{"id":6500,"date":"2022-01-20T15:34:38","date_gmt":"2022-01-20T23:34:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=6500"},"modified":"2023-01-09T15:55:17","modified_gmt":"2023-01-09T23:55:17","slug":"learn-piano-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/learn-piano-online\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Successfully Learn Piano Online in 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>So you\u2019ve heard that it\u2019s possible to learn piano online!&nbsp;But it sounds too good to be true. Will something go wrong if you didn\u2019t learn <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-to-play-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">how to play piano<\/a> the way your grandfather did, with a teacher sitting beside you?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, if you\u2019re asking these questions, you\u2019ve come to the right place!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You CAN learn piano online. But that doesn\u2019t mean you can just search up a song on YouTube, follow a tutorial, and magically know how to play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we\u2019ll discuss ways to <strong>successfully<\/strong> learn piano with the internet. We\u2019ll show you tips, tricks, and best practices to keep you motivated and progressing. We\u2019ll also cover the benefits and drawbacks of online learning and share how you can surmount common challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#benefits\">Benefits of Online Learning<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#challenges\">Challenges of Online Learning (and Solutions)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#ways-to-learn\">Ways to Learn Piano Online<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#success\">How to Learn Piano Online and Succeed<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#pianote-approach\">The Pianote Approach: Technology Meets Tradition<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, before we start, let\u2019s address the elephant in the room. Pianote is an online piano learning platform, so we\u2019re obviously biased towards our own learning method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But we&#8217;re musicians first, salespeople second. Our #1 priority is getting you to enjoy learning piano. And as you\u2019ll see later, an online method like ours can work alongside other methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h2 style=\"font-size: 22px;\"><b>\ud83c\udfb9 Make This Your Year of Getting Good at Piano \ud83d\udd25<\/b><\/h2><p>Get free lessons, tips, and piano news delivered to your inbox every week. Subscribe to <i>The Note<\/i>!<\/p><\/center><iframe class=\"email-form-include\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weeklyemail\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"benefits\"><strong>I. Benefits of Online Learning<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><em>Yes, you can learn piano online!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The benefits of online learning are endless. You eliminate commuting, rigid schedules, high tuition, and even unwanted teaching styles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"it-s-cheaper\">It&#8217;s cheaper<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s face it: piano lessons are expensive. Anywhere from $20\/hour to $100\/hour, to be precise. Which adds up. $50\/hour for weekly hour-long lessons means an annual tuition fee of $2,600.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Compare that to a Pianote membership of $197\/year. And we haven\u2019t even factored in additional costs like gas, transit, books, and supplies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Any online learning method (not just Pianote) will be dramatically more affordable than in-person one-on-one lessons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"it-s-convenient\">It&#8217;s convenient<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In-person lessons means aligning your schedule with that of another human, which can be challenging. If you\u2019re a parent, working professional, student, or other busy person, flexibility is important.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h3 style=\"font-size:24px\"><b>\ud83c\udfb9 Start Learning with 4 FREE Lessons<\/b><\/h3><\/center><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2021\/Featured%20Box%20images\/you%20can%20play%20piano.jpg\"><p>Get started on the right foot (or rather, hand). Here are <b>four FREE lessons<\/b> that will take you from sitting down on the piano for the first time to playing your first song.<\/p><br><center><a class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/getting-started\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TRY IT OUT<\/a><p><\/p><\/center><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Taking online lessons, however, means you can learn wherever you want, whenever you want. If you get sick, you don\u2019t have to worry about losing money by cancelling a class too late. And if you feel especially in the mood one day, you can marathon several lessons at no inconvenience to your instructors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"it-s-personalized\">It&#8217;s personalized<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>For the longest time, there was only one way to learn piano: hire a teacher. This is the way Lisa, Sam, and I learned music before the heyday of internet learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, there\u2019s nothing inherently wrong about this approach. But it <em>is<\/em> frustratingly one-size-fits-all. Most traditional piano teachers focus on teaching students how to read music using traditional classical pieces. But not everyone thrives from this approach.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\">\ud83c\udfb9 <b><i>YOU DON&#8217;T NEED SHEET MUSIC&#8230;WAIT, WHAT?!<\/i><\/b> It might be controversial, but we at Pianote believe that you don\u2019t NEED to know how to read sheet music to play piano (and play well). In fact, Lisa, a professional musician, faked her sight-reading abilities for years! You can read more about our point of view <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianodreamers.com\/need-to-read-music\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>With an online library of lessons, you can tailor your learning experience to YOUR needs. If you don\u2019t like classical music, don\u2019t stress over the grand staff. Learn how to use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/reading-chord-charts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">chord charts<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-to-play-piano-by-ear\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">play by ear<\/a> first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to play jazz, focus on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/theory\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">theory<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/chord-theory\/improvisation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">improvisation