Pianoforall – Reviews

“Robin, You can put me in your Highly Satisfied Customer list! I’m in the process of working my way through the first book for the second time, and I’m stunned at how much I have learned! I’ve wanted to learn to play this way for years–decades, actually. I’ve bought courses, begged friends who play this way to teach me (they said they couldn’t teach it), tried to learn it myself, and had finally pretty much given up. And now, I’ve learned more in ten days than I ever could have imagined! Thank you!”

Hi Robin, I have been testing out your Piano for All series with my pupils who are 7-12 years old.

I usually use the Piano Adventure Series with them but I find that the classical ‘I, IV, V’ chord names they teach need to be supplimented by the ‘letter’ chord names so that children can understand they are the same thing just said differently. I downloaded three different chordal piano series and brought several books but I found yours to be the easiest to use with my pupils. The children are not the fastest but the great thing about children is that they don’t expect to learn things all in one go and are happy plugging away slowly each week.

I find that once they get to book 2B they are ready to have the Piano Adventure Series supplemented with your series. I have several of boys who really like Jazz and Rock so this method should be very good for them. The problem with children who are only trained using the classical method is that when they reach high school and wish to ‘join a band’ they have no idea what the guitarists etc are talking about. I’m sure that your method will make that transition a LOT easier.

I have only brought one copy but now that I have used it for a few weeks and the pupils are interested in it I am planning on getting my pupils who are benefiting from it to buy it themselves. So you can expect to see a few sales from New Zealand in future.

Thank you for such a well thought out and presented series. Regards,

“Hi Robin, I recently purchased your product and I have to tell you: it’s absolutely wonderful!!! I’m still quite a beginner but I can follow your instructions and feel I improve daily! Though I have to admit I watch and listen to the videos thousands of times – but once it clicks in – it’s delightful. Thanks ever so much for your efforts of putting this whole set together, I’m really glad I’ve found you!

(later update)

Hi Robin, You are absolutely welcome to use my testimony (even the one I’m writing now… feel free to select only what you want to put in) and feel free to give my e-mail address to people – I would gladly tell them how much your material helped me!

I have to admit I did purchase a material (which by the way cost much more than yours) about 3 years ago, I was really eager to learn but it was so hard to follow that I got totally discouraged and since than I’ve hardly touched my keyboard. I got frustrated as my limited playing sounded boring and when I asked anyone (including a piano teacher) I was told: don’t worry just keep practicing. Now I know I was right – practicing what? If I don’t have a foundation – what can I build upon? This material has just given me this foundation – I didn’t only learn lots of rhythms and styles but I had my breakthrough in the ballad style for the first time The material is obviously not just for me who’s just starting this journey but for the more advanced ones too, so I saved the whole set for later times and keep coming back to it.

As you can tell Robin I am very happy – as what I learnt from you I’m sure I would have paid a fortune to teachers for not even near this high quality! You made it really affordable “

“Hi Robin, Recently bought your series and think it is incredible.  My mother was a classically trained pianist and my father was a bar room “by ear” player and I always wanted to be sort of combination of them.

Your set of books has made it all fun for me again.  Could never be bothered by all the technical stuff, just wanted to sit and play.  Piano For All is great. Thanks, Andy”

“Dear Robin, I just wanted to say thanks for all your help! I’m so excited to start, I’m getting ready to go down to my piano now… I looked at 6 different online courses and almost bought two before I came across yours, I’m so glad I waited. Yours was better laid out, with more info and a professional feel, yet with ease that looked appealing! Thanks a million…”

“First testimonial Just from looking at the course. Feel free to use it for advertising if you need to.

Robin, Words to describe your course… Simply Unbelievable!
I just bought and downloaded everything to my computer. The process was so easy. I am a 56 year old guy who has wanted to play the piano my entire life. I really have not jumped in to doing the course as of yet, because I’ve been spending the whole day browsing through it all.

I dug my musical instruments out of the closet [2 guitars and Yamaha keyboard] wiped off the dust ordered your great piano course and now I’m ready to make some music. From browsing through the course I can tell you it’s all there. Nothing is left out! I am so excited to get started, so thanks for everything at such a great price.

Best Regards,”

“Hi Robin, This is a rattling good course. I have only just started on the tutorials and I really like the way you break down the accompaniments into separate styles.

I have bought quite a few courses and they all have their good points, but it’s good to learn from someone who is doing some teaching [to the musically dyslexic such as myself], and not just showing what a great pianist they are.

I have played guitar and banjo for a few decades and it is good to be able to move sideways into  keyboards. The way you present it, it is almost as if, when teaching the various piano styles, you are talking about guitar / banjo rolls, which is something that I understand. Good stuff, sir. I look forward to seeing whatever else you produce. All the best.”

“Why piano is not explained in the manner that PFA teaches is completely beyond me! Why most piano teaching starts out in a classical mode (the books and methods all seemed geared towards this goal) is beyond me! It is akin to teaching teenagers to drive a car BUT before they can do so they must FIRST have 4 years of physics class to understand motion and acceleration, etc.

Anyway, sorry to rant but to say I’m pleased with the course would be an understatement. I’m thrilled. I’m not one who deludes himself to think that this course will have me opening for Randy Newman anytime soon or will be throwing out some Art Tatum tomorrow, but it has given me a great grounding for further exploration of the piano in the future without the fear that I’m not good enough or that the piano is unfathomable.
Thanks so much. Sincerely – Bob Bowen”

“Hi Robin, Just wanted to say that although I have only just begun to tackle the 1st book, on nearing completion, I have learned more in the last couple of weeks than I have in years of messing around trying to cobble bits and pieces of theory and practice together – without I may add any success.

