. I can get you moving in that direction so that before you know it, you’ll have the option of doing solo gigs when you choose. Got your email too, and I’ve replied. Cheers, Jeff.