This Month

Victoria Theodore

Teaches Classical Piano

As a performer, Victoria Theodore has spent a lot of time in the spotlight. She’s shared the big stage with musical icons like Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Sting, B.B. King, Tony Bennett, and more.

But her success on the piano all started with her classical roots, studying from teachers linked to famous composer Claude Debussy. She has multiple degrees in classical piano and it has translated into some serious success over her career.

Victoria’s experience and incredible talent will be your go-to resource to make your time on the piano a success.

April

Erskine Hawkins

Teaches Gospel Piano

As a music director for Disney star Zendaya, producer and performer, Erskine Hawkins has done a lot. But his favorite thing in the world is playing gospel piano.

After touring with Eminem and Rihanna, Erskine focused on his love for gospel music and playing in church, and has become a true master of the genre.

He’s here to share his knowledge of gospel piano and help you learn and grow as a musician.

May

Sangah Noona

6 Essential Styles & Techniques

As an experienced performer and technical guru on the keys, Sangah Noona is an incredibly versatile pianist that can play in just about any and every style.

Pop, Jazz, Blues, Funk, Bossa Nova, and more. She can play it all, and sounds pretty dang good doing it.

She’ll be motivating you to discover new styles and techniques so you can sound incredible playing any genre.

June

Jesús Molina

Improvisation & Musical Freedom

Colombian jazz pianist Jesús Molina is an award-winning piano virtuoso. He quickly discovered his natural talents on the piano from a young age and attended Berklee College of Music.

He’s a master of improvising over jazz, ragtime, and odd time signatures with some of the fastest moving fingers you’ll ever see.

Take your musical freedom to the next level as you explore the world of improvisation with Jesús Molina.

Aug.

Summer Swee-Singh

Creating The Perfect Piano Arrangement

There is nothing quite as satisfying and empowering as being able to put your own spin on your favorite songs. And Summer is a true master of doing just that.

She’s truly dedicated to her craft, and is praised for her arrangements and compositions by artists around the world.

Learn from the skilled Summer Swee-Singh and discover her process for creating arrangements on the piano.

LISA WITT

Guidance, Practice, & Inspiration

Lisa Witt is a well known face in the piano community, reaching millions of people around the world through her online lessons. 20 years of teaching experience, training through the Royal Conservatory of Music, and embracing all styles of playing has equipped her to teach you just about anything you’d ever want to learn on the piano. Lisa’s contagious enthusiasm will have you excited every time you sit down to play and will make learning the piano a super fun and engaging experience.

Sam Vesely

Styles & Composition

Say hello to your new best friend! Sam studied Jazz Piano and Contemporary Pop Music, and has composed, orchestrated, and performed many different styles of music – a real academic on the keys. At Pianote, you’ll see Sam teaching you everything from song tutorials, practice tips, performances, and more – all while answering your questions through weekly Q&As, personal reviews, and live sessions.

Cassi Falk

Technique & Foundations

Meet your technique teacher, Cassi Falk! As an Elementary and Intermediate Specialist through the Royal Conservatory, Cassi has 15 years of teaching experience under her belt. She’ll be your go-to source for building up your foundational skills on the piano, with live sessions every Tuesday to improve your technique!

Brett Ziegler

Improvisation & Recording Theory

A jack of all trades (and master of all trades), Brett Ziegler is your guide to broadening your horizons on the keys. From Cocktail Piano, Boogie Woogie, Gospel, and Improv – Brett’s got you covered. He’s taught piano for 23 years, worked as a musical director, technical director, worship leader, recording musician, touring musician, theater bandleader, and so much more - and he can’t wait to connect with you!

Ian Kershaw

United Kingdom

Such a fantastic and welcoming student community.

When I signed up for Pianote, I knew I was going to get Lisa’s great energy, the Method, the courses, the bootcamps, and the student reviews.

But my breakthrough came when I realized that sitting behind all of this is such a fantastic and welcoming, supportive student community. It’s this community – as well as the teachers and the rest of the Pianote team – that really actively encourages you to share your progress and practice. And it doesn’t have to be perfect. And that really does encourage you to practice more. And it’s in that sharing and practice that the real breakthroughs come. Thank you!

Jayde McIntosh

Australia

I’ve had to give up on a lot of my dreams. Then I discovered Pianote.

I’ve been chronically ill for the last six years, which means I’ve had to give up on a lot of my dreams and goals.

During my health journey, my interest in piano and my connection to music really arose – but it also seemed impossible. I had no prior music knowledge and couldn’t even get out of bed some days. This is when I discovered Pianote and they’ve been amazing.

I have to work at a very slow pace due to my health, but I’ve already learned so many basics. I can play some of my all-time favorite songs – and it’s just so awesome to know I can learn from home and accomplish one of my dreams. I’m so excited to keep learning and I recommend Pianote so much.

