You can either figure things out for yourself on YouTube or you can use an app like Skoove that provides online piano lessons that can help you learn piano in the way that suits you best, without having to take in-person classes.
Music is one of those things that can catch our attention at a young age and never really let go. Music helps us to define the critical moments in our lives, connects us to emotions and memories, and often is crucial to forming the foundation of who we are as people.
Many people in the world can play the piano. But frequently, their musical education stopped with piano lessons they took as kids. Memories of stern teachers, learning how to read sheet music, lectures about posture, and spending hours and hours practicing scales and theory can suck the fun right out of learning. Even if you manage to stick with lessons long enough, it can take years before you realize the practical aspects of music theory.
However as adults, learning to play an instrument like the piano is one thing that sits close to the top of the list of things that most of us would like to do. These are the three most common scenarios that lead adults to pick up an instrument again:
You took some lessons as a kid and would like to try once more. You never learned how to play but always wanted to. You took lessons for a while, now you want to return to it and upgrade your skills.
Unfortunately, time is the thing that always ends up getting in the way. Life is busy. Between work, kids, and daily chores, most of us never manage to find the time to sit down and practice.
Our options at the moment are pretty limited. But online lessons come to the rescue. You can either figure things out for yourself on YouTube or you can use an app like Skoove that provides online piano lessons that can help you learn piano in the way that suits you best, without having to take in-person classes.
Start your musical journey Fall in love with the music - Learn your favorite songs; whether they're classical, pop, jazz or film music, all at a level that suits you.
Learn your favorite songs; whether they're classical, pop, jazz or film music, all at a level that suits you. Enjoy interactive piano lessons - Learn with courses that help you master everything from music theory, chords, technique and more.
Learn with courses that help you master everything from music theory, chords, technique and more. Get real-time feedback - Improve your practice with rich feedback as Skoove listens to your playing and highlights what went well and areas for improvement. 1 month free trial No credit card details required Start your piano journey now!
What are online piano lessons?
Online piano lessons are a form of musical education that happens using either an app or videos (like on YouTube). The big difference between online piano lessons and regular lessons is the structure. With regular lessons, you’re attending an in-person lesson once a week (usually) with a teacher. Online lessons happen online, as mentioned, and are student-driven, meaning they happen at whatever pace the student is most comfortable with.
How do online piano lessons work?
Online piano lessons work in easy-to-navigate ways. If the piano learning app you have chosen seems difficult to navigate, there is something wrong. Piano learning apps are so easy to use that anyone can learn with them.
The most common way online piano lessons work is that students progress through a structured curriculum designed by professional musicians and educators. The lessons can be repeated as many times as you wish and the material is presented clearly and neatly.
Best apps for online piano lessons in 2023
To help you figure out which platform might be best for you, we’ve put together a list that evaluates the most popular apps for online piano lessons.
Here’s what we looked at for each platform:
Price: What’s their lowest-priced package? Do they offer free lessons?
What’s their lowest-priced package? Do they offer free lessons? Features: What features do they offer? Does it have an in-app keyboard? What about sheet music?
What features do they offer? Does it have an in-app keyboard? What about sheet music? Song selection: Will you be playing cool, modern songs or just the classics? How extensive is their song catalog?
Will you be playing cool, modern songs or just the classics? How extensive is their song catalog? Ease of use: Is it easy to get started or are there a lot of steps between you and the piano?
Is it easy to get started or are there a lot of steps between you and the piano? Who could use it: Is this for beginners? People who’ve played a little? Folks who used to play, but want to get back to it?
To make sure you have a good number of options to choose from, we looked at and reviewed these seven apps to help you become a pianist online:
7 apps for online piano lessons
To help you figure out which online piano lessons might be best for you, we have put together a list that evaluates the most popular apps for online piano lessons.
Here’s what we looked at for each platform:
Price: What’s their lowest-priced package? Do they offer free lessons?
Features: What features do they offer? Does it have an in-app keyboard? What about sheet music?
Song selection: Will you be playing cool, modern songs or just the classics? How extensive is their song catalog?
Ease of use: Is it easy to get started or are there a lot of steps between you and the piano?
Who could use it: Is this for beginners? People who’ve played a little? Folks who used to play, but want to get back to it?
Skoove – great for helping beginners get started and learn a complete set of piano skills
Skoove is the up and coming challenger of online piano learning apps.
Skoove’s lessons are suited for players of all skill levels. You can learn using your phone (iOS or Android), iPad or computer, and can connect with Skoove using either a microphone or MIDI cable.
Skoove does a nice job of introducing beginners to the piano, starting with middle C. Skoove is really geared towards beginners as the app doesn’t just show you the notes and an animated keyboard, it shows you an actual piano player playing along from above. Using video lessons is a great teaching style for visual learners to see when to play the notes as they develop their own internal sense of timing.
