Classics By Ear – Student Reviews

Students are LOVING the Classics By Ear courses!
Now ANYONE can play their favourite classical pieces.

Pianoforall Classics By Ear Reviews

Jump to a course page on Pianoforall Academy

Erik Satie →  |  Bach Preludes →  |  Moonlight Sonata →

Erik Satie

AN EXCELLENT COURSE

“This is an excellent course. I’ve finished Gnossienne #1 and am working on #2. Not sure if I will do #3 as I am a bit sated on Satie. But the techniques taught enable you to learn the pieces step by step until you perfect it to whatever standard you wish. For me, my playing of #1 is still a bit mechanical, but I can play it without looking at the music and really enjoy being able to. I don’t like to sound like the old guy but I’m 68 and have never played piano (or keyboard in my case) before.

NB I would recommend a piano if you have access. Electronic keyboards don’t do the piece justice. Although I’m a bit over Satie I hope there will some new pieces by different composers in the future. I would definitely want to do those. Highly Recommended.”

Derek B.
Erik Satie

YOUR COURSES ARE ABSOLUTELY SPLENDID

“Just purchased this course too. Couldn’t resist because your courses are absolutely splendid (and to be honest, WELL under-priced – thanks for the absolute BARGAIN!). So I am now the proud owner of all your courses so far, Robin. Looking forward to diving into this one too in the near future! (I might even tackle it along with the Bach if I’m feeling really daring). Yet more splendid tuition – and truly beautiful music – to look forward to… Great stuff indeed! And very addictive…!!! Thanks and God bless, Robin :-)”

Chris H.
Bach Preludes

VERY EASY TO FOLLOW

“Excellent! Very easy to follow. After that course, I learned enough to take on my own some other pieces. I bought all your courses. Please!!!! Do course for Clair de lune”

Vesna Kotnik
Moonlight Sonata

MAKES LEARNING A PLEASURE

“Really enjoying the logical instructions and methods together with the clarity of the diagrams with keys and finger positions- it makes learning a pleasure”

David Edwards
Moonlight Sonata

THE COURSES ARE SO ACCESSIBLE

“I really appreciate the approach you take – learning to play by ear is just so so rewarding but I now realise the 10,000 hours factor is so true -I need to practice productively everyday -which I am yet to achieve but will get there -I have purchased your previous 2 courses and found them most helpful(Classic/Eric Sate )-the courses are so accessible – many thanks much appreciated -I dream of playing Moonlight Sonata to my family -lets see if i can achieve that !!!!”

Mike Purtell
Erik Satie

GREAT PIECES TO LEARN FOR A BEGINNER

“This is exactly the kind of music i was looking for when i stumbled across this course. I like them because they sound classical yet a bit jazzy, which i think would make great background music without attracting attention. I think they are great pieces to learn for a beginner because they are fairly easy to play for the complexity of sound (big bang for the buck!). I took Robin’s ‘Piano for All’ course too which was great so i was immediately sold on this course. Now i can play all three Gnossiennes pretty well.
Nicholas S

I have no words to express to you how good this course is, it’s AMAZING. The videos and PDF and easy to understand. I have learned each song in a matter of 5 days and I can now play them fluently. Wherever it’s a course from Robin hall you can expect to be good. This was such a great investment of my money”

Anya P.
Moonlight Sonata

THIS COURSE IS WONDERFUL

“This course is wonderful. The instructions are detailed and clear, with easy-to-follow demonstrations. I could always get useful tips when I needed them.

I couldn’t possibly manage to learn this beautiful piece without this course, in only 28 days. (last time I wanted to learn it from sheet music and gave up at bar 5…) I played this piece in front of my family and got loads of praise 😀

Thank you, dear instructor. Learning piano has never been this engaging and fun.”

Hua Wei
Moonlight Sonata

EASY TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTION

“This is great course! I never thought I could play this piece and understand it in such an easy to follow instruction. Excellent instructor!”

Felipe Oceguera
Erik Satie

SIMPLY AWESOME

“Just completed this course.
I don’t think anybody make the lessons easier than this lecturer. Simply awesome and I think it’s a kind of psychological approach from the lecturer.
If you learn to play classical piano, please go dive into this right away!”

Tariq H.
Erik Satie

SO FAR IT’S A PLEASURE

I am 55, didn’t ever play the piano, however I do know how to read notes and I love classical music. Sati was not new to me. I enrolled to this course 3 weeks ago and so far it’s a pleasure.
At the beginning I thought it is too complicated as a first piece of music, however after practicing 4 time a week for 10-30 minutes i started to see noticeable improvement, like a magic it became easier and easier. Still I have mistakes and need more practice, however the “music” is there.
I highly recommend!
.


Yoav W
Erik Satie

IT’S BEEN SO HELPFUL

“Really enjoyed this course, it’s been so helpful in learning play Satie’s music. Very gentle, clear instructions and demonstrations on how to get the most out of the piece.”

Marion P.
Moonlight Sonata

INSPIRATIONAL

“I would buy any course by robin hall. This and others i have bought are great and inspirational”

Scarlet Buckle
Erik Satie

SO CONSISTENT AND WELL THOUGHT OUT

I’ve been working on other pieces and just getting back to the Gnossiennes again. The courses are so consistent and well thought out, it’s easy to resume learning.

