Best Piano Lessons Online

If you’re looking for the best online piano classes in 2023, this article is here to help.

With so many online piano courses available it can be hard to know which one is right for you.

Plus, the right class should focus not only on techniques specific to piano, but also skills and tips that will truly make you a much stronger all-round musician. 

That’s why we’ve pulled together this list for the best piano classes of 2023.

I’ve spent some time learning on a wide range of the most popular online piano courses, gradually developing my limited knowledge with every new platform I try. In doing so, I’ve developed a good sense of what to look out for, as well as a few limitations. 

We’ve considered everything, from what content to look out for in a piano class, such as how many songs you learn, what techniques you develop and how quickly you progress as a player, as well as more general criteria, like cost, length of course, how much content is available and, of course, value for money. 

So with that being said, let’s dive right in. 

Which Piano Class is the Best?

These are our top online piano course recommendations:

1. Pianote (check price)
2. Playground Sessions (check price)
3. Flowkey (check price)
4. Skoove (check price)
5. Herbie Hancock Teaches Jazz Piano (check price)
6. Piano For All (check price)
7. The Ultimate Gospel Piano Course (check price)
8. Piano Marvel (check price)
9. Yousician Piano (check price)
10. Piano In 21 Days (check price)

Given the competition between and quality of all of the above sites, choosing the best one may seem like a thankless task. But my favorite site by far is Pianote. 

Pianote is my favorite because, whereas other courses have strengths and weaknesses in different areas, it seemed to stand out in everything. The teaching was top quality, I was able to learn and understand new concepts rapidly, and by the end I was playing things I didn’t think I was capable of. 

It truly was the best value for money. And the best part? You can get started for free here.

Playground Sessions is a unique alternative, as I was amazed by some of the note recognition and assessment technology on the site. Flowkey & Skoove are good options if you’re more interested in learning how to play a couple of songs (rather than developing your musicianship) due to their guitar-hero-esque learning style.

On the other hand, larger platforms like MasterClass and Udemy have the added bonus of a massive range of different courses to choose from with your subscription. This means that the more classes you take, the better the return on whatever you’ve paid.

Overall you can’t go wrong with any of the choices on this list as we’ve really done our research.

But if you are looking for the best of the best, Pianote is the one.

Best Piano Course Reviews

1. Pianote

Platform: Pianote | Teacher: Lisa Witt (and others) | Course length: The main method is 10 levels, with each level containing videos that take 2-3 hours to get through

A member of a music platform dynasty that also includes Guitareo and Drumeo, Pianote is a recent but rapidly growing site dedicated to methodically teaching the piano. 

The courses on this site have a range of instructors, but the main focus is on “The Method”; a 10-step programme designed to take you from beginner to expert using a combination of ear training, music theory and new songs. This is mainly led by Lisa Witt, an experienced pianist and one of the most engaging teachers you’ll ever learn from. 

You will learn:

• The basics of starting your piano journey, including choosing the right instrument
• Chords, keys, and cadences, and what all that means
• How to start sight-reading 
• The major and minor scales, and what is meant by the circle of fifths
• How to train your ear
• Applying all of the above to your favorite songs 
• Where to start with playing in different styles of music
• Where to begin with composing

Pros:

• The course structure is wonderfully methodical, with challenging concepts introduced in a perfect manner
• Content that covers everything a beginner needs
• Engaging teachers who are clearly experienced with and passionate about piano
• Resources including sheet music, visuals and a whole community of fellow learners 
• Emphasis on personal practice; essential for any budding musician
• Develops you as an all-round musician rather than just teaching you songs

Cons:

• Not much content for pianists who are beyond intermediate level
• Could dive into complex musical ideas more clearly at the early stages of the course

Who it’s for: If you have always wanted to give the piano a go, but haven’t found the time, teacher or courage, this is a perfect place to start. This platform is designed for beginners with little to no experience who are ready to see themselves rapidly progress. Intermediates and advanced learners who struggle in certain styles or with music theory also have a lot to choose from.

