How Pianoforall Works
Pianoforall is designed mainly for adult beginners and people who may have learned some piano in the past and would like to start again.
The basic idea is simple: play first, read later.
Play First, Read Later
Most piano methods begin with reading music.
Pianoforall does it the other way round.
I like people to enjoy making music first. So you’ll learn some simple chords, play rhythms and songs, and only then start looking at the written music.
I think that’s a much easier and more enjoyable way to learn.
Start With Chords
Chords are at the heart of most music, so that’s where we begin.
You start with a few simple chord shapes and learn how to move comfortably between them. Then you use those chords to play some of the most common rhythms found in popular music.
This means you’re making music almost from the beginning rather than spending weeks learning scales and reading exercises before you can play anything.
More importantly, you’re not just learning individual songs. You’re learning chord shapes, rhythms and patterns that you can use with hundreds of different songs.
Small, Carefully Crafted Steps
One of the most important things about Pianoforall is the way the course is structured.
You learn in small, carefully crafted steps, with each new exercise adding something to what you can already do.
You might begin with three simple chords.
Then learn a rhythm.
Then change the rhythm slightly.
Then add a melody note or a fill.
Gradually, something that started off very simply begins to sound much more like complete piano playing.
As you work through the course, you build up a collection of skills, patterns and techniques that you can apply to all kinds of music.
What You’ll Learn
Rhythm Styles
You’ll learn a variety of rhythm patterns that you can use with hundreds of popular songs.
Rather than learning every song from scratch, you’ll begin to recognise the chords and patterns that songs have in common.
Ballads
You’ll learn how to turn ordinary chords into flowing broken-chord patterns and gradually add melody notes and fills.
You’ll also learn how to use the sustain pedal properly, which can make an enormous difference to the sound of your playing.
Blues and Rock ‘n’ Roll
Blues is a great introduction to improvising.
You’ll learn some simple left-hand blues patterns and start experimenting with just a few notes in the right hand.
You’ll also learn some classic blues and rock ‘n’ roll rhythms and riffs.
Jazz
Jazz can seem complicated, but you don’t need to understand lots of theory before you can start playing it.
You’ll learn some useful jazz chord shapes and rhythms and gradually begin improvising with them.
As you progress, I’ll explain more about why these chords and patterns work.
Playing by Ear and Improvising
All the chord and rhythm work gradually helps you recognise things when you hear them in other music.
You’ll learn how to work out chords and melodies by ear and how to improvise using notes that fit naturally with the chords.
The aim is to get you to the stage where you can sit down at a piano, work out the chords and rhythms of a song and simply play.
What About Reading Music?
Pianoforall definitely isn’t against reading music.
I just don’t think it has to be the first thing you learn.
It’s a little like the way we learn language as children. We learn to speak long before we learn to read and write.
With Pianoforall, you start by listening, watching and playing. Reading music is then introduced gradually as you progress.
Because you’ve already played much of the music, the notes and rhythms on the page should make more sense when you see them.
Eventually you’ll be able to learn from written music as well as playing from chords, memory and by ear.
Moving Into Classical Music
Understanding chords and patterns can also make classical music much easier to learn.
A classical piece can look like hundreds of individual notes on a page, but very often those notes are built around familiar chords and patterns.
Once you recognise those patterns, there’s much less to remember.
This is something I’ve developed further in my Classics By Ear courses, where I use the same approach to teach pieces by Bach, Beethoven and Satie.
You learn the music by ear first, with the written music there to help you as you progress.
How the Lessons Work
The lessons are short and practical.
I’ll demonstrate something and then you can try it yourself. If it’s difficult, you can simply replay the lesson and work through it as many times as you need.
The important thing is that each lesson builds on what you’ve already learned. You’re not constantly being given completely new things to remember.
And because it’s an online course, you can learn at your own pace. There’s no need to keep up with anyone else.
How Much Should You Practise?
You don’t need to practise for hours.
Fifteen or twenty minutes regularly is much better than one long practice session every week.
If something is difficult, slow it down and practise just that small section until it starts to feel comfortable.
Then put it back into the rhythm or piece you’re learning.
Some things will seem difficult at first and then suddenly become much easier after a few days. That’s simply part of learning to play piano.
What If I Get Stuck?
Everyone gets stuck occasionally.
Chord changes are difficult
Slow them right down. Look for notes that the two chords have in common and keep those fingers in place where possible.
I can’t put both hands together
Practise each hand separately first. When each part starts to feel comfortable, put them together very slowly.
The pedal sounds messy
Try changing the pedal when the chord changes. It takes a little practice, but you’ll soon begin to hear when the sound is becoming too blurred.
I’m finding something too difficult
Go back a little.
Because the course builds gradually, difficulty often means that an earlier skill hasn’t quite become comfortable yet. Spend a little more time with that and then try again.
What Do You Get?
You can use Pianoforall on your computer, tablet or phone.
The online course remembers where you stopped, and you can replay lessons or change the playback speed whenever you need to.
You also get the Pianoforall ebooks with the video and audio lessons built into them, so you can download them and learn offline.
You pay once and have lifetime access to the course, so there’s no need to rush.
There’s also a money-back guarantee if you decide Pianoforall isn’t for you.
Who Is Pianoforall For?
Pianoforall is mainly designed for adult beginners.
It’s also very suitable if you had piano lessons years ago and would like to start again, or if you’ve tried learning before but never really got very far.
Teenagers can use the course too.
For younger children, I’d generally recommend a course designed specifically for children.
Some Common Questions
I’m a complete beginner. Will it be too difficult?
No. Pianoforall starts right at the beginning and everything is introduced in small steps.
Do I need a MIDI keyboard?
No. You can use an acoustic piano, digital piano or keyboard. Pianoforall doesn’t require MIDI.
Will I learn to read music?
Yes. Reading music is introduced gradually rather than being the starting point.
Can I use Pianoforall alongside lessons with a piano teacher?
Absolutely. There’s no reason you can’t use Pianoforall alongside ordinary piano lessons.
Can I take a break?
Yes. You have lifetime access, so you can stop and come back whenever you want.
Is there a money-back guarantee?
Yes. If you decide Pianoforall isn’t for you, you can ask for a refund. Full details are given when you purchase the course.
Try Pianoforall for Yourself
Probably the easiest way to understand how Pianoforall works is simply to try it.
The Free Test Drive gives you some free lessons so you can see how the course works and try the teaching method for yourself.
Take the Free Pianoforall Test Drive