lessons<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if you do like classical music, learn <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-to-read-notes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">how to read sheet music<\/a> and follow a classical learning path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"learn-piano-online-from-the-greats\">Learn piano online from the Greats<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you want to learn directly from a pianist who\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/victoria-theodore\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">played with Stevie Wonder and Beyonc\u00e9<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With online learning, you can access the expertise of world-class musicians without leaving the comfort of your home. For example, with our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/#coaches\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Coaches feature<\/a>, Pianote members can ask advice and get coaching from highly accomplished pianists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2021\/Learn%20Piano%20Online\/Erskine-Hawkins.jpg\" alt=\"Man in plaid shirt playing piano keyboard in room with candles looking sideways at camera.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Erskine Hawkins (pianist for Zendaya) is teaching gospel piano in March 2022.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2021\/Learn%20Piano%20Online\/sangah%20noona.jpg\" alt=\"Woman in red top facing camera witting with one arm on grand piano in room full of candles.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Popular YouTube pianist Sangah Noona is teaching styles and techniques in May 2022.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><h4 style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><b>Summary<\/b><\/h4><p>In conclusion, online learning is perfect for individuals who:<\/p><ul><li>Seek a flexible and affordable approach<\/li><li>Live in rural areas or areas with few music learning resources<\/li><li>Don\u2019t thrive with traditional classical approaches to learning music<\/li><li>Want to learn at their own pace<\/li><\/ul><p><\/p><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>But online learning isn\u2019t without its challenges, so we\u2019ll transparently address those next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"challenges\"><strong>II. Challenges of Online Learning<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><em>There are disadvantages to online lessons, but these challenges are surmountable.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The obvious downside to learning online is that you don\u2019t get instant feedback from an expert. This is problematic because if you don\u2019t have proper technique, you can build bad habits, not play as effectively, or even injure yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the good news is that many of the problems you\u2019ll encounter while learning online <em>can<\/em> be solved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"no-real-time-in-person-feedback\">No real-time, in-person feedback<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Playing music is more than knowing what key to press. It\u2019s about expression, technique, interpretation, and so much more. You won\u2019t get this type of feedback from learning on your own, and you may make mistakes you don\u2019t even notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A professional piano teacher can give you invaluable guidance based on a lifetime of experience. It\u2019s a disadvantage not to have such a resource, but you\u2019re not doomed if you\u2019re alone!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><h4 style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><b>\ud83d\udee0\ufe0f The Fix: Find a community<\/b><\/h4><p>In my experience, the online piano community is extremely supportive and can help you catch things you miss.<\/p><p>For example, I recorded a performance and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/piano\/comments\/qv13la\/trying_my_hand_at_recording_stuff_posterity_and\/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web2x&amp;context=3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">posted it to Reddit<\/a>. Someone then kindly pointed out that I had missed ties. Having learned that piece on my own without a piano teacher, I had completely missed these details. I was so steeped in the habit of not playing ties that it took me clarifying with the commenter to pinpoint my mistake. I wouldn\u2019t have caught my mistake without a second pair of ears.<\/p><p>Here are some popular online piano communities you may consider joining:<\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">r\/piano<\/a> on Reddit<\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/forum.pianoworld.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pianoworld<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianostreet.com\/smf\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pianostreet<\/a><\/li><li>Pianote forums (members only)<\/li><li>Piano Facebook groups<\/li><\/ul><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"your-technique-may-suffer\">Your technique may suffer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Technique is difficult to learn online. You really need an expert to watch your posture and nip mistakes in the bud before they become bad habits. And bad technique can be costly. You can get fatigue, not play as nimbly, or even injure yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><h4 style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><b>\ud83d\udee0\ufe0f The Fix: Carefully study the greats and request feedback<\/b><\/h4><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/perfect-posture-at-the-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Posture<\/a> and technique are some of the most common things people point out on comments posted in learning forums. So, online communities can help with this too.<\/p><p>Otherwise, you can study master pianists like <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/BS0SwRoYAW0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Martha Argerich<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/B3r4EgwLqMM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Arthur Rubinstein<\/a>. Notice how relaxed their bodies are and try to spot nuances in their technique. (Pro tip: avoid flattened, stiff fingers and drooping wrists at all costs!)<\/p><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2021\/Learn%20Piano%20Online\/lisa%20and%20kaitlyn.jpg\" alt=\"Learn piano online. Woman with short platinum hair and blue shirt sitting at piano next to woman with long brown hair and stripy sweater playing piano.