Overall: Pianote is one of the best, if not the best, ways to learn piano online. By following “The Method”, you will not only see yourself rapidly improve your ability to tinkle the ivories, but you get a general musical education some spend years working on in just a few hours. I loved the format, the teaching style, the content and just the general feel of the site. It is a true testament to how fun and fulfilling learning an instrument can be. If you don’t believe me, I highly recommend you check Pianote out for yourself. 

You can read our full Pianote Review here.

2. Playground Sessions

Platform: Playground Sessions | Teachers: David Sides and Harry Connick Jr. | Course length: On top of song lessons, there are three boot camp courses (beginner, intermediate and advanced) containing 176 video lessons overall that take around 10-15 minutes to complete depending on the difficulty of the lesson. 

Founded in 2010 and therefore one of the earliest sites, Playground Sessions is now among the most talked-about piano learning websites among the online musical community. This is in no small part because of the involvement of high caliber names in the music community. 

Legendary producer Quincy Jones is behind the scenes (and when I say legendary I mean LEGENDARY) whereas Harry Connick Jr., one of America’s most popular crooners, will be leading some of the lessons you take here. 

You will learn:  

• Exercises and songs that illuminate new musical concepts
• All about music notation
• Chords, chord voicing and chord inversions 
• Everything to do with rhythm, from syncopation to subdivision
• How to play with both hands
• Where to start learning music by ear and improvising and playing in different styles

Pros:

• A user-friendly interface with strong visual cues
• Music industry leads taking you through the piano
• A range of technical exercises, including famous songs, to test your knowledge
• The opportunity to add new music to your setlist, even if you’re a beginner
• Wonderfully comprehensive content, with lessons for beginner, intermediate and advanced performers

Cons: 

• Requires a midi keyboard to properly work
• Lacks a little depth on both theory and style

Who it’s for: Pianists looking to develop as all-round musicians, rather than just a few songs. Playground Sessions is much more interested in developing your general musicianship than it is in just teaching you a few new songs. There is content for all levels, but I think that for beginners in particular this is a great place to start. Players with a bit more experience will also find this to be a great source of repertoire.

Overall: If you start your piano-playing journey with Playground Sessions, you can be sure that you are getting a uniquely strong foundation in music that’ll make your life easier later in life. Beginners who go through the boot camp will come out as much stronger pianists than they thought they could be, especially if you stick with and go over the countless practice exercises on offer here. 

You can read our full Playground Sessions Review here.

3. Flowkey

Platform: Flowkey | Teacher: N/A | Course length: As long as you need. 

Flowkey uses note recognition technology so you play a song, progressing whenever you get the right notes. On top of that, there are additional courses with around 5-6 video lessons that take about five minutes to complete. 

Founded in Berlin in 2014, Flowkey takes a very different approach to the sites we’ve gone through so far. Rather than having an actual teacher, this learning method is primarily student led, where the learner will work with the tools on the site to develop their playing in their own time. 

With an incredible library of songs aimed at all skill levels, you will use Flowkey’s tools, like loop mood, learning one hand only and much more, to quickly but naturally develop your ability to play a certain song or exercise.

You will learn:

• A diverse range of songs, literally any song you can think of 
• How to use Flowkeys tools for your learning 
• The baby-step basics, from how to sit to where to place your fingers
• Where to begin with playing with both hands
• How to start your journey with scales and sight-reading
• How to build chords and use them in songs

Pros:

• Effective tools that will help you improve, from playing at slower speeds to looping difficult parts of the song
• An incredible bank of songs to learn, directed at all levels of ability
• Top tips on how to best use your fingers and playing with both hands
• Great visuals, including sheet music, correct notes and a play-along piano
• Scales and sight-reading, the essentials of formally playing piano

Cons:

• Not led by a teacher, which can limit how much you learn
• Even if you play the right notes, there’s much more to a good piano performance that isn’t really explored here

Who it’s for: Anybody who wants to learn new songs on the piano. It’s as simple as that. So whether you’re a beginner, intermediate or expert player, there is a new song, from any time, genre and artist, for you to get stuck into here.

