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.

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Transcript

🎙️ Podcast Episode 5

Title: I Don’t Have Time to Learn Piano (But Here’s How You Actually Can)

[Opening Jingle / Music Bed Fades In]

Host (you):
Welcome back to I Don’t Have Time for This Sh*!* — the podcast for busy people who want real solutions without all the extra fluff. I’m [Your Name], and today we’re tackling something that almost everyone says at some point: “I’d love to learn piano… but I don’t have time for that sh*.”*

Well, spoiler alert — you actually can learn piano, faster than you think. And today I’m reviewing two books by my good friend Holly J. McCann that are all about making music accessible and saving you time. They’re called Fake Book Fundamentals, and trust me, they’re a total game-changer for time-starved learners.

Segment 1: The Problem (1:00 – 2:00)

Let’s be real — traditional piano lessons can feel like a marathon. You start with scales, drills, sight-reading pages of notes, and before you know it, months have gone by and you still can’t play a song you love. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

But Holly takes a different approach. Instead of drowning in sheet music, her books show you how to read chord symbols and combine them with a melody. That means you’re playing actual music — recognizable songs — way faster.

Segment 2: About the Books (2:00 – 4:00)

So, Holly has two versions of Fake Book Fundamentals.

• The first is Fake Book Fundamentals: Exercises and Song Examples: A Complete How-To For All Ages. This one’s about 120 pages, with tons of examples and exercises.
• Then she released a shorter, more streamlined version: Fake Book Fundamentals: Beginner Course. It’s just under 60 pages and perfect for anyone who wants the essentials in a compact format.

Both versions are all about efficiency. You don’t need years of classical training — you just need a clear roadmap, and Holly gives you that.

Segment 3: Why They Save Time (4:00 – 7:00)

Here’s why I love these books:

1. Straightforward Language – Holly explains concepts simply, so you spend less time decoding theory and more time making music.
2. One Key to Rule Them All – Everything starts in C major. No crazy sharps and flats to trip you up. Once you get comfortable, you can branch out — but at first, it’s simple and fast.
3. Familiar Songs – You’re not learning boring exercises. You’re playing “Jingle Bells,” “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” even Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” Songs you actually recognize and want to play.
4. Build as You Go – It starts with triads in your left hand, then adds inversions, right-hand melodies, bass notes — step by step. Each layer feels like progress instead of busywork.

Basically, Holly respects your time. She knows you want results, not just theory.

💡 Segment 4: How I Use This in Group Piano Classes (7:00 – 9:00)

Now here’s where it gets really exciting: I actually use Fake Book Fundamentals in my group piano classes.

Group lessons can be tricky because students are at different levels, and you don’t have time to give everyone endless one-on-one attention. What I love about Holly’s approach is that it scales perfectly.

• Everyone works on the same song, but at their own level. Beginners might just play block chords in the left hand. More advanced students can add inversions, rhythm patterns, or even bass lines.
• Because the books use familiar tunes, the whole class recognizes the melody, so it builds confidence fast.
• And instead of me lecturing nonstop, students are actually playing together — creating music as a group, which makes it way more fun and collaborative.

In short, Holly’s method saves me time as a teacher and saves students time in reaching that “I can play something real!” moment.

Segment 5: Who It’s For (9:00 – 10:30)

If you’re an adult learner with a packed schedule… this book is for you.
 If you’re a teenager who wants to sound good without endless lessons… this book is for you.
 If you’re a teacher running private or group classes… this book is for you too.

Holly’s been teaching for over 30 years, and you can feel that experience on every page. She knows where students get stuck and how to get them moving forward again.

Segment 6: Quick Practice Tip (10:30 – 12:00)

Okay, let me give you a five-minute challenge straight out of Holly’s approach.

1. Pick a super-simple melody — like “Jingle Bells.”
2. Find the chords — usually written above the melody line.
3. Play just the chord in your left hand, melody in your right.
4. Do that for five minutes.

That’s it. Five minutes. You’ll be shocked at how quickly you sound like you’re actually playing piano.

See? No excuses. You do have time.

Segment 7: My Takeaway (12:00 – 13:30)

Here’s what I love most: these books empower you to create. You’re not just copying notes off a page; you’re arranging, experimenting, and making the music your own.

And that ties perfectly to this show — we don’t have time for methods that waste our energy. We want shortcuts that actually work. Holly’s Fake Book Fundamentals is exactly that — a shortcut to real music-making.

Outro (13:30 – 14:30)

So, if you’ve ever said, “I’d love to play piano, but I don’t have time for this sh*”* … consider this your sign. Check out Holly J. McCann’s books on Amazon: Fake Book Fundamentals: A Complete How-To and the Beginner Course. Links are in the show notes.

Grab a copy, give it five minutes a day, or use it in a group setting like I do, and start making music without the guilt, without the grind, and definitely without wasting time.

Thanks for listening to I Don’t Have Time for This Sh*!* If you try the book, let me know what song you learned first — I’d love to share your progress on a future episode.

Until next time, remember: you do have time… you just need the right tools.