Beginners will also appreciate the way Skoove provides feedback. You’re not just learning in a vacuum, as you would with YouTube or other online piano apps. Skoove listens and reacts in a very personalized way to how you’re playing. This feedback can be crucial to developing a true understanding of how to play the piano.
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What’s nice is that Skoove pairs each piano lesson with a familiar song that isn’t classical music. The early beginner lessons, for example, matches learning the finger numbers on the right hand with popular songs like Lean on Me, by Bill Withers. To learn note lengths, you jam to Queen’s We Will Rock You. That modern touch (which includes everyone from Bill Withers to The Beatles) is nice in a world where every other app wants to start you with Ode to Joy.
Skoove offers you the opportunity to play along with a band at the end of a set of lessons. However, they don’t just throw you into it. First, they demonstrate the song. Then you practice it. Then you play with the band. This simple progression eliminates that surprise of having to suddenly adapt to playing a song at full speed. Something budding online pianists will appreciate.
Free lessons available? Yes. Free trial? Yes, one week with CC. Song selection: It’s a great balance of modern and classic songs. 1 month $29.99/month. 3 months $19.99/month. 12 months $12.49/month. Power feature: Songs you recognize and love.
Simply Piano – very popular and gives a solid foundation
Simply piano is available for both iOS and Android devices as an app that contains everything you need to learn piano.It works by using the microphone to listen to the notes that you are playing or by connecting to the device via a MIDI cable. For most users, or anyone serious about using the app, the MIDI cable is the best option, as the microphone can be less reliable at accurate note detection.Simply Piano allows you to select the level that you’re at as a piano player (“beginner”, “took some lessons as a kid”, or “know how to play, but want to get better”) and you can access content specifically designed to help you at that level.�?At the beginner level, things are nice and simple. You get an overview of the first notes you’ll need to learn (middle C, D, E) and it progresses nicely up through to F and G. It feels very much like a game.Once you have completed the lessons, you get to the Singer Duet feature. This is an excellent feature that helps you get used to playing with other musicians using backing tracks.
Free lessons available? Yes.
Yes. Free trial? Yes, one week with CC.
Yes, one week with CC. Song selection: A mix of modern and classic.
A mix of modern and classic. Lowest plan: $119.99/year or $9.99/month.
$119.99/year or $9.99/month. Highest plan: $59.99/3 months or $19.99/month.
$59.99/3 months or $19.99/month. Power feature: Singer Duet is a nice feature to help players work on timing but it takes a bit of getting used to.
Yousician – where the emphasis is on fun!
Yousician is one of the more well-known music learning apps. They have run a strong campaign targeting anyone who searches for music tutorials on YouTube. If you’ve been googling for online piano lessons, chances are you’ve seen them. Yousician is available for Android or iOS tablet or phone. They also give you the option of logging in through a computer using either the mic or a MIDI cable. Similar to the other apps, you can select what level you’re at as a piano player. One nice feature that they offer is Workouts. These let you focus on certain skills that you feel are either important or need work.In some ways Yousician feels a bit like playing Guitar Hero in the way it runs you through the lessons and teaches you how to “hit notes” in an engaging way, making it fun for beginners.
Free lessons available? Yes.
Yes. Free trial? Yes, one week with CC.
Yes, one week with CC. Song selection: A wide range, from classical to modern, and everything in between.
A wide range, from classical to modern, and everything in between. Lowest plan: $89.99/year or $7.49/month.
$89.99/year or $7.49/month. Highest plan: $209.99/ year or $17.49/month.
$209.99/ year or $17.49/month. Power feature: Workouts.
Piano Academy –great encouragement for kids
Piano Academy has been around since 2018 and provides a solid app that helps introduce people to online piano lessonsIt covers all the bases you’d hope to see when learning the piano, starting with Middle C and working from there. You can work with both a real piano or use an on-screen keyboard while you’re learning, which is perfect for someone who wants to see if the piano is right for them.Unlike some apps, it starts off using songs that are familiar but not contemporary. Starting with popular songs like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and If You’re Happy and You Know it. These are standard songs for beginning players. Piano Academy is an app geared towards kids that covers the fundamentals well and gives a solid foundation of piano basics.
Free lessons available? Yes.
Yes. Free trial? Yes, one week with purchase of a monthly plan.
Yes, one week with purchase of a monthly plan. Song Selection: A mix of popular music and classical music. None available on the free plan.
A mix of popular music and classical music. None available on the free plan. Lowest plan: $14.99/month.
$14.99/month. Highest plan: $6.99/week.
$6.99/week. Power feature: It’s very engaging for kids.