Overall: If you want to learn new music, Flowkey is the place for you. With the effective visuals and tools, you’ll improve far quicker than you would if you were learning on your own. Although you might need to look elsewhere for developing your technique or ear, this is a great place to just get stuck into learning some new music. As someone who plays a lot of music, but for whom piano isn’t the main instrument, I found this a great way to get new piano songs under my belt. Whatever your level of playing, I’m sure you will as well. 

You can read our full Flowkey Review here.

4. Skoove

Platform: Skoove | Teacher: N/A | Course length: Again, depends on how you learn. 

The length of each lesson itself will depend on how long it takes for you to get the song/exercise right, and how many times you want to practice it. Skoove tells you your practice time once each lesson is completed. The average time is around five minutes to complete a beginner lesson. 

Founded in 2014, Skoove is very similar to Flowkey in its visual layout, tools and lack of a teacher. However, whereas Flowkey keeps lessons on theory and songs separate, Skoove combines them. 

This means that any new musical concept you learn will be demonstrated through a popular piece of music that you also go on to learn. 

You will learn:

• Sight-reading, melody and playing with two hands
• Songs to help you practice the new techniques you learn
• Fundamental classical and pop repertoire, from Beethoven to The Beatles 
• Building chords and scales
• Incorporating new key signatures into your playing
• The boogie-woogie style 

Pros:

• Strong visuals that will help you rapidly progress
• You can learn wherever and whenever
• Lessons and songs for a range of abilities
• Learn techniques and songs side by side, and see how they fit together
• Tools like note recognition technology and being able to loop come in handy when learning tricky parts of music 

Cons:

• A little light on depth and detail in terms of theory and style
• No interaction or relationship with a teacher

Who it’s for: Anyone who finds musical concepts a lot easier to understand when they are simultaneously learning a new piece of music that includes that concept. If you want to learn a new piece of music fast, this is the place for you. Although it is intuitively best suited to and probably designed for beginners, there is content for all levels of ability.

Overall: Although other platforms may go into more depth around similar concepts, I can’t fault Skoove for how quickly it teaches you new music. And, at the end of the day, that’s ultimately why a lot of us go into playing the piano. There also aren’t many platforms where you can learn a new musical idea and add a new song to your repertoire at the same time. And the tools and visuals Skoove has means this is done much more rapidly than you might expect. 

You can read our full Skoove Review here.

5. Herbie Hancock Teaches Jazz Piano (MasterClass)

Platform: MasterClass | Teacher: Herbie Hancock | Course length: 4 hours and 23 minutes long, comprised of 25 videos divided into 4 key sections

The first entry on our list that isn’t from a platform devoted entirely to piano (or even music) coincides with the first entry led by a supernova of jazz. Even the average person enjoys a bit of Herbie Hancock, so jazz and piano aficionados worship the grounds he works. 

Founded in 2014, MasterClass aims to teach a range of disciplines from cooking, to skateboarding, to basketball. But each class is led by a world-leading figure within the field. Herbie Hancock fits that bill. 

You will learn: 

• Where to get started with improvisation 
• Developing chords and rhythm
• Writing music with freedom
• Herbie’s top tips when it comes to musical fulfilment
• How to approach the world as a professional musician

Pros:

• Provided with an accompanying workbook that goes into even more detail 
• Combines practical and philosophical advice 
• Taught by one of the greatest pianists of the age 
• Learn to use the piano as a tool for composing
• Goes into depth about a specific genre to which the piano is integral (JAZZ)
• High-quality production value on the video lessons

Cons:

• Not very structured, with some lessons hard to follow
• Only focuses on one genre (as you might expect)

Who it’s for: Anyone who’s interested in jazz piano will find some value in this course. You don’t have to be an expert at all; it’s probably better if you know very little about jazz piano but are keen to find out more, as Herbie will have so much more to teach you. Absolute beginners might struggle, as there is an assumption you’ll know basic music terminology. 

Overall: With such personal insight into one of the kings of this instrument, this course is totally unique. If you’ve gotten to grips with the basics of piano (and I mean the very basics), this is a great place to move on to if you want to dive into the more philosophical ideas around style, composition and improvisation. On top of that, a MasterClass subscription will allow you into a world of other disciplines lead by instructors of an equal calibre to Herbie Hancock. 

