It’s not super strong on reading music though, so an interactive program that helps with that is a good idea. You don’t become a piano expert overnight. Happy to oblige with the email idea for fellow students: I’ve even got my Mum playing again thanks to you! Flowkey seems to include notably more advanced levels of playing in the song selection (was just listening to some of the “hardest” songs in both Flowkey and Playground for comparison purposes), but on the other hand Playground can be had for a lot cheaper, the lifetime subscription especially, since it’s included in their various discount sales. Customization – You choose the songs you want to learn, and the variety of ways to practice available in the interactive lessons means that you can find the practice method that works best for you. Picture the cool jazz piano player in the smoky bar – now it’s your turn. Tons of extra practice progressions in the style of popular piano songs and a rhythm chart for 80 Beatles songs plus some great Beatles Piano stylings. This is a great course for that. I play the guitar but I wanted to start writing on piano. I´ve been able to narrow it down to the Skoove and Playground Sessions based on your comments. For those who wish to move faster, there is the option of skipping to the later steps. I’m happy to hear that you found my reviews helpful. No emphasis on musical expression – The instant feedback mode makes sure that your notes and rhythms are accurate, but it does not measure how musical your playing is. Robin, I purchased your course a couple of years ago and I must agree with all the other comments that your course is absolutely fantastic. Good luck with it. Pianoforall is geared to complete beginners. No need to be online – No need to worry about slow video streaming, You can easily download or transfer to all your devices. for a terrific course. Having worked in a music store for over 7 years, Lucas has found passion in helping others choose the most suitable instrument for them. You can also print the sheet music up to three times. Now it’s YOUR turn to be the life and soul of the party! Thank you. Learn to improvise and create your own melodies – the fun way! In this section, you’ll also find video lessons introducing pedaling, transposition, and Sides’ specialty, recognizing which chords are in a song just by hearing it. Once you get the rhythms down, you really can sound like a pro! Few visual aids in the videos – Beginner students, especially visual learners, may find it difficult to understand the lessons just from listening to the teachers. Beethoven, Bach, Chopin, Mozart, Strauss, Brahms, Eric Satie, Verdi, Scott Joplin and more. However, I wish to complement it with a more interactive app too. Playground has the problem of no proper trial, although I was able to check some videos etc in the Windows client for some reason. This is the one I use because it makes learning fun! Let’s find out. I can’t say enough good about your program. And I would consider it a success on both counts, as long as the student’s goals align with those of the course. Please feel free to put my testimonial on your website. I really liked the fact that Playground Sessions allows you to buy the leaning package outright instead of going thorugh monthly payments because I know that I wouold be using it frequently. I have literally tried everything I found online to learn and I was considering giving the piano away to a friend when fortunately I found your lessons. However, I have taken an advance peak at the blues section (for “Hideaway”, you may remember?) And of course on the slower tempos the app’s piano sounds reaaally bad. You could watch the videos and use the lessons without interacting directly with the platform, but then you’re missing out on the main aspect of Playground Sessions. It will also give you a good foundation for continuing on to more advanced, in-depth courses. -Giselle. It’s coming back to me though. By using a mixture of chord knowledge and pianoforall Sight Reading Aids you will now be able to tackle some great classical pieces. No deadlines! An Overview of The Age of The Vinyl Record. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. And with it, too, only the yearly plan has a reasonable cost per month (and to my understanding you actually pay monthly unlike with the others, so not the entire year at once; for me monthly is a lot easier to do financially). However the big problem is that it requires MIDI, and my old keyboard doesn’t have USB connection. I live in Nashville TN and so naturally I write songs. The only problem I had was that I wanted to keep going through the book and playing. It’s really hard to recommend something because what works for one person may not work for another, so the best way is to try the app for yourself and see if you like it. The lessons are taught in steps, at first giving you a skeleton version of the whole song, with each step adding in notes until you are playing it as intended. I’d like to stick with one program if I can so I’m looking for one that reaches advanced levels. One I haven’t seen before and I’ve tried a lot of them. For fans of Guitar Hero, Playground Sessions will feel familiar. These lessons come with many features that make your practice sessions personalized and varied. I’m playing everything now and it’s so exciting!!! You have made me a happy slave to my keyboard and sound! Thanks for your quick responses, Stacey. I have yet to find another piano course that makes it this easy. Ugh! This is not bland “easy” piano – you will sound like you’ve been playing for years! ... Pianoforall is an excellent choice for learning the fundamentals of music and for just being able to sit down and play. This section of the course gives you lots of practice with basic rhythms, reading notes, changing hand positions, accidentals, and