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 →

Bach Preludes

GOOD SUPPORT MATERIAL

“Best music teacher I know. VERY VERY VERY GOOD support material! Best in class, on a scale of 10, he is getting at least 12”

Michel Cloutier
Moonlight Sonata

ANOTHER EXCELLENT COURSE

“This was the most challenging piano piece I have learned so far. I have wanted to learn how to play this for a long time, and honestly wondered whether it was beyond my ability. Robin’s course, which broke it down into small manageable, logical chunks, showed me that it was indeed possible for me to learn this – with perseverance and lots and lots of repetition and practice! Thank you so much, Robin, for another excellent course.”

Moonlight Sonata

HIS METHOD OF INSTRUCTION IS EXCELLENT

“This is the second course I have studied with this tutor. I find his method of instruction is excellent for my limitations. Having left and right hand coordination problems.”

Kenneth
Moonlight Sonata

WHAT AN INCREDIBLE COURSE!

“What an incredible course! That’s how piano should be taught. No oversimplifying and making false promises like most online methods. You need to engage with the material, not follow blindly.

Robin Hall teaches you the most effective/proper way to study every piece of music. No other teacher I ever had in private tutoring explained that well how one should learn the piano.

Thank you! P.S. Robin are you planning in making more step by step guides for other pieces that those already on the platform?”

Iason Katechis
Moonlight Sonata

I LOVE THIS COURSE

“I love this course. Robin makes it so easy to understand and so calm in teaching. Just love all his course so far and want to learn more from him.”

Tammy Watanabe
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
Erik Satie

FANTASTIC COURSE

“Fantastic course to take a beginner like me through three beautiful classical pieces to the point that I can enjoy them from the perspective of a pianist (albeit a novice!) Thank you.”

Vincent R.
Erik Satie

HAD THEM ALL DOWN IN 3 WEEKS!

“I’ve only been playing the piano for about a month, and I was able to play the first piece fairly well after just a few days, and had them all down in 3 weeks!
I wish I could learn all new songs with this format”

Kevin S.
Erik Satie

TAUGHT ME HOW TO CONQUER ANY PIECE OF MUSIC

“I am completely amazed by this course. Not only did I learn to play the three beautiful Gnossiennes, which took me roughly 4 weeks to master each of them technically, but even better: on the way, this course taught me by example how to conquer any piece of music: by separating hands, figuring out the fingering, dividing the piece into smaller parts, practicing all of this slowly over and over and over again, to put it back together in the end.

At times I didn’t believe I’d ever be able to play the next section, but Robin explained clearly how to practice all the difficult parts. And the method works. I’m still working on adding more expression to some parts, but I play the Gnossiennes so easily now that I can actually listen to myself playing and enjoy the experience. Thank you Robin, I’ve enjoyed this course so much!”

Alexander W.
Erik Satie

IF I CAN PLAY IT IN TWO WEEKS ANYONE CAN

“Sounds daunting at first but is broken down in such a way as to make it do-able. The combination of sheet music, cheat sheets plus the verbal instruction and video is very effective. If I can play the whole thing in two weeks anyone can as I am definitely a novice.”

Peter F.
Moonlight Sonata

ANOTHER EXCELLENT COURSE

“Another excellent course and a piece of music that I have wanted to learn for a very long time. Robin’s skill in breaking each piece into manageable sections and his calm, patient and logical approach to teaching inspires confidence and makes learning an absolute joy.

I loved the Erik Satie and Bach courses and Moonlight Sonata is, in my mind, even better. I had tried learning piano on and off over the years with very limited success but am now building up a repertoire of beautiful pieces that I can play from memory every day. Thanks Robin 🙂”

Ken Wherrell
Moonlight Sonata

BEST PIANO COURSE I’VE TAKEN

“It’s the best piano course I’ve taken. I’m currently working on pianoforall as well. Would recommend to anyone that wants to play a classic and inadvertently learn some music theory along the way.”

Wilson J Heredia
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

CONFIDENCE BUILDER

“Robin provides a wide variety of creative and interesting strategies for learning this piece, so if you persist, you can succeed, no matter what your learning style is. It does take a LOT of time, but it is definitely possible to get pretty good at the piece.
I especially appreciate Robin’s motivation and advice for making practice time more effective. I’m using these practice strategies on other pieces, so my playing has become more accurate since taking this class!
I wasn’t too crazy about the Satie piece when I listened to the course preview, but I’m very glad I signed up for this course. I’ve come to quite enjoy this piece, now that I can play it. It’s very soothing. Plus, it’s a confidence booster, because the music actually sounds like it’s harder to play than it is.
I hope Robin will set up some additional classes like this, to help us master a few more fun and impressive pieces.”

Carolyn C.
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
Bach Preludes

AFTER A WEEK I COULD PLAY THE PIECE REALLY WELL

“I have struggled with the Prelude for months and so I took advantage of this course. After a week, I could play the piece really well. Robin is an amazing teacher, and I highly recommend this course. Robin – please create more lessons!!”

Monica Weggeman
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

IT’S CHANGED THE WAY I LOOK AT MUSIC

“I am incredibly happy with this course it’s changed the way I look at Music. I was completely overwhelmed with the Satie sheet music, 4flats! Now when I approach a piece I’m looking for patterns, for how the whole thing is structured. I listen more and better as well because I understand more. Thank you!”

Luke R.
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
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
Moonlight Sonata

THE BEST COURSE THAT I HAVE BOUGHT

“The best course that i have bought. I would like to give 6 stars! Congratulations Robin, great work! l also bought the Preludes of J.S.Bach, very, very good! I never thought to be able to play them by ear – But finally I was successful! I hope there will be more “Classics by ear”! Thanks you!”

Christian Kritzler
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