It is no wonder that millions of people worldwide are learning the piano thanks to its rich sound and harmonic possibilities. Thanks to technological developments in digital keyboards, software, apps, and teaching methods, students have many options for learning to play the instrument. In this selection of the best online piano courses, I’ve focused on showcasing the top-rated platforms for learning piano, and I’ve considered my own experiences testing them in addition to user reviews.
Since different people have different expectations and preferences when it comes to learning piano, I tried to take their strengths and focus into account when selecting them. I hope that this article will help you navigate through the tangle of different piano courses and guide you to choose one that suits your abilities and goals.
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Before diving into the world of online piano lessons, it’s a good idea to answer questions about your motivation: what do I want to achieve by playing the piano? Do I want to be able to play my favorite pieces at home or for friends and family? Or do I want to play in a band as a keyboardist? Do I aspire to improve in a particular genre? Do I want to learn to play from sheet music classical repertoire or would I rather be able to play pop songs by chord?
If you take a moment to think about these questions and define your motivation for why you want to learn to play piano right from the start, it can help you with the right choice of piano online course and with mentally setting your expectations.
When choosing the right piano learning method, it is useful to consider the following factors:
What skill level do you have? Are you just starting, or do you already have several years of experience, or are you an experienced pianist looking to expand your horizons? Most of the online courses mentioned in this text are aimed at beginning pianists, perpetual beginners, or intermediate pianists.
Several methods should be also considered when choosing the right online piano lessons:
Video-based courses that teach you step-by-step how to play from simple to more complex pieces are the most common methods of instruction. Many of them will allow you to acquire the necessary playing technique as well as the necessary theory, and tone shaping and teach you how to play pieces of different genres.
A big advantage of modern apps (web, mobile devices) is interactivity and a more fun way to learn, especially for beginners and younger students. By connecting your digital keyboard, you can visually check if you are playing the correct notes and rhythm and also hone your note-reading skills.
Personal lessons with a specific teacher are an ideal learning method for those who prefer personal contact with an instructor and real-time interaction. These are online lessons that function similarly to video lessons, and their main advantage is that the teacher can monitor and guide your playing and playing technique.
Some online piano lessons may be designed for children, while others have a method of teaching set more towards adults. The aforementioned piano apps, for example, are more likely to be appreciated by children and teenagers, while video classes with experienced instructors may be a better option for adult students.
Do you want to learn to play popular songs by ear or by chords? Or do you prefer classical repertoire and playing from sheet music, or do you want to learn to play jazz standards? The answers to these questions can guide you in choosing an appropriate course.
On the internet, you can find quite a lot of free material for learning to play the piano. However, most of them lack a clear structure from easier exercises to more difficult ones, and students often get lost in these free lessons because they don’t know what they are supposed to learn first.
Price is of course an important factor that influences decision making. The education platforms mentioned in our text offer a subscription model, whereby you get your account and access to lessons, while others can be purchased for a one-off fee. The good news is that most online piano courses also include free lessons or a free trial, which we recommend using before purchasing.
Playground Session is rightfully one of the most popular piano learning apps. In addition to a rich selection of songs from different genres (pop, rock, R&B, Latin, jazz, classical, film/musical), it offers interactive features, progress tracking, a way to reward users, clearly structured piano technique lessons, and music notation reading.
Since the web application recognizes whether you are playing correctly or not, it is ideal to use an electric piano that you link to your computer. Another plus is that famous names in popular music such as Quincy Jones and Harry Connick Jr. are behind Playground Session.
The main reason that sets Playground Session apart from other apps is the high quality of the arrangements. Even the songs for beginners are professionally arranged and sound better than the same songs in other apps. Playground Session also offers a modern design and a forum with the ability to communicate with other users. The learning process is fun and flexible thanks to the interactive features.
The lessons are divided into technique exercises and music theory; you can choose and practice the songs according to your taste. This makes the Playground Session a great choice for beginners and intermediates learning to play the digital piano and prefer to play popular music.
For more information, read the full Playground Session review.
