🎹 I Don’t Have Time to Learn Piano… Or Do I?

How many times have you said, “I’d love to learn piano, but I just don’t have time for this sh*”?*
Trust me — I get it. Between work, family, school, and everything else life throws our way, sitting down for years of traditional lessons feels impossible.

But here’s the good news: you don’t need endless hours of practice to start sounding musical. Thanks to my friend Holly J. McCann and her brilliant books Fake Book Fundamentals, you can start playing real songs, fast.

📚 About the Books

Holly has published two versions of Fake Book Fundamentals:

Fake Book Fundamentals: Exercises and Song Examples: A Complete How-To For All Ages – A comprehensive guide with over 120 pages of exercises, examples, and songs.
Fake Book Fundamentals: Beginner Course – A shorter, 58-page edition that gets straight to the essentials for new learners.

Both books are designed to save you time and get you playing music you actually recognize, without years of drills and memorization.

⏱️ Why They Save Time

Here’s why these books are perfect for busy learners (like most of us!):

Keep It Simple – Everything starts in C major, so you don’t waste energy stressing over sharps and flats.
Step-by-Step Progression – Begin with simple triads, then build up with inversions, rhythm patterns, and bass lines.
Familiar Songs – From “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” to Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” you’re learning with melodies you actually know.
Practical Chord Reading – Instead of sight-reading every note, you learn how to use chord symbols, the same way pros play from a fake book.

In other words: less time reading, more time playing.

🎹 How I Use This in Group Piano Classes

I love using Holly’s method in my group piano classes. Here’s why:

Everyone plays together. Beginners can stick with block chords, while advanced students add rhythm, inversions, or bass lines. Same song, different levels.
Confidence builds quickly. Because the tunes are familiar, students sound good right away.
More music, less lecture. Instead of me talking for half the class, students spend most of their time actually playing.

The result? A room full of students making music together, and nobody feels like they’re falling behind.

✨ My Takeaway

What I love most about Holly’s books is that they empower creativity. You’re not just copying sheet music; you’re arranging, experimenting, and making each piece your own.

And that’s the heart of I Don’t Have Time for This Sh*!* finding smart shortcuts that actually work. Fake Book Fundamentals is exactly that: a shortcut to real music-making without wasting your time.

📖 Want to Try It?

If you’ve ever dreamed of playing piano but thought you didn’t have time, this is your sign. Check out Holly J. McCann’s books:

And if you want to hear me dive deeper into how these books can transform your learning, listen to the full podcast episode here (link to your show page).

Because here’s the truth: you do have time for piano, you just need the right tools. 🎶