key signatures. Playground Sessions’ lessons are divided into three bootcamps: Rookie, Intermediate, and Advanced. It’s easy when you know how! “Why piano is not usually explained in the manner that Pianoforall teaches is completely beyond me!” Bob Bowan, Arkansas. Paul”, Derek, Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire, England, UK. The deals seems too good to be true, and usually that is the case. I love that, by the way. Playground Sessions comes with a large library of songs to choose from in addition to the lessons. Once I am better at it, I already have an acoustic upright to move up to. I absolutely love the techniques. Progress visualization – The “My Playground” section of the app keeps track of your progress, including time spent practicing, lessons completed, and points, stars, and badges earned. if you can read a little music but would like to improve, and also develop an ear for the classics, this lesson is designed to help build those skills. You will have to download the app onto your device of choice before you can access the lessons. I just wanted to Thank You for the incredible program that you have put together. Just wanted to say THANKS! You aren’t given space to slow down for effect or directed to play louder or softer, so you could end up playing like a robot. There are two things that make this course stand out. For example, the progress visualization helps hold you accountable for practicing, and the Song Library gives you a choice in what you want to learn. You can get an idea of their song teaching style by checking out some of their song lesson demos available on YouTube for free. Just one payment for lifetime access. I would think that would affect your rating system. I didn’t want to wake up everyone in the house. Does not work for acoustic pianos – This is a necessary limitation, but nonetheless, those with acoustic pianos will not be able to use the course as intended. Weak on theory and technique – You don’t start on theory beyond basic note naming and rhythm until ¾ of the way through the Rookie Tour, and even then, it is surface-level. It starts with a video lesson by Harry Connick Jr that introduces you to the notes on the piano, finger numbers, and proper posture and hand position. Beethoven, Bach, Chopin, Mozart, Strauss, Brahms, Eric Satie, Verdi, Scott Joplin and more. Between these two, which one would you recommend? Kind regards. Best wishes, Jane X”, (later update) These are supplemental lessons that are unlocked as you move through the curriculum. So far I’ve tried to some extent Yousician Piano, which I liked, and Flowkey. Thanks again! Of course, Playground has a limited number of songs without extra cost, while Flowkey includes the entire catalogue. Just the practice aids and the different scales and memory techniques in Book 9 are worth the price of the course, alone! You have a lovely teaching style and I will benefit as I am the lead vocalist in a function band but also a very frustrated pianist! The latter part of the Intermediate Tour introduces interesting rhythms like swing, syncopation, and triplets, which you get to practice with Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” and Vangelis’ “Chariots of Fire”, to name a few. It also has a good song library for beginner and intermediate students (you might want to supplement it once you reach the advanced level). Your course seems to be what I’ve been looking for for quite a while. Do you find YouTube videos embedded into posts helpful? Since they have a wider range and weighted keys, 88-key keyboards are much closer to the feel of an acoustic piano, which is important for technique. No original sheet music – As several users note in the forum, even the classical pieces are arrangements rather than exactly as the composer intended them. I’ve given up on that and I’m really learning so quickly now by applying what you teach. Between your two choices, I would go with Skoove. Thanks! Would it be a waste of my money? You won’t play with both hands at the same time until lesson 29. In this section, you’ll learn with Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing”, among others. I played the saxophone for 7 years in school, but I have never played the piano. You don’t have to search your computer for lots of files and have lots of windows open. Thank you very much in advance. Not only will everyone be able to find something they want to play, it’s easier to learn the notes and rhythms of a piece when you are already familiar with it. The courses give a more in-depth look into concepts like reading music, coordinating hands, and scales and triads as technique exercises. You need to be in it to have fun playing your favorite songs rather than to become an expert pianist. I might just sub for Yousician, but I’m a bit worried about the lack of actual song content, especially without the more expensive Premium+. Now you can play some great Blues and Rock ‘n’ Roll Piano. This makes it easy to choose songs that are precisely at the level you’re looking for. Playground Sessions is subscription-based, and you need to have an active membership in order to access the lessons and songs. I feel like I owe you more money. Which one would you say has better lessons and also better ways of teaching? With a name like Playground Sessions, it’s no surprise that it’s aimed at having fun while learning. They make the lessons entertaining with personal anecdotes and props, and it’s always enjoyable to watch them demonstrate their considerable skills. It’s worth noting that while this section deals heavily with triads, they are taught only in the context of songs and not as technique exercises, like they would be in traditional piano methods. !” David Morgan, London. Joy! The lessons are game-like, relying on a connection between your computer or iPad and a keyboard to provide