\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lack-of-structure-and-formality\">Lack of structure and formality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Many people like the flexibility of learning at their own pace and not having a naggy teacher assign homework. But some people like structure. And having homework can push you to accomplish your goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\">Structure can be good for younger students who have yet to establish work habits. But they can also be discouraging. You\u2019ve probably heard stories about young people being <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/prince-edward-island\/pei-value-of-piano-1.5359491\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">forced into piano lessons<\/a> and then hating music (and their parents). So, if you decide to take this route with a young person, be careful about your teacher selection and make sure their approach is compatible with the student\u2019s.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\">\ud83c\udf93 <b><i>IS MAJORING IN MUSIC WORTH IT?<\/i><\/b> Sam Veseley, one of our brand ambassadors and our resident jazz expert, earned his Bachelor of Music degree from MacEwan University. Hear him discuss the pros and cons of his experience on the <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/episode\/5INe0VFYLgMUC4HaXxEJzP?si=vXZ7F0fhS1GRNue7aSzhYQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pianote Podcast<\/a>.<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Exams and diplomas may be useful if you want to build a career in music. But many post-secondary programs prefer auditions over a formal certificate, so please do your research before committing to a gruelling exam program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><h4 style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><b>\ud83d\udee0\ufe0f The Fix: Remember your &#8220;why&#8221; and (perhaps) take exams later<\/b><\/h4><p>If you require structure to stay motivated but don\u2019t want to pay for in-person lessons, remember your &#8220;why.&#8221; Why do you want to play piano? To improve your mental health? To play your favorite song? Focus on your why and check in with yourself after you practice. (P.S. we have more motivation tips <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-to-stay-motivated-at-the-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.)<\/p><p>And if you want to pursue music formally, you can choose to at any time! Research admission requirements and send out audition tapes.<\/p><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ways-to-learn\"><strong>III. Ways to Learn Piano Online<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><em>What&#8217;s best for you?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, there are many innovative technologies designed to help you learn music online. Each has benefits and drawbacks, so choose one that suits your learning needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"gamified-approaches-ie-apps\">\ud83c\udfae Gamified Approaches (ie. Apps)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many gamified approaches to learning piano that feel more like a video game than a lesson. A note dashes across the screen and you have to play it on time, for example. This approach is fun and can work well with young learners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\">But, bluntly put, piano is not a game. Gamified approaches may gloss over technique or theory, and experienced musicians have expressed <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/MC6yMIQXWu0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">criticism<\/a> over gamified learning. So, while we don\u2019t actively discourage any specific form of learning, do consider the disadvantages before signing up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2021\/Learn%20Piano%20Online\/sam-synth.jpg\" alt=\"Hands playing keyboard of a large synthesizer with many knobs and buttons.\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"free-tutorials\">\ud83d\udcfa Free Tutorials<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can find many excellent free resources these days, and you can learn entire songs on YouTube without spending a buck. As YouTubers who publish <meta charset=\"utf-8\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/PianoteOfficial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free lessons every week<\/a>, we love that YouTube makes music education accessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, free stuff is great. But to <em>really <\/em>know how to play piano, a more structured, step-by-step approach is ideal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If budget is tight, you can start with a paid course or two to master the foundations, then use free tutorials to boost your knowledge. At Pianote, we offer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/getting-started\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Getting Started on the Piano<\/a> for free and several <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/shop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">stand-alone courses<\/a> for those not ready for a membership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"online-courses\">\ud83c\udfeb Online Courses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, online courses take a more traditional approach by giving you videos to watch, assignments to do, and exercises to practice. The advantage of video learning is you don\u2019t need to be tech-savvy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The disadvantage of online courses is that, again, there\u2019s no real-time one-on-one feedback. However, you can mitigate these challenges with the tips we&#8217;ve shared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And honestly, it\u2019s hard to beat the savings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><h4 style=\"font-size:20px;\"><b>Summary<\/b><\/h4><p>Overall, one of the most important things in our opinion is having a community \u2014 whether online or in-person \u2014 that can offer you advice, critique, and a second ear.<\/p><p>Another important thing is choosing a method that challenges and motivates you. Gamified learning is fun and addictive, but we\u2019ve also heard that they can be lacking for students eager to learn more advanced music.<\/p><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Motivation can be difficult when you\u2019re self-learning, so let\u2019s go over some practice habits that can help make online lessons work for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"success\"><strong>IV. How to Successfully Learn Piano Online<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><em>Make the most of online lessons.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, it&#8217;s possible to learn piano online, saving time and money. But if you do, there are some best practices you should be aware of. Some of these we\u2019ve mentioned already, but they\u2019re worth repeating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tip-1-find-an-in-person-teacher-or-mentor-you-can-check-in-with-periodically\">Tip #1: Find an in-person teacher or mentor you can check in with periodically<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We can\u2019t understate the importance of good technique. And until technology advances further, the best way to improve technique is with a human expert. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So consider getting something like a monthly instructor. Or find a friend who is a more experienced pianist, who can give you periodic advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2021\/Learn%20Piano%20Online\/pianote%20app.jpg\" alt=\"Man in black playing upright piano with foundations textbook and iPad on music stand.\" width=\"840\" height=\"560\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tip-2-invest-in-a-strong-foundation\">Tip #2: Invest in a strong foundation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Find a learning program that doesn&#8217;t gloss over the foundations. It\u2019s worth investing time and money in the basics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Proper technique<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scales and chords<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Basic music theory<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/piano-chords\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chord theory<\/a> and basic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/piano-chord-progressions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">chord progressions<\/a>, the understanding of which can unlock <em>hundreds<\/em> of popular songs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you gain a solid foundation, you can move towards more self-directed learning such as free YouTube tutorials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tip-3-dedicate-a-time-to-piano\">Tip #3: Dedicate a time to piano<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Just like you would go to your teacher\u2019s house every Saturday, make a commitment to learn piano on X days for Y amount of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even setting aside <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/10-minute-practice\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">10 minutes<\/a> to practice makes a big difference. And often, the hardest part is starting. If you can sit down, you&#8217;ll likely end up practicing for more than 10 minutes. So find a chunk of time when you won&#8217;t be distracted and reserve it as piano-time. Better yet, have goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tip-4-set-smart-goals\">Tip #4: Set SMART goals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Set <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/set-smart-piano-goals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">goals<\/a> that are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right has-medium-font-size\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><strong><span style=\"color:#f61a30\" class=\"has-inline-color\">S<\/span>PECIFIC<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\">&#8220;My goal is to play &#8216;Prelude in C Major.'&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right has-medium-font-size\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><strong><span style=\"color:#f61a30\" class=\"has-inline-color\">M<\/span>EASURABLE<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\">&#8220;My goal is to play &#8216;Prelude in C Major&#8217; at the correct tempo and have it memorized.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right has-medium-font-size\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><strong><span style=\"color:#f61a30\" class=\"has-inline-color\">A<\/span>CHIEVABLE<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\">&#8220;I have played pieces slightly easier than &#8216;Prelude in C Major,&#8217; so it&#8217;s a realistic piece to learn.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right has-medium-font-size\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><span style=\"color: rgb(246, 26, 48);\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><b>R<\/b><\/span><span class=\"has-inline-color has-black-color\"><strong>ELEVANT<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\">&#8220;I want to play &#8216;Prelude in C Major&#8217; because it&#8217;s my dad&#8217;s favorite piece and I want to surprise him on Father&#8217;s Day.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right has-medium-font-size\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><strong><span style=\"color:#f61a30\" class=\"has-inline-color\">T<\/span>IME-BOUND<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\">&#8220;I will learn &#8216;Prelude in C Major&#8217; \u2014 memorized and at the right  tempo \u2014 by Father&#8217;s Day!&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need help setting goals, check out the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/shop\/practice-planner\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pianote Practice Planner<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tip-5-remember-your-why\">Tip #5: Remember your \u201cwhy.\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s level here: learning piano isn\u2019t easy. You\u2019re bound to run into difficulties. You\u2019re bound to have days when you don\u2019t want to practice AT ALL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn to expect this. And when it happens, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-to-stay-motivated-at-the-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">remember your why<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:20%\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60%\">\n<div style=\"width:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56%;position:relative;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/embed\/l3vR3gvEdsdJl26oU\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" style=\"position:absolute\" frameborder=\"0\" class=\"giphy-embed\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><p><a href=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/gifs\/bretteldredge-brett-eldredge-l3vR3gvEdsdJl26oU\">via GIPHY<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:20%\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Why do you want to learn piano in the first place? To pick up where you left off from childhood lessons? To play that one hit by Elton John that changed your life? Because you want to play like Lang Lang?