Read our full Herbie Hancock MasterClass review here.

6. Piano For All (Udemy)

Platform: Udemy | Teacher: Rob Hall | Course length: 10 hours of on-demand video lessons, accompanied by 9 downloadable resources to work through at your own pace. 

This next course was founded and is led by a man with too many talents to name here. With interest ranging from music, art and therapy, Rob Hall initially began his career selling artwork, before founding Piano For All on Udemy. 

The course now boasts over 300,000 satisfied students, with remarkably strong reviews compared to some other courses on the site. 

You will learn:

• A foundation of rhythm and musical notation
• The all-chords memory trick
• An approach to playing ballads on piano
• Getting started in new genres, such as blues, jazz and rock and roll
• Technical aspects of piano, like scales, triads and arpeggios 

Pros:

• You have the opportunity to play right from the get-go 
• Goes beyond just teaching songs, with attention devoted to developing your ear
• Promotes both hands as important when it comes to learning piano
• Greater insight into playing specific styles than other courses
• Combines visual and audio in teaching

Cons:

• Ignores some aspects of musical notation
• Very Americanised, rather than global, in terms of the styles taught (this is a problem with quite a few sites)

Who it’s for: The clue is in the name. Although the general aesthetic of the site is clearly aimed at beginners, I would also recommend this to both rookies and more experienced players who are interested in developing their skills within a particular style, such as jazz or blues. 

Overall: Udemy as a site offers a lot to choose from when it comes to learning the piano, so there are quite a lot of choices if you want to go for a platform like that. However, Piano For All consistently proves itself to be one of the most popular and acclaimed courses on the site. Just look at the enrollment numbers for proof. This course gives you the rare opportunity of learning all the essential aspects of piano, but with particular references to beloved genres of music. 

7. The Ultimate Gospel Piano Course (Udemy)

Platform: Udemy | Teacher: Kingsley B-Nkrumah | Course length: 6.5 hours of on-demand video lessons, accompanied by 34 downloadable resources to work through at your own pace

All the courses on this list are unique, but this one is particularly special as it focuses on a specific genre. I felt this was important to include, as while most of these platforms are aimed at beginners, I felt it was necessary to prove that there are excellent courses out there for advanced and intermediate players. 

Led by Kingsley B-Nkrumah, whose bio on the Udemy site proves you’re in safe hands, this course is all about the piano’s role in one of the most passionate and forceful forms of music: gospel.

You will learn:

• How to play gospel and contemporary music by ear
• An easy system for learning 7th chords and extended chords
• Chord options for notes inside and outside of the major scale
• Playing your favorite songs using the chords from this chorus
• Playing in jazz, gospel and contemporary styles
• Chord progressions in the above genre

Pros:

• Useful for beginners looking for a jump to intermediate learning
• Gives you lots of options to try for yourself
• A deep dive into an amazing genre of music
• Strong emphasis on chords and chord progressions, which is so essential to contemporary music
• A course actually aimed at intermediate and advanced students, rather than just beginners

Cons:

• Requires you to decide for yourself whether you’re at an intermediate stage, which is very difficult to know

Who it’s for: Advanced to intermediate. That shouldn’t come as a surprise. But that’s a very broad and hard to define group of people, so Kingsley goes into greater depth on the course page, suggesting that beginner players who feel ready to move on (especially if they’ve taken the Easy Piano version of this course) are the ideal audience, as is anyone looking to compose and play chords by ear. 

Overall: As someone who is probably in the intermediate category, who has taken many, many beginner courses, I’m amazed this course exists. So many courses focus on the very early stages of learning, so it’s refreshing to find something aimed at a different kind of piano player. On top of this, the in-depth dive into a specific genre of music, understanding its chord progressions and playing it by ear is a delightfully unique find. 

8. Piano Marvel

Platform: Piano Marvel | Teacher: N/A | Course length: There are 6 levels in the Piano Marvel method, which you go through at your own pace, with songs to learn that increase even further in difficulty

Aaron Garner, who founded Piano Marvel in 2009, certainly has the credentials for the job. After graduating from college with a degree in piano performance, and then gaining five years of teaching experience with college and elementary school students, Aaron felt the need to launch Piano Marvel. The site now uses a unique combination of assessment and self-directed learning to help students start their piano journey. 