Online Pianist –a focus on great song selection
Online Pianist is less of an online piano lesson app and more of a way to learn songs online. OnlinePianist offers a platform for song tutorials you can use once you know how to play the piano basics. It can be used on iOS and Android devices, as well as a computer with a mic.The program provides a dashboard that allows you to control settings like tempo. It gives you the ability to break the song down by individual hands, so you can first learn what the left hand is doing, then the right, and combine them in the end.OnlinePianist has an excellent selection of songs to choose from, ranging from popular artists like Taylor Swift to anime theme songs. It is nice that you get the same selection of your favorite songs on the free tier as you do on the paid plans. However, the paid plan gives you access to songs across all your devices and you never lose access to the songs. The key takeaway? Great for learning new songs if you already have the fundamentals.
Free lessons available? Yes, with ads.
Why is the piano so important?
It sharpens fine motor skills, improves dexterity and hand-eye coordination. Music has also been shown to reduce heart and respiratory rates,...
Yes, one week with CC. Song selection: Everything from popular hits to cartoon theme songs.
Everything from popular hits to cartoon theme songs. Lowest plan: $59.88/year or $4.99/month.
$59.88/year or $4.99/month. Highest plan: $39.96/3 months or $9.99/month.
$39.96/3 months or $9.99/month. Power feature: A great selection of songs to learn — once you know how to play.
Playground Sessions –structured piano lessons with well-known instructors
Playground Sessions is a powerhouse of a piano app that was put together by legendary music producer Quincy Jones and features lessons by notable pianists like Harry Connick Jr. Like other platforms, you can use it with your computer, as well as on an iPad.Playground Sessions provides a 30-day free trial, with a credit card. This gives you the ability to explore in-depth before committing.Most classes in Playground Sessions are provided by instructor David Sides who walks you through each piano lesson before you try things for yourself. Video lessons are a nice touch compared to other alternatives, which rely on the app itself to walk you through the content. The beginner section includes an impressive 84 lessons, so plenty to choose from when you start.
Free lessons available ? No.
? No. Free trial? 30-day trial with a CC.
30-day trial with a CC. Song selection: Runs the gamut from Christian gospel to rock music.
Runs the gamut from Christian gospel to rock music. Lowest plan: $149.99/year or $12.49/month.
$149.99/year or $12.49/month. Highest plan: $24.99/month
$24.99/month Power feature: Lessons taught with a well-known instructor.
Hoffman Academy –a great way for kids to learn online
Hoffman Academy uses what’s known as the Hoffman Method and is very much geared towards children.The Hoffman Method relies on a multisensory technique that taps into children’s natural curiosity and helps kids connect with music and learn to play online. This method of teaching piano that doesn’t just rely on memorization, rather, it provides a complete online musical education. It also introduces technical concepts and music theory when kids are ready, not when the teacher says it’s time to learn arpeggios.Hoffman Academy is a great platform for people who like to have human interaction. Not only is the video content taught by Mr. Hoffman, but you can also interact with the Hoffman Academy right as you go through the lessons — they seem to be online most of the time, as they respond pretty fast.Unlike the other platforms we have looked at, this is the only one that does not have an app that comes with it. It is done entirely on the computer and is the closest to having an actual piano teacher. Hoffman Academy teaches by providing an instructional video (led by Mr. Hoffman) that is followed up by a guided activity. If you like having that human element, Hoffman Academy might be for you.
Free lessons available? Yes.
Yes. Free trial? No, but the free plan is very generous.
No, but the free plan is very generous. Song selection: Mostly geared towards children, with songs like Hot Cross Buns and Mary Had a Little Lamb.
Mostly geared towards children, with songs like Hot Cross Buns and Mary Had a Little Lamb. Lowest plan: $179/year or $15/month.
$179/year or $15/month. Highest plan: $18/month.
$18/month. Power feature: Great for kids with a lot of free material.
Picking the piano learning app that’s right for you
When it comes to choosing the best way to learn to play piano, it helps to approach the decision the same way you’d look for a teacher. Forget about online versus offline lessons.
Think about what you need to have to do your best learning and think about what you want to get out of playing the piano.
What style of piano lessons works best for you?
Does it help you to play along?
Do you want to learn a song right away?
Do you consider song tutorials to be helpful?
Answering these questions can help get you pointed in the right direction when choosing the online piano lessons that suit you best.
Skoove gives you access to all styles of music, music theory, and feedback. At Skoove, we want to empower you with all the skills you need to master the piano. Our focus isn’t just on understanding the mechanics of how to play the piano but also on the ear training that comes with it.
This training helps you gain a deeper understanding of music and makes playing, and listening to music, that much more enjoyable. Skoove makes it easy for people who want to learn but struggle to find the time in their hectic lives.
It helps foster the connection that you had to music when you were younger by using your favorite songs that fueled your passion for music in the first place. Excited to dive into your first few online piano lessons? Start your Skoove free trial today.
Online piano lessons FAQ
Author of this blog post:
Eddie Bond is a multi-instrumentalist performer, composer, and music instructor currently based in Seattle, Washington USA. He has performed extensively in the US, Canada, Argentina, and China, released over 40 albums, and has over a decade experience working with music students of all ages and ability levels.
Piano Guidance
Photo: Charles Parker
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