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

WELL STRUCTURED AND EASY TO FOLLOW

“Really good, finished 1st gnossienne. The lessons are well structured and easy to follow! I hope Robin will do more music pieces from different composers in the future! I highly recommend his “pianoforall” course as well, that is truly an incredible value for money where you will learn, rythm, blues, ballad, classic, sight reading and get plenty of practice improvising.

Robin also has a fantastic way of teaching where you both learn to play AND understand what you play as you follow.”

Jakob L.
Moonlight Sonata

SO EASY TO FOLLOW

“I’ve always wanted to learn this piece of beautiful music when I first it when I was young. This course is so easy to follow and with a lot of practise and determination I can now play it through memory. The ability to just sit down at a piano and play this give me so much pleasure. I’m so grateful to you for sharing this. Thank you”

Peter Corrigan
Erik Satie

I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THIS COURSE

“I thoroughly enjoyed this course.
I had heard Satie’s Gymnopédies before, but not the Gnossiènes, and didn’t really know what to expect. I initially found the musical scores a little overwhelming and intimidating when I first downloaded and looked at them, and doubted that I would be able to play them without a LOT of effort.
Although I am not a complete beginner anymore and have been playing the piano for about a year now, Satie’s pieces are not exactly easy!
But Robin has structured this course extremely well, breaking down each of the three pieces into logical sections. I loved learning these pieces in such a manageable, step-by-step way.
Although I have finished the course now, I realise that I will need to put in a lot more practice to feel really comfortable with the left hand jumps and chords and the strange-sounding right hand melodies, and to be able to bring it all together in a moving, expressive way – and to do so consistently, without errors.
Robin, thank you so much for guiding us through these beautiful pieces. I hope you’ll offer more courses like this in the future.”

Regine L.
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

THE MUSIC IS GORGEOUS

“My son, who is 10, has been learning piano through online courses and tutorials for about a year. We got him this one as he has been looking for some beautiful but challenging pieces. He absolutely loves it. It took him a few days to learn each piece. The instruction is clear and helpful, and the music is gorgeous. It’s amazing to see how he has grown with this course and lovely to hear him play these, with increasing confidence and feeling, throughout the day each day. As a course, we couldn’t recommend this highly enough. Our only suggestion would be to offer a follow-up to this one to teach the Gymnopedies. We would be the first to enrol!”

Lesia S.
Bach Preludes

“This is teaching at its BEST. The instructor goes step by step, giving clear instructions, and giving various tools to help you play and memorize the pieces. Thank you!”

Silvia Hammond
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

YOUR COURSES ARE JUST WONDERFUL

“Thank you so much Mr. Hall. I am really excited about learning to play a movement from a Beethoven sonata. I have derived hours of pleasure from your Bach’s Prelude in C major, and am continuing to work on the Prelude in C minor. Your courses are just wonderful, especially for older people like me who have always wanted to play classical music on the piano.”

Clyde Fisher
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

WONDERFUL AND EFFECTIVE TEACHING

“Playing this piece has always been a dream for me; I cant believe I actually made it through this course. I can now play the entire first movement of Moonlight Sonata by memory.
Thank you, Mr. Robin Hall for your wonderful and effective teaching.”

Noellah Jeannica
Erik Satie

I ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF IT

“I am a 70 year old advanced beginner who has never tried to learn anything on my own without an instructor by my side. This was also my first attempt to play classical music. I had a great time, enjoyed every minute of it and felt like I did have someone to guide me through all of the pieces. I thought the presentations were very well organized and easily understood. I would definitely sign up for more of these. A great way to enjoy sheltering in place. Thanks again.”

Paul B.
Moonlight Sonata

THE BEST EVER METHOD

“The best-ever method to learn a song. it took me a while to finish this course but it absolutely worth it. I learned 3 more pieces of Classics By Ear – Erik Satie from Robin too and I’m happy that I chose Robin to be my teacher. I’m really looking forward to learning more from him. Wish you the best.”

Ehsan Ghafourian
Erik Satie

EVERYTHING SEEMS SO EASY

“WOW this instructor teaches in such an easy way to understand. From breaking down the sheet music to how to play expressively, everything seems so easy (because of the instructor). Thank you so much!! I learned the first Gnossienne in less thank a week. Fantastic!”

