Learning Piano
Learning piano involves a lot more than just technique: from how to find good teachers, to what other types of guides are out there, to favorite recommended sheet music. Lots to think about!
This page is a hub of resources for learning piano in any capacity.
And as always, if you have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected]. I love to help out when I can!
Not sure where to begin your piano journey? These posts outline what you need to know to get started: setting goals, picking a piano/keyboard, and finding a teacher or other learning path.
Not sure where to begin your piano journey? These posts outline what you need to know to get started: setting goals, picking a piano/keyboard, and finding a teacher or other learning path.
Chart Your Quest: How to Plan Your Piano Journey
Taking up piano is very much like embarking on an epic quest. You have a…
How Curiosity Keeps Us Happy and Motivated While Practicing an Instrument
This post is part 2 in the Chart Your Quest series, for people wanting to…
Set Yourself Up for Success: Be Specific in Your Goals
This is part 3 in the series on charting your quest, strategizing your piano journey…
Reality Check Your Goals: Mindset and New Experiences
Last time, I focused on why being specific and relevant in your piano journey is…
The Best Piano, Keyboard, and Accessories for You: An Introductory Guide
The best piano, keyboard, and accessories are different for each person, since everyone has different…
Find a Guide: Resources for Learning Piano
Curiosity can teach you a lot about a field. Our ancestors learned a lot about…
Josh Wright’s ProPractice Course on Teachable. Josh is one of my favorite teachers on the internet; his attention to detail and ability to convey specific, technical information through video is impressive. This series helped me improve my technique and get rid of tendinitis. He covers everything from beginning all the way through advanced technique and repertoire, so it’s a truly comprehensive course for learning piano. You can view free samples of ProPractice on his Youtube channel here. Included in the course is entrance into a Facebook group of everyone in the “lifetime access” group, which is a great resource for feedback and discussion on all things piano. That’s been my favorite part of joining this course.
Want to learn more? Check out my review here.
Piano Marvel. This app/program responds to the sound of your playing on the piano. It’s great for sightreading, as the music scrolls with you as you play, but it also includes video technique lessons from some solid instructors. Because of this, it’s the app I recommend most as a supplement to students who want to explore a large library of music. I do recommend it alongside traditional lessons or a rigorous online course like the one above.
They offer regular memberships for free, and if you sign up for premium using this link, you’ll get a 20% off discount.
PianoTV’s Technique Series on Youtube. Allysia is an energetic and fun teacher whose Youtube channel is a great resource, especially for those who are just getting into piano. She covers everything from piano technique, to theory, and even a little history in a way that makes it feel more like a game than sitting down and studying. She also discusses ABRSM and RCM and how to prepare for those exams.
Cedarville Music on Youtube. Steinway artist, Dr. John Mortensen runs this Youtube channel on all things piano. He doesn’t have any intro courses, but he does cover a lot of fundamental-to-advanced piano techniques and does an excellent job explaining each of these. He’s got a fun but professional personality, and I would honestly love to have had him as an instructor in university. Dr. Mortensen also covers a variety of styles and topics I haven’t seen much elsewhere, like Irish music and Classical improvisation. Definitely check out his channel!
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The Selection: How to Pick Piano Repertoire to Increase Momentum and Avoid Frustration. This post covers the basics of picking the right amount of repertoire to learn at once and at the right level. It shows you how to determine what level pianist you are and how to find repertoire (both public domain and pop) for your level.
The Practice Joy Music Practice Journal. This free pdf guide will help you set repertoire goals and organize your practice sessions in a way that inspires joy. Crafting positive experiences in our practice sessions makes us want to practice even more.
In addition to traditional journal pages and the “practice joy” pages, you also get a guide to practicing joy, inspired from the post 7 Steps to Practice Joy While Practicing an Instrument.
Finding Piano Repertoire for Specific Levels
IMSLP’s Piano Pieces by Level Page. You probably already know that IMSLP boasts the largest, free, public domain sheet music library, but they also have this handy list of piano repertoire sorted into 11 different levels. There’s a search function and an easy drop down, so you can find a lot of free, historical music to sightread or perform. I encourage you to find some non-white, non-male composers!
Piano Marvel. This app/program responds to the sound of your playing on the piano. It’s great for sightreading, as the music scrolls with you as you play, but it also includes video technique lessons from some solid instructors. Because of this, it’s the app I recommend most as a supplement to students who want to explore a large library of music. I do recommend it alongside traditional lessons or a rigorous online course like the one above.
They offer regular memberships for free, and if you sign up for premium using this link, you’ll get a 20% off discount.
Henle’s Levels of Difficulty. If you’re trying to decide if a piece is above your level, search for it on Henle’s website. They use a number system to rank pieces by difficulty. Many times they also note what ABRSM and RCM grades they are as well, so this is an excellent resource to help you pick repertoire.
Sheet Music Plus’s Levels of Difficulty. Sheet Music Plus is home to sheet music for any style and any instrument. Composers and arrangers have the option of publishing their works on the platform, which gives you access to a wider variety of sheet music than most other websites. Additionally, they rate their music by difficulty, so you can browse for your favorite tunes, knowing you’ll find something you’ll be able to play!
These posts are to help you figure out what you need to be successful at learning piano. Learn how to pick an instrument; decide whether to use a traditional teacher, an online course, books, or an app; and figure out what mindset you need to accomplish your desires and goals.
These posts are to help you figure out what you need to be successful at learning piano. Learn how to pick an instrument; decide whether to use a traditional teacher, an online course, books, or an app; and figure out what mindset you need to accomplish your desires and goals.
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Free Jazz Lessons from Walk That Bass
Walk That Bass runs a helpful Youtube channel for jazz lovers. This free companion website has so many free resources for learning the fundamentals of jazz; to comping in specific styles (using voicings by Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, and others; to improv and chord progressions.
Hi, I’m Amy!
I’m a 2nd-year PhD studying Music Theory & Cognition.
I love learning about how music plays with our emotions and connects us with each other.
I also love teaching, which is why you’ll find me teaching music theory on social media (@girlinbluemusic).
Music is something I believe everyone should have the chance to learn, so I’m doing everything I can to support affordable music education around the world.
Even if you don’t purchase anything from me, I hope you got at least one big takeaway from this platform: the music you want to make is already in you.
You just need some help getting it out of you!
No matter what you choose to do, I’m here to help you become the best musician you can be!