As a teacher myself I know how important it is to get into the head of the learner in order to discover ways to make things innovative and creative in order that things may stick. So far, from the very simple but incredibly effective way you have put this first book together, you have shown that you have a real talent and an intuitive way of teaching.

I only hope the others in the series are as good as this on – I’m sure they will be; just wish I had more time to explore them!! Regards
Paul”

“Dear Robin, Really I have said it all in the subject title!  I am thoroughly enjoying your piano course.  Although not a total beginner, I have not played for years and I did not reach a great standard when I did play. I was somewhat daunted at the thought of all the boring practice exercises I would have to do again, even though I know it is worth it in the long run, but you have turned my ideas round.

I have even been heard singing (!) some of the tunes (and believe me I have NO voice!) while playing through the various chord exercises.  I never did that before.  Also, the way you set out the course, with the little audio clips, is very good for making me really listen to the music – another simple thing I didn’t realise I was not properly doing before.

The video clips are also excellent – actually to see what I should be doing is so helpful.  The fact that I can return over and again to any part I feel I need to improve is a much better way of proceeding.  You can’t phone up a piano tutor every five minutes if you have forgotten something.  I have only worked through Book 1 so far, but I am much encouraged. Again, thanks, Yours, Rosalind”

Hi Robin, just finished downloading and all is working perfectly again. Subfolders now have contents and are stored on my desktop.

Thanks for your rapid replies to my queries. I wish I had the dedication to study your books every day, they really are working and the videos help tremendously. I can play something that sounds decent very quickly which is very encouraging. Thanks again

“Robin:  I just wanted to write and tell you that your course exceeded my expectations.  I have purchased home piano courses in the past, but could never seen to make any real progress.  The lessons were either too complicated right from the start that I got frustrated and quit or there was too much theory and not enough actual playing music.

Then, I decided to give your course a try.  Is it possible to have fun while practicing the piano.  The answer in this case is yes. The video’s are easy to follow and each lesson presents something new, but builds on the previous skills you have learned. You still have to practice, but the practice is fun.  The lessons allow you to play and hear recognizable rhythms, while at the same time you are learning chords and music theory: a great way to learn! I actually look forward to practice every day.”

Hi, I just wanted to say thank you for the fantastic Piano Tutor Books.  I am nearing the end of the first book and can now confidently say this is the best tutor book I have ever come across.  I find your method of teaching piano from a rhythm standpoint very helpful.  I have been playing guitar for some years and as a result I have been able to relate really well to your method.

I found with the standard way of learning Piano from other books,  that I was struggling from the start.  To use the guitar analogy it would be like trying to play like Eric Clapton from day one.  Using your method, I found that I could gain pleasure from playing a backing rhythm almost immediately, just like strumming a song on the guitar. Once again many thanks.

“Ok that’s all done. Well done for putting together such a well informed product and delivering it in a logical and progressive manner.
Here is my testimonial if you would like to use it.

Robin, I have found your product to be the breath of fresh air that my piano playing has needed. It is really quite an outstanding approach for people like me who have some piano experience already. I just can’t wait to get to the later books. Well done for putting together such a well informed product and delivering it in a logical and progressive manner. Kind regards,”

“Hi Robin, Just wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying your Pianoforall course. It is very very well put together, with simple tuition video’s and very enjoyable exercises.

Like many people I have struggled with traditional piano courses but have found the chord based approach very much easier and satisfying to play. My main aim is to play rock and blues based piano and already book one has given me a huge start on the techniques and ‘turnarounds’ needed for this type of playing.

Thank you very much. I am very satisfied with my purchase and am very happy for you to use my testimony for others. Regards,”

“Hi Robin, Started with the first book today, and I must say that this is excellent material.
I used to play the electric organ when I was a kid, and my problem is that I never really learned how to use my left hand, since I was taught to just play straight cords with that hand.

Your course has really showed me the way after a few hours of practice and I look forward to learning more from the rest of the books. Best Regards”

“Hey Robin we have spoke awhile back about your course..I started on book one and it is awesome..

I play acoustic guitar and sing but i am so excited to play piano now, and it so easy to create chord progressions with your method that the second day already im playing let it be progression. Thanks..it was a blessing finding you, music is my life.”

Hi Robin, I’ve recently purchased your course on piano for all and have found it to be really exciting and easy to understand. Thank you for a wonderful course .  Kind Regards

“I’ve just started your book n°1 and found it great. This is a very pedagogical way of thinking the language of piano. I tried some chords and it sounds like “REAL MUSIC’. As a french beginner, I thought I would have some difficulties with the course in english but in fact you are using very simple words and it is very easy to understand the explanations.
Thank you very much for this great course”

“Hi Robin,I received the CD of the complete pianoforall series in good time today , so thankyou for that. Just let you know, I’m just about through the first book, and i must say its been wonderful so far. You’re right how quick one can pick up piano basics so quickly, and further more such an interesting teaching technique. So I am really getting a lot out of it. Cheers”

Hi Robin, I like how you set out the course. I think it’s important to be able to sit down and just play a few simple tunes early on or else you just get bored and give up.

I found the videos the best. I’ve read about the circle of 5ths before but only after your demonstration realised I had mis-understood it and how useful it is.

The only trouble I have is getting the time for practise…but then I can’t expect you to sort out all my piano problems  Keep up the good work.

“Robin, Thanks for the information!  I really like all your memory techniques….I have never been exposed to that before….they really help. I had my doubts about an on-line course but this is by far the best instruction I have ever had. Anyway…. thanks again.”

“Hi  Robin, I love your course, you are a Great Teacher with have a really effective way to teach, I like your format, and explanations of the lessons, easy to understand and very effective.

I would have never learned these techniques with any other course, at least not without years of study. Thanks Again,  Take Care”

“This program definitely helps me understand chords and read sheet music very easy. Greatest piano program ever. Its worth ten times the price.”