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

THIS TIME IT’S DIFFERENT

“This course helped me get started with playing the piece straight away. I don’t have experience playing the piano or reading the sheet music, I only tried a few times with very modest results. This time it’s different. All the information and the commentary is really helpful; looking at the way chord progression is structured from so many angles helps to memorise it quickly. Overall, I’m very satisfied.”

Fedor Isakov
Erik Satie

MY ABILITY TO READ MUSIC IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY

“I enjoyed this course as much as any course I’ve taken. It is a good length and very focused–it teaches one thing and teaches it really well. It provides a step-by-step walkthrough for playing Erik Satie’s Trois Gnossienes on Piano. These are beautiful pieces and not too difficult to play, and Robin’s method makes learning them really straightforward. I can now play through these pieces consistently, more or less by memory. My ability to read sheet music for piano improved significantly, though that is only a secondary emphasis in the course. Highly recommended for an adult learner with a tiny bit of piano who wants to master one piece. I’m already moving on to Robin’s Bach course and looking forward to it.”

David L.
Moonlight Sonata

I ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND THIS

“I always wanted to be able to play this exact piece, but got stuck pretty quickly and gave up. Now I can already play it up to the 2nd page! I would never have thought this! Thank you so much for teaching me this! This method of breaking the piece down into individual pieces, combined with the excellent explanations in the video and the perfect printable documents, is for me the best way to learn piano.

I absolutely recommend this as well as all of Robin’s other courses. I sincerely hope that there will be more courses. I will attend all of them without exception. Thank you again Mr. Hall!”

Daniel H.
Moonlight Sonata

THIS COURSE WAS EXCELLENT

“Best course on not only learning one of the greatest classical songs of all time but also incredible for learning to play the piano. As someone who has only a few months of piano experience, this course was excellent in guiding, explaining, and illustrating how to correctly play each cord. There will be frustration on your end because of inevitable struggle but if you stick through with it, your future self will thank you. Don’t give up!”

Russell Lopez
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
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
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.
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

AN EXCEPTIONAL COURSE

“An exceptional course!. I managed to finish the material in about 2 months and can now confidently play the whole movement without sheet music!”

Pandula Weerasooriya
Moonlight Sonata

THIS COURSE WAS AMAZING

“This course was amazing – as was the Bach preludes course. It delivered as promised! I now know how to play the Moonlight Sonata! Put in the time, follow his instructions and you will learn how to play it. I’m amazed. I’m 53 and I’ve tried to learn piano over the years. I came across this and figured why not?! I plan on continuing to learn how to read sheet music and improve but in the meantime – I now have a few beautiful songs under my belt that I play often – very relaxing and fulfilling.”

Fernando Rodriguez
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.
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

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.
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.
Bach Preludes

VERY CALM

“Very clear and easy to follow. Delivered slowly enough for me to “compute” think about what is being said and to touch the notes on my own piano. Very calm.”

Deirdre Fee
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.
Moonlight Sonata

IT’S JUST GREAT

“I’ve been wanting to play this for years but thinking it was too difficult, not with this way of teaching. its just great. I could play bars 1 to 5 but within days of having this course I am working on bar 10 top marks.”

Christopher Wheeler
Erik Satie

UN TRES GRAND MERCI

“Tous les moyens techniques et artistiques sont donnés par Robin Hall, professeur de piano généreux, pour s’approprier les trois premières Gnossiennes d’Erik Satie. Ce cours est pour moi une incroyable expérience que j’ai hâte de renouveler avec le cours “Bach Preludes”. Un très grand merci.”

Daniel B.
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.
Bach Preludes

COULD NOT BE MORE PLEASED

“Finished the Prelude in C major. Could not be more pleased with this course. If you love the piano and are just beginning your journey, please try it. You will not be disappointed.”

Clyde Fisher
Moonlight Sonata

OVERALL REALLY GOOD AND ENJOYABLE

“Overall really good and enjoyable course, and I learned to play the 1st movement of the Moonlight Sonata never having played piano and not been able to read notes. Love it.”

Claudia Kappenberg
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.”