You will learn:

• A foundation in classical music, whilst dipping into other genres, like holiday, pop and rock
• Musical notation: whole notes, half notes and quarter notes
• How to practice pieces focusing on only the right or left hand with slice mode
• How to position your hands 
• Scales, triads, chords and inversions 
• Advanced classical styles, like baroque, and some of their distinctive components, such as Alberti bass

Pros:

• Rewards and trophies encourage progress
• Useful tools for beginners like “Wait For Me”, and slicing
• Methodical content that gradually increases in difficulty with your own progress
• Goes into depth with classical technique and terminology where other sites don’t
• Develops general musicianship, with a focus on ear training, notation and signs 
• Sheet music available 

Cons:

• Overwhelming focus on classical music, which many students might not be interested in
• Motivates you with awards, which I believe can sometimes limit learning in music 

Who it’s for: The site, and in particular the method, is aimed at beginners, but with song lessons ranging in difficulty from levels 1 to 18, anybody can use Piano Marvel. Those with an interest in classical music will specifically gain a lot from this site, especially if you have some experience in piano but not in that genre. 

Overall: Piano Marvel is a fantastic way to get your teeth stuck into some piano. The tools here, such as “Wait For Me” and slicing will mean new students can progress much more rapidly than they might’ve initially thought possible. Even with classical music becoming a dwindling genre in terms of popularity, it is so foundational to most of modern and popular music. So the focus on that style here is sure to create some well-rounded pianists. 

9. Yousician Piano (Yousician)

Platform: Yousician | Teacher: N/A | Course length: The game-like interface means Yousician is also a self-paced site. Beyond Level Three, the curriculum divides into classical, pop and knowledge, of which you’re encouraged to learn all three

You’ve almost definitely seen adverts on YouTube for this one. Founded in 2010, by Chris Thür and Mikko Kaipainen, then using the name Ovelin, Yousician is now one of the most well-known music learning platforms across the internet. Its guided lessons and interactive, visual style makes it instantly recognizable. But does it hold up as a site? 

You will learn:

• Songs from a range of genres, varying in levels of difficulty
• The treble and bass clef, and what they mean
• Simple music you can get started with using both hands 
• Scale degrees and accidentals
• Classical pieces from some of the greatest composers of all time
• Playing chords and riffs in a rock and pop style 
• Working on a baseline in the left hand 

Pros:

• An interactive interface many learners thrive when using
• The option to practice using “missions” and “workouts” outside of the main curriculum
• A split focus on classical, pop and general music theory 
• You can cater lesson times to your own schedule, with quick, casual and intense lessons 
• When learning, there are options to choose from whichever notation style works for you
• A vast and expansive song library

Cons:

• Limited content for advanced and intermediate players
• Technology is restricted in terms of what it can teach about performance, and playing with style and feel

Who is it for: The interface of Yousician might lead you to believe it’s for absolute beginners, which I think is a fair assumption. Having said that, the increasing levels of difficulty, as well as the focus on specific genres mean intermediates who want to learn more about pop, or intermediates who want to learn about classical piano also won’t be let down. Yousician is also targeted at people who prefer a self-paced style of learning. 

Overall: Yousician proves how the technology we have today is truly changing how we learn. Not long ago, teaching yourself the piano using this method would’ve seemed unfathomable, but now it is available on a rapidly growing platform. The site is straightforward to use, and the technology it employs will see beginners playing their favorite songs before they know it. 

10. Piano In 21 Days

Platform: Piano In 21 Days | Teacher: Jacques Hopkins | Course length: The clue is in the name. With the main package, you’ll receive one short video a day for 21 days, although bonus material is available

This final entry is perhaps the only one where you get to foster a relationship with one, specific teacher. And whilst I’m fascinated and amazed by the self-directed technology of some of the other sites here, I feel that having an encouraging and knowledgeable instructor to guide you can be indescribably helpful for the early stages of piano. 