John M.
Moonlight Sonata

THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE COURSE

“This is an incredible course for a self taught hobby and though it’s difficult to begin with and has to be learnt in piece meal chunks first before putting together when you get to end of sheet one which you don’t think you will ever accomplish at first it really is a gratifying feeling. Just to be able to learn to play a tune you like for yourself in your own time by following along to the guidance this course musician provides aligned with the detailed sheet music has, imo made this a worthwhile hobby I enjoy returning to, so from me it’s a thumbs up.

I have a ways to go yet as I took this up alongside my academic studies which are also a completely new field and this course helps give me that much needed break and escapism all in the comfort of my own home and, not having to worry about being frowned upon by a tutor for hitting those wrong chords or missing that note when practising to string a row of bars together lol. Well worth purchasing in my opinion and presented by someone who has put such effort into their online course to help others interested in and wanting to learn and study at the own pace and, who is worthy of much more praise than I could ever offer up.”

Aidan Jon Walker
Moonlight Sonata

I LOVE THE TEACHING TECHNIQUE

“I love the teaching technique, as it’s really easy to follow and each section is perfectly laid out to be able to learn it by ear. Highly recommended!!!

I’ve been playing guitar since I was 12 and performing to audiences since I was 13, so I need a way to learn the piano that will keep me engaged and this is it! I have already learnt Prelude in C and Prelude in Cm and they are the only two tunes I can play on piano. This will be my third!”

Dave Nicholls
Moonlight Sonata

THIS IS THE BEST COURSE I’VE EVER HAD

“This is the best course I’ve ever had. The teaching technique, simple and helpful explanations, duration of sections, … Everything is just perfectly adjusted.

Thank you so much.”

Gizem Aktuğ
Erik Satie

SIMPLY AWESOME

“Just completed this course.
I don’t think anybody make the lessons easier than this lecturer. Simply awesome and I think it’s a kind of psychological approach from the lecturer.
If you learn to play classical piano, please go dive into this right away!
”

Tariq H.
Erik Satie

I AM NOW 70, I AM MAKING GREAT STRIDES WITH YOUR COURSE

I played Keys as a Young Boy….I am now 70….I was able to read and play music way back then. Now it seems very Foreign to me. I am making Great strides with Your Course and am now starting to get a feel for the piano again..Thank You for Your Knowledge & Presenting it so That I Can Understand and Will Play The Piano Again !!! Again….Thank You.

Denny T.
Erik Satie

DIVIDE AND CONQUER

“This play-by-ear method is a good way to teach piano instead of the old fashioned, boring and difficult method. Divide and conquer, right hand first, then left hand, then play both hands. This method breaks it down to its simplest form and even beginners can play. Practice, practice, practice. Thank you Mr. Robin Hall.
”

Eduardo A. D.
Moonlight Sonata

IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TILL I MET THIS COURSE

“I am 48 yrs old and started learning piano during my late 30s, taking overall 10-15 hours of private courses. I had this sheet music book gifted with my electronic piano when I bought it. I always stared at the notes of Moonlight Sonata and tried to play, but I decided I needed 3 hands to play this song, which meant it was impossible for me! Till I met this course.

I appreciate the efforts of Robin Hall. I have little knowledge of reading notes. I usually unwillingly memorize each song I play while studying, and this is not good as far as I know. Therefore, this course is invaluable for people like me. It took me about 2 months to complete the course (studying only on weekends and in the evenings) and finally today I could play the whole song without mistake. I need to practice more, in order to play in front of my friends and family and to add more expressions. Thank you.”

Yasemin Saygıdeğer
Erik Satie

IT FEELS AMAZING

“Great course. I learned to play the first Gnossienne from start to finish in less than a week by watching this course and I have only been learning classical piano for a couple of months.

It feels amazing to be able to play along with some of the classic Satie recordings and feel that not only do I get the notes right, but I’m also starting to add expression to my playing. Looking forward to future courses applying the same method!”

Jaakko H.
Moonlight Sonata

EXCELLENT WAY TO LEARN

“Excellent way to learn, especially if you never learned to play the formal way. Breaking the piece down into bite sized chunks and learning one section until you have memorized it before learning the next. You’ll be surprised how quickly you can reach a reasonable standard of playing this piece.”

Lawrence The ghostwriter
Erik Satie

YOU’LL BE PLAYING THIS PIECE IN A FEW WEEKS

“Awesome course. Helpful even if you have never played the piano but would take some time to get used to it.
For those who have been playing for 1 or 2 months, don’t be afraid to tackle a proper piece. Just put in an 15 min on top of your normal practice and you’ll be playing the haunting piece in a few weeks.
Playing a piece like this is highly motivating and keeps you going through the simpler pieces that you might be learning”

Alvin L.
Moonlight Sonata

AN AMAZING WAY TO LEARN

“An amazing way to learn playing a piece of music. Before I tried to learn how to read notes, but I’ve never been able to play from a sheet, especially long tunes. Now I realized how easy it is to put letters near notes and be able to concentrate on playing and learning the music, not on reading the notes. After 2 months of everyday practice I now can play the Moonlight sonata and enjoy it. Certainly I have a long way ahead to practice it, but the reading of notes is not a blocker any more. Many thanks for the course.”

Andrei Akimov