Xitlali Caballero

Florida, USA

I’m six years old. My biggest moment is when I play Für Elise.

My name is Xitlali. I’m six years old. I started playing piano when I was five. A few weeks ago, I started using pianote. My biggest moment is when I play Für Elise.

Nabil Abd El-Moneim

British Columbia, Canada

I’m a lot better at using both hands and it opened up more songs.

You guys make learning way too fun.

I’ve had two breakthrough moments. There was this video that promised hand independence in five days. And what do you know? A few days later I’m a lot better at using both hands and it just opened up a bunch more songs for me. And my second breakthrough moment was finding this chord chart that made it so much easier to go through the chords and practice them. And I started realizing that these chords sounded a lot like the ones I play on guitar. So I managed to take the notes that were in the practice log and apply them to my guitar, and actually learned theory for both instruments at once. Thank you Lisa and happy playing!

Jess Ripley

California, USA

I’m blown away by the program you’ve created.

Pianote is an insanely encouraging and supportive community run by an insanely encouraging and supportive team. Sincerely, I’m blown away by the program you’ve created.

I sat down one day and it just clicked. From then on, I’ve felt VERY encouraged to keep learning and practicing. It’s fulfilling and fun to see myself progress and achieve goals. Now I’m playing with both hands at the same time with confidence – and I’ve started playing along with more backing tracks and making up my own songs.

Anselm de Souza

Singapore

Helped coordinate my left and right hands.

I was using a piano app, but it wasn’t personal and I had to figure it out on my own most of the time. So I joined Pianote and went back to the basics.

Pianote helped coordinate my left and right hands. The explanations and instructions are very clear, easy to follow, and slowly I noticed I was improving by using skills from one lesson to the next. It’s structured to allow you to build the foundations, and the tips and tricks videos make your playing special. The lessons are fun and the instructors are engaging.

John Maclean

United Kingdom

My 6 year old daughter started dancing as I played.

Before Pianote and The Method, I was completely lost in terms of knowing how to become a better musician. All I would do is try to play songs, but without any of the structure and practice that is required to actually improve. And with face to face lessons I wasn’t really progressing much between the lessons. But having access to the video tutorials online lets me go back as often as I need to.

My biggest breakthrough has been independent hand control – allowing me to hear rich music that I’m creating for the first time. And gaining that confidence has allowed me to start to improvise the pieces that I learn.

The lightbulb moment happened when my 6 year old daughter started dancing as I played! You must be doing something right if someone dances to music that you’re playing, right?

Serena Dorward

Ontario, Canada

If I was taught this way as a child, I would have never quit.

I decided to sign up with Pianote not only to re-learn how to play the piano, but also because my mental health was really suffering and I needed something positive to focus on that was just for ME. I knew almost immediately that this was the answer I had been looking for. It felt like the heaviness on my shoulders got a bit lighter after every piano session. And even though the lessons are virtual, it was like Lisa was right there beside me cheering me on.

I was blown away by how quickly I progressed with a few tutorials from Lisa. My overall confidence improved, especially with improvisation. Now I know all these little tricks (fills & riffs) and how to play inversions and practice chords in ways that sound so lovely. If I had been taught this way as a child, I probably never would have quit.

Betty G

Kenya

Pianote helped me discover my IDENTITY through music.

Pianote helped me discover my IDENTITY through music. I love playing during and after watching videos. Laughing, enjoying lessons, and feeling joy – I have sometimes forgot even meals and just got lost in learning and practicing.

It felt like rising from the dead! Stop everything and do it. I almost feel jealous to share such an awesome tool, but when more people are playing music, this world is better.

Carmen Alymatiris

Germany

Lisa is such a great tutor, sympathetic and knowledgeable.

Pianote helped from day one as it focuses on underlying concepts rather than only practicing different skills. I realized the tremendous impact when I was able to apply the freshly learned concepts to improvise and create beautiful music.

Now I can create my own songs based on the scales logic, arpeggios, chords and the inversions. I love it! I can now listen to songs, find the first notes, and then identify the rest based on matching notes and chords.

Pianote has completely changed my relationship to this beautiful instrument. Lisa is such a great tutor, sympathetic and knowledgeable. I somehow always feel understood, no matter whether a practice goes well or not.

Ed Kirk

Florida, USA

I like that I can take a lesson any time of day or night.

I played organ 45 years ago but had not touched any keyboard in 30 years. Essentially I was starting over from scratch.

It must have been my second or third lesson when I knew I had found the right place. I like Lisa’s style of teaching – and I found I actually LIKE doing the work and won’t mark a lesson complete until I have thoroughly mastered it. And I like that I can take a lesson any time of day or night.