you with instant feedback, scores, and progress visualization. Life time member and the only reason I still use it once in a while. The interactive programs are my preferred method of learning. Once you’re familiarized with the piano, you’ll begin a series of lessons that will get you practicing reading notes on the staff and finding them on the piano. The fully weighted keyboards you recommend elsewhere on your site sound amazing, but may be an overkill for me. Is there anything in particular you’d like to know about HDpiano? Unsuccessfully, I might add. donspiano@ hotmail.com. At this stage, you aren’t playing the song so much as playing practice exercises that fit into the song. The 21 lessons in the Advanced Tour cover 16th notes, dotted rhythms, voices in the musical texture, arpeggios, and dominant sevenths, with a quick lesson on improvisation. She has her grade 10 piano certificate from the Royal Conservatory of Music and a bachelor’s degree in English. I’ve perused thru all 10 books and from what I’ve seen so far, I must say, this is a great course and you have an unique approach. Thanks a lot! Although usually a video lesson introduces a topic that is expanded upon in subsequent interactive lessons, many people learn better with a demonstration, and there are concepts, like arpeggios, that don’t even have a video lesson. Or would you recommend a different one? I couldn’t believe it, and neither could my wife! Learn to change chords at speed using Inversions. However, as I mentioned above, that’s not to say that it teaches you everything a piano teacher would. Robin, I’ve been working with the course for about a week now, and it’s incredible. Amaze your friends with the sounds of Fat’s Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and a host of others. There are also a few lessons introducing playing by ear. I´ve already bought an 88 key digital piano, and based on your reviews, I think that Pianofall is a must for learning the fundamentals (right?). There’s also a great YouTube channel called NewJazz with some free Jazz lessons and a lot of useful information about jazz improvisation. Best wishes. Hopefully in the next six months I’ll have some piano style demos up on my website to go with the ones that are already there. and I now fully understand how to “adapt the formulas” as you put it. I’m amazed! Playground Sessions starts slowly, and the most advanced pieces are still quite elementary in the grand scheme of piano music. I’ve picked up more in the short time I’ve had your course (I’m up to Ballad Style) than with the all the other methods I’ve tried. I felt it lacked any feedback, and also at least the Android version wasn’t “smooth” – to prevent the song from stopping in “wait mode” you had to play the note waaaayyy too early, otherwise it’d halt. The lifetime membership allows you to get 40 free songs in total. The second thing is that you actually get to play in each lesson! (I take that back, I tried to play chop sticks when I was in my teens but couldn’t get it right). Giselle has been playing the piano for nearly her whole life. Also adding to the game feel are rewards, levels, and built-in capabilities for sharing your scores and competing with friends. You can choose from a monthly, annual, or lifetime membership, with the latter being the best value. Using a combination of video tutorials and interactive lessons, you’ll learn about major and minor chords, their inversions, and chord progressions. Backing tracks – Each song and lesson comes with a backing track of instruments like drum, strings, and guitar with which you can play along. 5) Udemy - Pianoforall - 'Classics by Ear' - Erik Satie by Robin Hall This series of lessons builds on the Pianoforall lessons by the same teacher, Robin Hall. Book 7 expands on some of the blues piano techniques you learned earlier. I learn pretty quickly and practice everyday. Shares useful info and actionable insights in the form of reviews, guides, tips and tricks that will help make your musical journey a success story. I’m sure I looked ridiculous because I had earbuds to listen to the iPad and larger headphones over it for the keyboard. It is said to be “designed and optimized for Playground learning app” and includes a one year’s subscription. Fortunately I also learned guitar and alto sax so I kept a bit of basic music theory and sight reading. What is your recomendation for me as far as which program to take to learn piano? Most people dread the idea of playing scales and exercises but they really do speed up the learning process and there’s no reason why they can’t be fun to play. Learn more piano chords using amazing memory tricks and play some great practice progressions in the style of popular songs. I worked through book one last night and was thrilled with the style, the ease of use and the chock full of information. If it’s your first time dealing with piano apps, you might want to hold off investing in a lifetime membership and get a 1-month subscription first to get a taste of the app, and then decide if you want to commit to a full membership. That one lesson intro and about 1 hour of practice has me sounding like I’ve been playing for a while and my whole family can’t believe I really learned all I have in less than 3 days! You are now ready to learn some advanced chords but Pianoforall helps you do it the easy way – not the technical way. To complete your CNN profile and ensure you are able to receive important account information, please verify your email address. HOwever if this package is more elementary, maybe I should move up to Skoove or PIano Marvel. To get started, you’ll need a digital piano or MIDI-compatible keyboard. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Pianoforall is an excellent choice for learning the fundamentals of music and for just being able to sit down and play. You will even learn how to read music AS you learn how to ‘play-by-ear’ and eventually you will be able to play some amazing Classical pieces. I really don’t like most of the purchased arrangements. It was very late by the time I went to bed. Great fun! You’re given points and rewards based on how well you do. I had no problem downloading for my PC and also adding the info to my iPad. Someday I’ll get around to sight reading and maybe playing some classical music but this is a great way to get up and running fast for song writing on the piano. Hi Robin, The “Bootcamp Lessons” and “Song Store” boards contain queries such as “Anyone else find Rookie New World Symphony tricky?” and “Can someone help me figure out how to play this note?”, with course representatives and users alike chiming in with advice and support. It’s really hard to keep up a good rhythm/timing. But if you are really looking for a great course, you have got to check out Pianoforall. I bought an adapter but of course with my luck it didn’t work right – stuck keys, no keys registered, etc. The variety of options can be overwhelming, I know, but hey it’s also a good thing, right? I’ve always thought most of the testimonials that I read online are more hype than fact but Piano for All is everything you said it is and more (and I am only on Book 1 about page 35) I will tell everyone I know, who’s ever thought about playing piano or keys that this is the real deal and I hope if you use this testimonial that all who read it will believe me. I am not so good with just picking up a book and learning on my own. You won’t see the Courses tab when you download the app; it will appear when you have unlocked your first course. First, let me give you a rundown of many of these apps. The course is based on the idea that those who love listening to music are already familiar with musical concepts – they just don’t know it. The Rookie section, which is for complete beginners, is the longest at 84 lessons. And you can get what you need in a hurry with 2-day shipping that’s free on 90% of orders. Although I’ve played guitar “by ear” since I was 12 ( I’m 61..you do the math) I’ve never played piano before in my life. Let’s take a look at some of the stronger and weaker points of Playground Sessions. Pianoforall is a video-based online piano teaching site that differs slightly from the rest, not just in that there’s a one-off payment of $79 for lifetime access to all of its content (plus free future updates), but that it aims to teach you to play by ear, improvise and … Loving it so far. Most people who know me personally will testify that I’m an honest man who tries to always tell the truth. A special piano chord chart and some speed learning exercises will help you master your chords in next to no time! Exercises in EVERY key. Pianoforall might be worth checking out. Kind regards. While I initially thought this would be annoying, they don’t take long and not having to download them all at once makes the initial software download quick as well. I am interested in some classical but want to learn Jazz and Blues as well as current material. Now you can… and you can do it in months not years without wasting money, time and effort on traditional Piano Lessons. Something I also pondered though is that if I manage to get Playground a lot cheaper – I’m hoping there might be an even bigger Black Friday sale – and then end up learning all it can offer, at that point spending again on something else wouldn’t be so bad, because it would mean I actually stuck with it long enough to get that far, which would be a win in itself. “Of the courses I’ve seen online on how to play piano I’m sure this is one of the best ones” Yamaha-Keyboard-Guide.com. I’m still only on Book 1 and I’ve learned so much already, I can’t imagine what you have in store for us in the other books. And the courses have “forced” wait mode lessons, so there’s that even if you don’t have to use it for the full songs. What Playground Sessions does well is mitigate some of the problems of learning to play the piano without a personal teacher. Gamification – Similar to video games like Guitar Hero, Playground Sessions measures how accurate your playing is and scores you accordingly. Sparse video lessons – There are far more lessons that don’t have video than ones that do. All future updates of Pianoforall are FREE – for LIFE, Want me to critique your progress? I didn’t really like it much. This is a place for users to share tips, stay up to date on Playground Sessions news, ask questions, and lodge complaints. My favourite interactive method is Piano Marvel, but it’s really classical-music heavy (which doesn’t sound like what you’re after) and probably a little more intense than you need if you already are using Pianoforall. ), it is not a replacement for traditional piano lessons unless your goal is to play popular songs for fun. I´ve gone through every single one of them. They should let members give feedback on the songs they purchase or let the purchaser hear the full song not just a snipit of it. Read more: Best Record Player for Under $200. With that said, if you’d still want to go deeper and learn the ins and outs of their platform, do let us know. I want to get back to basics playing piano correctly. Enjoying the piano like I’ve never – bless you for your insight into teaching – it works!! It is simple, straight forward yet very effective. Which one of these are good for a piano beginner with emphasis on jazz? Within an hour, I was making music. I’ve always thought it was too difficult and for some reason I was never able to get the hang of reading music so playing piano was just a dream I have had all my life but thought was out of my reach. Popular music – The songs are well-known and current, spanning many genres. I’m a late starter, and don’t have as much time as I’d