Jacques Hopkins began his career as an engineer but always aimed at being an entrepreneur. Founded in 2016, Piano in 21 days is Hopkins chief endeavour, and he can now boast over 4,000 paying students. 

You will learn:

• An introduction to the white keys, and the major chords
• Pop song chord progressions, which belong to countless songs
• Using piano techniques to get started with improvisation 
• How to use the sustain pedal
• Advanced chords and chord inversions
• Scales
• Options and ideas for moving past the course

Pros:

• Personable teaching, as you foster a relationship with someone passionate about the instrument 
• Comprehensive content that gradually increases in difficulty
• The title doesn’t lie (so long as you practice)
• Gets students familiar with chord progressions, from which they can develop their own compositions
• Useful resources, with an e-book, flashcards and more 
• A 5-day free trial with the e-book, ideal if you’re uncertain about learning the piano

Cons:

• Very limited on theory (could be a pro if that doesn’t interest you)
• Could use more musical terminology when explaining concepts 

Who it’s for: Piano In 21 Days is ideal for beginners who want to learn piano in 21 days. How you define “learning” the piano is up to you, but if it means getting to grips with the essential ins and outs of the instrument this course is right for you. Furthermore, if you’re skeptical about self-directed learning, and want a more traditional teacher-student relationship, this course is probably better suited to you than some of the above. 

Overall: As a firm believer in the role a good teacher can play in developing someone’s early skills in a discipline, the passion and enthusiasm with which Jacques Hopkins merely speaks about his course made it really stand out. Here, you’ll cover all the essential aspects of the piano, and while there isn’t much reference to musical theory, the consistency of the lessons delivered and the content within them means this course lives up to its name. 

Learn Piano For Free

Learning piano for free would’ve been unheard of back in the day. But the internet has revolutionised teaching in so many ways, you can receive high quality lessons in this instrument without paying a thing. 

Whilst most of these choices do other paid subscriptions, which gives you access to a lot more content, there are free lessons available. This is particularly helpful if you’re unsure about investing in a platform. 

Here are some of the best places where you can learn piano for free:

• Pianote: Technically not free lessons, but Pianote does offer new students a 30-day free trial
• Flowkey: This site offers up to 8 songs for a range of skill levels, on top of several theory-related offers for free
• Skoove: The opening lessons of Skoove’s beginner, intermediate and advanced courses won’t cost you a thing 

What Are The Advantages Of Taking An Online Piano Course?

Music is such a dense and complex subject, if you’ve never had any experience with learning a new instrument, it may seem like too much of a hurdle to get over. This is particularly relevant to the piano, as it’s the focal point of so much of the music that is composed and listened to. 

But anyone who has spent time on any number of the above courses will tell you that there are so many lifelong benefits to taking piano classes online, many of which you might not have initially considered. 

These include:

• Developing general musicianship: the piano is an introduction to basically all of music theory and is a good base to learn any other instrument 
• A lifelong skill as these skills are much harder to unlearn as they are to learn
• A better sense of routine, particularly as you come to include personal practice in your life
• Learning to deal with persistence, as you see the time you invest in your learning rapidly increase your progress
• Helps the mind in a general sense: studies have shown that learning an instrument is just good for our brains 
• You’ll understand the world better, as music and the piano are important to cultures across time and place, and the genre lessons in these courses offer a deep dive into history 
• And, of course, you’ll impress people with all the amazing songs you’ll learn

With all that considered, who wouldn’t want to get started with the piano? Even if it’s never interested you before!

Buyers Guide: What To Look Out For 

Even the ten courses we’ve gone into detail here with may seem like a lot, but I can assure you there’s thousands of other courses out there on the web. 

Each one will be marketing themselves as the best piano course there has ever been, the number one way to learn music and the ideal course for you. 

But they can’t all be right. 

With so many teachers and platforms vying for your attention (and your money) it’s important to keep a few things in mind before you make any kind of investment in your learning. 

Having looked at all these courses, I’ve developed quite a strong criteria of what works when it comes to learning the piano rapidly, enjoyably and what is the best value for money. 