I can’t imagine there is any better way to learn. I can go back and review the details of any lesson over and over if needed. Could never do that with live lessons.

Debbie Reed

North Carolina, USA

The support you receive will keep you wanting to learn.

I tried to learn on my own. This turned out to be very frustrating. I needed some guidance, more structure, and more support.

With Pianote, I was inspired from the very first video I watched. I am able to spend time learning each lesson before moving on – and having questions answered helps so much. Because piano is new to me, doubt would creep in. I felt I would never be able to play well. But practice and awareness of the keyboard has been what I needed. The support you receive will keep you wanting to learn, and having fun with the love of piano.

Dhivya Subramanian

Singapore

I love the energy Lisa brings to every lesson.

I love the energy Lisa brings to every lesson and how she makes everything look fun and easy enough to try.

I wasn’t sure if video lessons would be engaging enough and if it would be easy to learn virtually. But I enjoy learning at my own pace and having the freedom to choose what I want to learn – playing some of my favorite songs and gaining the tools to explore and play with confidence in front of people. I would highly recommend Pianote.

Shannon Glisan

Tennessee, USA

When I first played a song I cried with joy.

I worried I wouldn’t be able to learn from the lessons since I had no musical experience, but I went from not being able to read music to playing songs. When I first played a song and it sounded like the actual song I cried with joy.

I have wanted to play piano since I was a child and Pianote made my dream come true. With a little practice, I can now play large portions of the songs from the lessons without looking at the keys. And each time I learn a new chord and apply it to the song it’s just as exciting as when I first started.

I was worried about the cost versus what I would get from the lessons. Pianote is well worth the cost. It’s easy to access and I like being able to play on my own schedule. Lisa makes learning the piano fun!

Julie Ojango

Kenya

I played piano while my friend played guitar and it was magical.

I’ve made a huge stride forward. My fingers are now lighter on the keys – and my left hand can actually play without always following the right hand.

On a safari away from home, I sat at a piano in a friend’s house and was able to play “Bless The Lord Oh My Soul” by ear using chords. We just enjoyed the music. I played piano while my friend played guitar and it was magical! Pianote is fantastic and I have recommended it already to two friends.

Petra Miriam Tierno

South Carolina, USA

It’s been years since I’ve been this excited.

Even though I have been playing for more than 10 years, there is always so much more to learn. And it has felt so rewarding to learn something new each time I visit Pianote. It’s been years since I’ve been this excited.

They are such great teachers – especially Lisa! She makes everything seem fun and breaks it down to the simplest format for you to learn quickly.

Humberto Cruz

Florida, USA

Mickey Mouse hugged me for my piano playing.

I’ve made steady progress in many areas, from technique to musicality to understanding music theory in a practical way – even playing the first movement of the Moonlight Sonata without sheet music. It feels fantastic.

And I had the most fun musical experience ever aboard a Disney cruise ship during the holidays. I found a piano not being used in a meeting room and just sat down and began to play Christmas music. An employee dressed in a Mickey Mouse costume came in. I thought he was going to tell me to stop, but instead he walked over and gave me a hug! I was being hugged by Mickey Mouse for my piano playing!

Nick Rae

United Kingdom

The best investment I have ever made.

I’ve been with Pianote for years and I’m still finding new content every day to keep me occupied. You’ll be amazed at the variety and depth of content available.

Don’t fancy a 20 minute lesson? Just jump into a Quick Tips video or learn a song. Having the ability to choose whatever lessons I want plus being given a clearly defined learning structure is brilliant. And years of frustrating self-tuition was accelerated thanks to Lisa, Cassi, and Sam. I can honestly say Pianote has been the best investment I have ever made, apart from buying my actual piano!

Myra Valdez

United Arab Emirates

The impossible becomes possible.

I didn’t know how to coordinate my left and right hands. And I had zero knowledge about theory.

Pianote helped me a lot in building my confidence to become a better pianist. I’m starting to know how to sight read and play the songs I like – the impossible becomes possible.

I am happy with what I’ve achieved and grateful to continue learning. The teachers and community are very supportive – student review is one of my favorite segments where I’ll submit a song and Sam will assess and give tips for improvement. Overall it’s fun and knowledgeable. I love Pianote.

Veronica Valverde

Nicaragua

I can improvise – I even made a TikTok duet with a singing dog.

I feel like I wasted my time for 6 years on a conservatory that taught way too little knowledge – I could only play classical music and was dependent on piano sheets which was frustrating. Now I have learned so much with Pianote. I like the way you guys teach theory.

One time I saw a video on TikTok about a dog singing – and I could make a duet with my piano and identify the key that it was singing. I know this sounds crazy, but it’s something that made me happy. I can improvise and this is thanks to this platform!