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whatever your reason for learning piano, <em>that\u2019s<\/em> the reason you\u2019ll keep going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tip-6-check-in-with-yourself-after-a-practice-session\">Tip #6: Check in with yourself AFTER a practice session<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is my favorite tip of Lisa\u2019s. Check in with yourself <em>after<\/em> practicing to remind yourself of the joy of music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll probably be in a post-piano high after a practice session. Music does incredible things to your brain and your mental health, so when you\u2019re in that good mood, remind yourself that this is worth it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tip-7-join-a-community\">Tip #7: Join a community<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Piano players tend to be isolated. But having worked with our friends in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Drumeo<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.guitareo.com\/riff\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Guitareo<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.singeo.com\/chorus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Singeo<\/a>, we\u2019ve learned just how valuable having a community is. You can troubleshoot problems together, get a second opinion, or simply have people to talk nerdy music stuff with. Friendly competition can also keep you challenged and motivated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2021\/Learn%20Piano%20Online\/musora%20live%20bts.jpg\" alt=\"Learn piano online. People playing musical instruments in a studio.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Musora family of online music lessons includes Guitareo, Pianote, Drumeo, and Singeo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Those are our tips on how to make learning piano online work for you. We hope you feel inspired, and if you\u2019re interested, keep reading to see how Pianote may fit with your learning needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"pianote-approach\"><strong>V. The Pianote Approach: Technology Meets Tradition<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><em>The Ultimate Online Piano Lessons Experience<\/em><sup>TM<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Pianote, we strongly believe in making music education accessible. We want to keep things affordable, but we\u2019re also aware of the shortcomings of online learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, these are the things we\u2019ve invested in: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"real-teachers-real-feedback\">\u2705 Real Teachers, Real Feedback<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Pianote members can ask questions and get personalized guidance from real teachers. Just upload a recording of yourself for Student Focus and enjoy personalized critique. (Important note: Student reviews are not private, but our community is <em>very <\/em>supportive and we strive to make everyone feel safe.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"world-class-coaches\">\u2705 World-Class Coaches<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, we launched <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/#coaches\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Coaches<\/a>. This means you get access to world-class musicians such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/victoria-theodore\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Victoria Theodore<\/a>, who has played with Stevie Wonder, Beyonc\u00e9, and other big names. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"high-tech-learning\">\u2705 High-Tech Learning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve worked hard to design an easy-to-use interface that includes tech like the Play-Along feature and backing tracks that make you feel like you\u2019re playing in a band. And while our approach is far from video game learning, we do gamify the learning experience with experience points (XP) you can earn to ascend levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"song-library\">\u2705 Song Library<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The point of piano isn\u2019t to play scales and chords; it\u2019s to PLAY SONGS! As a Pianote member, you\u2019ll gain instant access to our rich song library. Say good-bye to hunting for inaccurate sheet music and chord charts because we\u2019ve got you covered!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h3>\ud83c\udfb9 Play REAL Songs&#8230;The Ones You Love \ud83c\udfb5<\/h3><\/center><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2021\/Featured%20Box%20images\/lisa-i%20love%20music.jpg\"><p>The best way to learn music is by playing, not reading. Start off on a good note with our 500 Songs in 5 Days course pack. Free with your Pianote membership or buy it separately. <\/p><br><center><a class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/500-songs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">START PLAYING SONGS TODAY<\/a><\/center><p><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-heading\" id=\"modern-method\">\u2705 Modern Method<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Pianote Method is a step-by-step guide to learning how to play piano. In ten levels, you\u2019ll go from never having touched a piano before to playing performance-ready music. It\u2019s designed by Lisa Witt, who\u2019s been teaching for 20 years and is popular on YouTube for her warm, engaging, and empathetic approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"community\">\u2705 Community<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, the Pianote forums and Facebook group is where you\u2019ll be welcomed into what we think is the best online community of piano players! It\u2019s one of our favorite things about Pianote \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to get a sneak peek behind the scenes, watch <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/inside-pianote\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this vlog<\/a> or browse our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/PianoteOfficial\/about\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">YouTube channel<\/a> where we post free tutorials every week. <meta charset=\"utf-8\">And whichever way you choose to learn piano online, happy practicing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<center><a class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">JOIN PIANOTE<\/a><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<iframe class=\"email-form-include-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weekly-email\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn piano online: tips, tricks, and ways to make your time, money, and energy worth it whether it\u2019s free tutorials or a subscription.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":6903,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1108],"tags":[1069],"class_list":["post-6500","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-musicianship","tag-gsotp"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6500","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/57"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6500"}],"version-history":[{"count":61,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6500\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10429,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6500\/revisions\/10429"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6903"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6500"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6500"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6500"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}