Learning to play the piano can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Not only is it a beautiful instrument that can produce amazing music, but learning piano has been shown to help develop creativity, math skills, and even empathy. While taking in-person piano lessons is ideal for many, it simply isn’t feasible for some due to constraints on time, mobility, or finances.
Fortunately, advances in technology have made high-quality online piano lessons widely accessible. With online piano lessons, you can learn to play the piano from the comfort of your own home on a flexible schedule. Many online courses also cost just a fraction of the price of in-person lessons.
If you’re looking to start learning piano online, there are some excellent options available today. To help you find the right online piano lessons for your needs and skill level, we’ve reviewed and ranked the 10 best online piano lesson providers.
1. Flowkey – Overall best online piano lessons for beginners (free trial)
Flowkey earns our vote as the best online piano lessons overall, especially for beginners. This innovative app-based course uses your computer or mobile device’s microphone to listen and give real-time feedback as you play. Flowkey offers a library of over 1500 songs to learn, including pop, classical, holiday favorites, Disney hits, and more.
The interactive courses adapt to your skill level and pace. Beginners can start from scratch using Flowkey’s new basics courses, which cover topics like hand placement, rhythm, and reading sheet music. More advanced players can skip straight to the song learning. The app listens as you play each hand separately, giving color-coded feedback so you can see which notes you need to work on.
One major perk of Flowkey is the huge song selection, which makes it easy to learn music you’ll enjoy. Songs come with standard notation, so you’ll build up your sheet music reading skills too. There are also technologically advanced features like slowing songs down, looping difficult sections, and changing keys.
We especially like Flowkey for total beginners since the courses give you a structured, comprehensive introduction to piano playing. The interactive feedback helps you improve your playing and technique. Flowkey is affordable, costing less than in-person lessons. There are web and mobile options for convenience. Try out the 7-day free trial to see if it’s the right fit.
2. Playground Sessions – Best online piano lessons for big-name instructors
Playground Sessions is one of the most popular and polished online piano learning platforms available today. What sets Playground Sessions apart is its impressive roster of famous instructors like Quincy Jones, Harry Connick Jr., and David Sides. Video lessons led by these professional pianists give the experience a “celebrity teacher” vibe.
Like Flowkey, Playground Sessions offers step-by-step video lessons that teach you songs and piano fundamentals along the way. The courses are organized by genre, so you can focus on music you enjoy as you learn. From Mozart to Billy Joel, beginner to advanced, there’s material for all levels.
The video courses are supplemented by interactive feedback technology. Similar to Flowkey, Playground Sessions listens as you play and gives instant feedback to help you improve. The collection of songs, lessons, and instructional videos is enormous – over 400 hours of content.
While the monthly subscription cost is higher than competitors, Playground Sessions frequently offers big discounts. There’s a 30-day money back guarantee so you can give it a risk-free try. If you think you’d benefit from video lessons led by famous pianists, Playground Sessions is a great choice.
3. Pianoforall – Best piano lessons for composing & improvising
Most online piano lessons focus narrowly on learning songs note-by-note. While that’s beneficial for many, others want to explore playing more creatively. If learning piano to compose your own music or improvise sounds appealing, Pianoforall offers the best curriculum.
Pianoforall contains over 200 video lessons that introduce you to chords, rhythm, and how to play by ear. With instruction from accomplished pianist and teacher Robin Hall, you’ll gain the skills to start improvising and expressing yourself through music.
The initial lessons get you comfortable with basic playing before advancing to improvisation, playing by ear, and songwriting. There are also beginner lessons on technique and reading sheet music, so you get a well-rounded foundation. A huge bonus is the large song library spanning genres like classical, jazz, pop, and rock.
We like Pianoforall for adults who want to develop their creative expression at the piano. The affordable one-time fee for lifetime access makes this course stand out. If you find yourself getting bored doing repetitive drills on the same songs, Pianoforall can help you transition to playing more freely.
4. Skoove – Online piano course for learning basics quick
Designed by educators and AI engineers, Skoove is one of the most interactive and customizable online piano learning apps. We like Skoove for beginners thanks to its structured curriculum that covers fundamentals thoroughly. Skoove excels at getting beginners playing enjoyable music in the shortest time possible.
Here’s a quick rundown of how Skoove works: First, you take a short placement test which assesses your skill level. Then Skoove generates a personalized curriculum of lessons, technique-building exercises, and songs tailored exactly for you.
As you progress through the lessons, Skoove listens to you play using your device’s microphone. You get real-time feedback on your playing, instantly seeing the notes you need to improve. This helps ingrain proper technique and eradicate mistakes. The courses prioritize getting you playing full songs as quickly as possible to keep you motivated.
We recommend Skoove to beginners looking for strong fundamentals. The personalized curriculum ensures you work on exactly what you need at your own pace. If you’re brand new to piano and like interactive technology, check out Skoove.
5. Piano Marvel – Online piano lessons for classical music
Piano Marvel stands out for its focus on classical piano, theory, and technique. While most online piano lessons emphasize contemporary genres, Piano Marvel excels at classical training. If names like Bach, Beethoven, and Chopin are calling you, Piano Marvel is a great choice.
Piano Marvel has a massive classical sheet music library with over 1,400 pieces. The lesson format is similar to other apps: listen with your microphone as you play and get instant feedback. A collection of theory and technique exercises supplement the classical pieces.