The main reason why many piano students stop practicing and playing is a gradual decline in motivation. The approach of the piano teacher, who can enthuse and motivate the student for further progress, is crucial for maintaining it. Such a teacher is undoubtedly Lisa Witt, who is behind the Pianote project. Her positive attitude and professionalism make Pianote piano lessons a great option for beginning and intermediate pianists.
They can also enjoy lessons focusing on a variety of musical styles with top contemporary pianists such as Jesus Molina, Erskine Hawkins, and Kevin Kastro. Lisa’s interviews and videos with piano stars and a broad community of students are also an added value to Pianote.
Read the Pianote review
If you’re looking for a comprehensive jazz piano learning platform focused on popular, classical, or jazz music, ArtistWorks is certainly a platform you should consider due to its high-quality beginner to advanced classes. It offers a total of 4 courses from top pianists:
Each instructor is an accomplished pianist with a wealth of experience performing and playing with world-renowned artists. Although each course includes lessons for beginners, in my opinion, the video lessons are geared more toward intermediate players. The individual lessons are of high video quality as well as content and are logically structured from easier to more challenging exercises, exercises aimed at developing piano technique, while also including a variety of songs and pieces. In addition, ArtistWorks also offers personal feedback from the instructor and the support of a community of piano students. You can slow down the video lessons to better see the notes being played.
When you want to learn to play the piano, ArtistWorks is definitely a platform worth checking out. Ideally, you should start with free piano lessons from a specific instructor which will help you determine if a piano course and a pianist’s learning style are right for you.
Read the ArtistWorks piano courses review
The biggest benefits of Piano learning apps lie in their interactive features and often wide repertoire of songs from different genres. These benefits are also offered by Piano Marvel – an online piano course designed for beginner and intermediate pianists.
When you connect your digital piano to your computer with a USB cable and go through the simple setup of the app, you can start learning the piano right away in a modern and interesting way. Piano Marvel excels at tracking your progress to keep you motivated, and most importantly, a great way of learning to play from sheet music that you won’t find in any other app.
The content of this piano learning software is divided into four parts:
The advanced interactive features make Piano Marvel one of the top piano apps, and I recommend it for those who want to get the basics of playing classical repertoire in addition to playing pop songs.
For more information check out the Full Piano Marvel review
I have to admit that at first, I was skeptical about Pianoforall due to the hype surrounding this online piano course and the look of the website. However, thanks to the low price, I bought this course and I must say that I was surprised by the level and scope of the course content and the individual lessons. These are based on videos and additional texts explaining the details of piano playing.
Pianoforall does not go in-depth within music theory but focuses on playing from chords, which makes this piano course an ideal candidate for anyone who wants to learn to play their favorite songs on the piano.
The content of Pianoforall is well structured and contains 9 parts with over 200 lessons and 500 audio files and backing tracks. Blues, rock and roll, ballads, and simple classical pieces can be learned to play in a relatively short time. The way the lessons are conducted is, in my opinion, more suitable for adult pianists. Teenagers and children may also be put off by the somewhat outdated design.
Pianoforall offers quality piano lessons for beginners who want to know how to play the piano by chord markings and those looking for an affordable course without monthly fees.
For more informatio, read the full Pianoforall review
If you want to play songs you like in a modern and funny way, I recommend trying the 7-day free trial. This app works well for Android, and iOS devices, and a web application. It contains hundreds of lessons for every skill level focusing on playing technique and music theory as well as a variety of popular songs to learn.
Flowkey offers different categories of courses:
The app lets you play along with a notation that flows in time, with the keys being played highlighted in color. The advantage is that you can learn at your own pace both electric and acoustic pianos (interactive playing works as long as you give the app access to the microphone). Although Flowkey will not replace private lessons with a tutor, it can help you improve your piano skills and become a useful guide on your piano journey.
Hoffman Academy has successfully transformed piano learning into an engaging and accessible experience for kids. With its comprehensive online platform, children can embark on a musical journey from the comfort of their homes. While there’s no strict age limit, the program is most effective for kids around 6 to 8 years old.
This age group is typically ready for structured learning and can grasp the concepts taught fun and engagingly.