Eric K.
Moonlight Sonata

I AM IN AWE

“Although this is challenging for me I am in awe regarding Robin’s awesome method of teaching.”

Nancy Beggin
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.
Erik Satie

WORKS FOR BEGINNERS

“Great course and very good instructor, videos, resources. As far as I can tell this course also works for beginners if you are patient. I started learning piano six months ago (practicing 30-60 minutes per day) and started this course two months ago. Now I am already able to play Gnossienne no.1 quite well and just started learning number 2.”

Jochen S.
Moonlight Sonata

I AM VERY HAPPY I SUCCEEDED

“I just finished my course, Moonlight sonata… I am very happy. Robin Hall is an excellent teacher. I thought I wasn’t going to be able to learn the whole sonata, but I did. My husband and children are very surprised with the results. I feel very happy because playing the piano was my dream since I was a child and even though I am now an adult, I succeeded. I love classical music dearly. THANK YOU VERY MUCH PROFESSOR ROBIN HALL !!!!”

Juana Rozo
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.
Bach Preludes

HANDS DOWN THE BEST CLASSICAL PIANO COURSE ONLINE

“Another awesome course from Robin. This is my third course from Robin on Piano. Loved the piano-for-all (still in progress) and the Erik Satie (finished 2 out of 3 pieces) and now this preludes from Bach enriching my musical journey. A very nicely and carefully created course content. To be honest, its little more than I required (as I’ve been consistently playing for over 10 months now) but I can understand a real beginner would need all the details/help which the instructor has covered in this course.

This is hands-down the best classical piano course online. I’m done with prelude-Cmajor for now and can’t wait for improve it before I jump into Cminor. Dear Robin, Thanks you sir… hope you keep on creating such courses covering classics…. and possibly some Chopin pieces (psst: Waltz in A minor).”

Vikas Sharma
Erik Satie

SO FAR FANTASTIC

“Just starting the course, but so far fantastic. Well organized, pleasing voice and just the right pace. I also have his pianoforall course on Bach’s Preludes which I can highly recommend if you enjoy the piano. Thank you Mr. Hall.”

Clyde F.
Bach Preludes

YOU HAVE MADE THIS SO EASY

“You have made this so easy to play with the wonderful visuals and Instructions which I printed out to have at hand. At 74 years of age, I finally found a beautiful tune to be able to play because of you’re program. Brilliant. I’m almost up to the speed that you play at till working on that and the various volumes required to make this piece sound properly. I have purchased you”re other programs so I have much to do and much to look forward to. Fills my early mornings, my late nights. Robin, You have some very powerful and Brilliant teaching power. Thank You, Ginter”

Ginter Schatz
Erik Satie

ONE OF THE BEST COURSES OUT THERE

“I’m quite impressed how an online course can be actually better than a presenting course. I didn’t expect much of this, but I’m 100% satisfied and do believe is one of the best courses out there. At least is working really well for me.
Also, my aunt is taking another course from this teacher and she’s enjoying a lot.
Thank you”

Alex C.
Erik Satie

I LOVED THIS COURSE

“I loved this course and the way the three musical pieces were divided into small easily digestible sections. You could quickly get a sense of achievement. The instructor’s calm voice, explanations and encouragements worked well for me too. I learned to play the pieces much faster than I expected for a beginner!”

Marie-France R.
Moonlight Sonata

THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN ABOVE MY EXPECTATIONS

“I never thought I would be able to play this piece, or anything as complex as this. But the way Robin Hall takes you literally by the hand and guides you step by step, it’s just amazing, I mean it works, all it takes is persistence and the results will come.
Of course, this is a complex and fairly difficult piece, it is not for novices but with Robin Halls’ guidance, someone with a few years experience, (let’s say, someone like me who has competed most of Robin Halls “Piano For All” course) can give it a go and with practice, the results will come.
Also, a suggestion: if you try this score/course and you find it difficult, do Robin Halls’ Bach Preludes course first or even his Satie course, both courses follow the same method with well written scores, keyboard diagrams and step by step guidance, and Bach’s Prelude No. 1 in C major (BWV 846) and Satie’s Gnossienne No 1 are much simpler than the Moonlight Sonata Mov 1, this is what I did and as I said, the results have been above my expectations…”

George Theotokis