like to give theory and background their due diligence. Genres include Pop, Classical, Rock, Christian/Gospel, Country, and Latin. I used a Piano teacher for several months while I was first starting out and I tried Yousician as well as, Simply Piano, piano maestro, Flowkey, Playground Sessions, and Piano Marvel. I’m an adult and played when I was a kid and am starting up again. Keep up the good work. Nice! Please accept my highest respect for possibly the best tutorial of all time – I am 74 and have seen a few. I love helping students to learn faster. However, unlike traditional piano lessons, foundational concepts are only taught once, so kids may need supplemental material and/or a parent helping them understand. Within days you’ll be the life and soul of the party! Amazingly easy techniques which you can apply to any tune – Standards, Traditional Jazz piano, Modern Jazz improvisation, flashy “runs”, cool riffs, chords, patterns, blues scales, you name it – it’s all here – Jazz Piano made easy! Hya Robin, I´m a complete rookie, I´ve never learned how to read a single note nor have I ever played piano, but I wish to start, and I wish to do this on my own. Easy piano lesson for beginners, tabs included. It is an online piano program that has been used over and over (with over a quarter million students) by students since 2006 and it still is rated as one of the best courses you can take online. We have a band rehearsal on Tuesday so I’m hoping to surprise my fellow musos! Anyway, I’ll keep you updated with my progress. It really is quite fun to play along with the tracks! By using a mixture of chord knowledge and pianoforall Sight Reading Aids you will now be able to tackle some great classical pieces. Hi Christian! To top it off you will be taught ‘fake stride’ and a terrific version of The Entertainer! My goal is to be able to read music sheets (not hardcore of course) and have a good general knowledge to be able to play casual songs in my home. Most keyboards will require you to download a driver from the keyboard manufacturer’s website for it to be recognized by the Playground Sessions app. You then expand step-by-step into Ballad style, Blues, Jazz, Ragtime, Improvisation and creating your own melodies. Thank you for the review! This makes even simple lines of music sound great and gives you the satisfaction of playing in a band. You can listen to the piano demo of either or both hands, play with or without accompaniment, turn on the metronome, add finger numbers or note names to the sheet music, and even record yourself playing. A course representative in the forums claims that this is because the original versions go beyond the level of difficulty that Playground Sessions reaches. By the end of the book you will be playing some terrific songs. You can usually find her at home in Calgary or on a travel adventure with her mandolin. However, since there are more interactive lessons than video tutorials, the teachers don’t demonstrate everything that you are supposed to learn, which may be difficult for some students. Technique like scales and triad exercises are taught as supplemental courses rather than important aspects of practice, and musical symbols, terms, and dynamics are left out altogether. This makes it easy to set goals and stay on top of them. But, this is not to say that there is no way for you to master this unique art form. The intro to songs are so hard and usually recognizable you can’t score well or get to the melody. I am a complete beginner for piano, but have been playing melodies by ear for many ears, and know decently well about music theory, even jazz theory (in theory!) Cheers. With Pianoforall you learn to read piano sheet music as you learn to play by ear. Hi Gisselle, I am a beginner piano learner and I like to take a program as close as having a private lesson. It should be stressed that since Playground Sessions does not emphasize skills like theory and technique, and because of the usual drawbacks of online piano methods (less personalized, no feedback on musicality, etc. With Pianoforall you learn to read piano sheet music as you learn to play by ear. Playground Sessions’ method of easing students into the full song is good for beginners who need to focus on learning rhythms and notes before making it more complex. You can also customize the sheet music to be at an optimal reading size for you. I would really really appreciate your feedback. Unlike other online piano courses such as Pianoforall, these videos use visual aids, like a music staff or highlighted keys, very sparingly. From the Beatles to Beethoven, it’s all there. Instantly recognisable rhythms that can be used for hundreds of classic songs. While in Instant Feedback Mode, notes will turn red or green based on whether or not you play them accurately. This course is exactly what I have been looking for with all the shortcuts that have been such a mystery to me for years. Pianoforall is one of the most popular online piano courses online and has helped over 300,000 students around the world achieve their dream of playing beautiful piano for over a decade. Riptide Piano Chords – Step by Step Tutorial on how to play the riptide song on the piano. but don’t know how to use correct fingerings for piano etc. It seems that HDpiano only offers video tutorials for learning popular songs, so there isn’t much to be reviewed there. Again, thanks so much for the most logically arranged, easiest to follow, and best ‘bang for the buck’ piano course I’ve seen, and used. It’s so nice not to have three files going at the same time! We’ll consider reviewing the HDpiano in the nearest future. However, its style of teaching is so different from most traditional piano programs that even those who have some basic classical piano knowledge may find it useful for learning how to play by ear and improvise .