The Hoffman Method adapts video lessons to children, teaching them piano playing, rhythm, note reading, improvisation, and ear training in a fun way. The basic package includes 300 beginner lessons and is a great way to try Hoffman Academy for free. The Premium package additionally includes interactive games, online sheet music, and practice tools. Online learning with Hoffman Academy is deservedly one of the most popular ways for a child to develop a positive relationship with music and piano.
Simply Piano is a popular piano app both for iOS and Android devices that focuses on interactive piano lessons with a unique design. This makes learning more fun, especially for kids and younger students. Its user-friendly interface and interactive lessons make learning enjoyable and accessible. Some of Simply Piano’s benefits:
While Simply Piano is a great tool, it’s often recommended to complement it with traditional piano lessons for a well-rounded musical education.
Advanced piano players who want to learn how to play famous classical pieces, and improve their technique and tone have less choice regarding taking lessons online. However, if they want to try online courses instead of traditional lessons, Tonebase is a good choice.
Quality video lessons offer piano instructions focused on acquiring and mastering piano techniques and compositions by Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Beethoven, Scriabin, and other famous composers. It is one of the few courses to include learning material for advanced players. On the other hand, lessons can be too complicated for beginners.
Tonebase has the advantage of renowned instructors who play with prestigious orchestras and teach at major music schools. Tonebase offers 3 free piano lessons and a 14-day free trial. In addition to piano lessons, Tonebase offers violin, trumpet, flute, voice, and guitar lessons.
Read the Tonebase review
Learning piano online with pre-recorded lessons and software can be a great option for those who can set aside time to practice and set up a learning schedule. However, those who prefer a more personal approach should try live lessons with an instructor instead. Without a doubt, one of the most sought-after platforms offering one-to-one lessons with a piano teacher on a musical instrument is Wyzant.
You can search for the ideal teacher for you by filtering by skill level, days available, and price.
See our article for more websites offering online private lessons with a music instructor: Online Music Lessons: 11 Websites With Best Music Teachers.
If you’re looking for lessons from legendary musicians, MaterClass should not be overlooked. This platform offers dozens of different courses from world-renowned musicians who can motivate and guide you to reach a higher level of playing experience. Such is the case of Herbie Hancock, whose course is designed for jazz piano lovers.
Read also: Best 16 Online Jazz Piano Courses For All Skill Levels
You will learn how to play voicings, improvise, and create new harmonies. The lessons are logically structured and ideal for keyboardists who already have some piano-playing experience. You can find out more about the course in our review.
Check out the Herbie Hancock Masterclass review
Willie Myette is an experienced piano player and instructor. He offers many free lessons on his site that can be a great starting point for beginners. Unlike many YouTube piano learning channels, the lessons are better structured and genre-rich.
Those who are comfortable with Willie’s learning style can upgrade to the paid program, which opens up additional lessons focused on specific styles and techniques.
Check out the Piano With Willie review
If you’ve always wanted to learn to play the piano, the online world offers plenty of opportunities to turn your dreams into reality. However, it is important to choose a learning method that suits your time and personal preferences. While software and applications allow you to fully use your digital piano or keyboard thanks to interactive tools and visualization of what you are playing, you should not expect miracles from them. Progress always depends on your motivation and discipline and setting realistic goals. Online piano lessons with a specific teacher have the advantage of real-time interaction and a personal approach. So let’s summarize the advantages and disadvantages of the mentioned options:
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CONS
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As you can see, there are several advantages of learning piano online. You can learn from home at a time that suits you. When choosing the ideal way to learn piano, consider your time options, preferred genre, teaching method, and price. The good news is that most of the courses mentioned in this text allow a free trial or free lessons, so you can try them for free.
In this article, we have summarized the best online piano courses that excel in various factors. I hope this article has helped you navigate the wide range of possibilities that learning to play a musical instrument offers. If you have your own favorites that we have not mentioned in the text, or if you have comments and suggestions, I would be happy if you send them to us. In conclusion, I wish you good luck and joy in playing the piano and overcoming your own limits.
