The act of ivory tickling can cheer up a crowd, win over a love interest, or make a peaceful pachyderm feel significantly more like stampeding. Get your phalanges flowing with today's Groupon: for $45, you get a piano-lesson package from Simple Gifts Studio in Coralville (a $90 value). The package includes:

• Six weeks of introductory group piano lessons (a $75 value)
• Materials (a $15 value)

With a degree in music therapy and 12 years of combined classical piano and organ training, piano teacher Marilyn Van Roekel lends her chops to aspiring ivory ticklers ages 7 years and up. Van Roekel's teaching approach is based on the Australian-developed Simply Music program, which focuses on developing a personal connection with the keyboard before moving on to more difficult tasks, such as reading music and isolating the Mozart boson. Over the course of six 50-minute weekly lessons, students start learning chords and developing a library of 40–50 compositions, including classical music, blues and jazz, and pop styles. Classes are held in small groups of four to seven students and are offered on Mondays at 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m., Tuesdays at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., and Wednesdays at 10 a.m.

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