Here are a few things to look out for:

• The song library, as you are probably keen to learn new music, so it’s important to know what’s on offer here
• Does the site go into different genres, or is it quite linear in what it teaches you?
• Is there an actual teacher to guide you? This is subjective, but I always prefer developing a relationship with an instructor, even if it’s through videos
• Music theory; it may seem boring, but theory is essential to learning any instrument and piano classes must include it to some degree
• The interface and what kind of visuals are on offer to help you learn
• The credentials of your instructor and the site, which shouldn’t be hard to find
• Does the site have content for various levels of playing? 

We’ve considered all of the above factors when compiling this review. We’ve also completed several courses from many of the platforms in this review. Where this hasn’t been possible, we’ve done extensive background research.

How Much Does It Cost To Learn Piano?

There are multiple aspects to consider in terms of cost, with sites pricing their services in all manner of ways to suit almost every type of customer. 

Some courses you can subscribe to for $9.99 per month for one year. This can go all the way up to $497 for a lifetime subscription to everything available. 

The prices can be subject to change, and it’s always important to check out the site to see if there are any discounts or offers available. 

Platforms like MasterClass are particularly interesting to consider when it comes to cost. A subscription here also changes but is currently around $155 a year. However, this grants you access to everything on the site, so the more things that interest you, and the more classes you take, the higher the value of that subscription. 

It’s also worth mentioning that because these sites are so flexible, they are also often cheaper and easier to organise than in-person teaching. 

How Long Does It Take To Learn The Piano?

If you can think back to your school days, you’ll remember that a class of students never grasps a new concept or lesson all exactly at the same time. That would be crazy.

The same applies to the piano. We all have entirely unique experiences that have shaped how we learn. So whilst some grab new concepts in music very easily, for others, it takes a little bit of time. 

The courses in this review all massively differ in their time ranges. Some, like Pianote, offer comprehensive and in-depth levels of learning, totalling around 8-10 hours!

Others, like Skoove and Flowkey, offer a more independent method of learning, where you can get through all the video content in about 15 minutes. For the rest, it’s up to you to practice. 

All the other sites are somewhere in between these two methods. 

But even with this discrepancy in time, how many videos there are or how long it takes to get through them isn’t massively relevant to how long it takes to learn the piano?

Ultimately that’s up to you. 

You can binge the online lessons all in one night (I wouldn’t recommend this) or you can watch five minutes every day. But if you don’t devote a little bit of time to practicing on your own, whether it’s 1 hour a day or 10 minutes a work, it will be a long time before you see any progress. 

Thankfully, most of the platforms here are self-paced, so you can fit in lessons around your schedule, and practice, go over and move on from the new concepts you learn whenever you’re ready.

One thing I would say is if you’ve spent a long time learning on a particular site, and practicing on your own, and you’re not seeing any advances, maybe that site’s style of teaching isn’t for you. That’s ok! As I said, we all learn differently, and thankfully the majority of the platforms here offer some kind of refund or free trial to avoid this problem. 

Conclusion

If you’re looking to learn how to learn the piano, when it comes to online options, you’re a bit spoilt for choice. 

My favorite option is Pianote. No matter what your level of playing, I think this platform has something to offer you. I loved the style of teaching, I felt that their content touched on all the essential elements of playing piano and I was delighted by the small community of learners that formed on the site. 

By following their method, you will learn the piano far more quickly than you thought possible. After that, the site is still useful, as you can dip into learning new styles, genres and techniques. 

MasterClass also interests me as a method of learning. Not only do you get to learn from world-leading instructors, and when it comes to piano, one of my favorite jazz musicians of all time, but a subscription to the site gets you access to various other types of content beyond music. 

So if you want to learn piano from Herbie Hancock, but you’d also love some composing tips from Danny Elfman, or production info from deadmau5, MasterClass might be the site for you. 

Although I personally prefer having in-person instructors, if you’re looking to quickly pick up a few songs at your own pace, the more independent teaching style of Flowkey or Skoove might appeal to you. 

These sites offer an expansive library of songs aimed at all skill levels and use note recognition technology to help you learn them rapidly. 

Hopefully, this article has helped you understand what the best piano course is for you!

Related article: Simply Piano Review

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