One unique aspect of Piano Marvel is the detailed assessment features. You can take quizzes on music theory concepts and receive scores evaluating your accuracy, timing, and technique on pieces. These concrete metrics are helpful for tracking your improvement, especially when preparing for recitals or auditions.
While Piano Marvel isn’t cheap compared to some competitors, there are discounts available. If classical piano is your goal, the specialized instruction Piano Marvel offers is worthwhile. The technical focus helps develop skills for lifelong classical playing.
6. Pianote – Best for teacher interaction
Pianote emphasizes learning from an active community of teachers and students. Live video lessons make Pianote one of the most interactive online piano learning platforms. If you learn better with back-and-forth dialogue and critique, Pianote is an excellent choice.
For a monthly fee, you get access to live-streamed piano lessons, on-demand pre-recorded classes, sheet music, and supplemental written guides. The teachers are all classically trained pianists with lots of experience teaching students of all skill levels.
Each week there are options for live 45-minute lessons where you play, ask questions, and get detailed feedback in real time. The teachers also offer focused micro-lessons on topics like music theory, specific techniques, and more.
Compared to passive video learning, Pianote’s interactive approach is ideal if you desire lots of teacher interaction. There’s a 7-day free trial so you can experience Pianote before committing. If you prefer learning piano through live instruction, Pianote is one of the best online options.
7. Piano In 21 Days – Great piano lessons for adults
Piano in 21 Days is dedicated to teaching busy adults who are starting piano from scratch. As you may guess from the name, Piano in 21 Days structures its curriculum into actionable, incremental daily lessons for learning piano in just three weeks.
Each day includes a 10-15 minute beginner lesson video introducing new concepts. There are also technique exercises, song tutorials, challenge activities, and worksheets to reinforce the lesson. We like the structured daily format since it keeps you accountable without getting overwhelmed.
This course won’t turn you into a virtuoso overnight. But the curriculum ensures you exit with real beginner skills like playing scales, chords, popular songs, and reading sheet music. It’s a great crash course for casual players without time for drawn-out lessons.
Piano in 21 Days is affordable at a one-time fee. We think it’s an ideal course for adults who want to dive into learning piano today in a structured, easy-to-follow curriculum. Knock out the 21 daily lessons whenever you have free time over 3 weeks.
8. Hoffman Academy – Best online piano lessons for kids
Most online piano lessons cater to adults, but Hoffman Academy adapts the format for younger students. Kids get to learn from a teacher with over 30 years experience showing children the wonders of piano.
Hoffman Academy structures lessons into progressive grade levels, from absolute beginner to early intermediate. Lessons incorporate basic theory, technique, fingering, and rhythm skills while teaching enjoyable children’s songs. The video lessons keep kids engaged with bright colors and graphics.
A big advantage of Hoffman Academy is the lifetime access after a single payment. Kids can move through the short 10-15 minute video lessons at their own pace without any pressure. We think Hoffman Academy is ideal for elementary school aged children as a gentle, affordable introduction to piano.
9. Yousician – Solid piano learning app
Yousician takes a gamified approach to learning piano. As you play songs and exercises, you earn scores and badges for hitting the correct notes. Leaderboards and challenges against other players make practicing piano fun rather than tedious.
The curriculum scope is wide, with beginner basics, technique exercises, and thousands of songs spanning multiple genres. Yousician listens with your device microphone and gives real-time feedback, scoring you on accuracy, timing, and rhythm.
While it’s not as comprehensive as other options for complete beginners, Yousician is beneficial for intermediates looking to learn songs and advance their skills. The gaming format incentivizes regular practice. But take care not to get frustrated chasing high scores over quality practice.
One advantage of Yousician is flexibility: subscribe month-to-month or purchase a longer 6-month plan for better value. If you know the basics and want technology to make piano practice fun, give Yousician a look.
10. Simply Piano – Piano learning app for building a foundation
Rounding out our list is Simply Piano, a polished app great for beginners building foundational skills. The step-by-step video courses will take you from first notes to playing popular melodies.
Simply Piano’s structured curriculum helps establish solid techniques and fundamentals. Lessons include note reading, fingering, rhythm, basic chords and intervals. There is also a large song library with classics, Disney, pop, and other fun tunes to learn.
The app listens and provides feedback with on-screen prompts as you play. We like Simply Piano for younger beginners and adult casual learners looking for a clear path to learning fundamentals. It may not be as comprehensive for intermediate players. But the affordable cost and structured lessons are excellent for building a base.
Conclusion
Learning piano online opens up quality instruction to anyone with an internet connection. While there are many options to choose from, we hope these reviews help you discover the perfect online piano lessons for your needs and goals.
The interactive apps make practicing enjoyable and will have you playing songs sooner than you think. Even complete beginners can start developing real piano skills in just a few weeks of consistent practice.
Don’t be intimidated by the piano’s complexity. Online lessons break down concepts into easy steps and give you the tools to progress at your own pace according to your busy schedule.
Take advantage of free trials to experience these top-ranked piano lesson platforms firsthand. With technology bridging the gap of in-person instruction, it’s an exciting time to learn piano online. The joy and benefits of playing this storied instrument are now available to all. Start tickling the ivories today!
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