Monday, July 7th
2025 Piano Lesson Reviews
Learn & Master
- Priced at $89 (one-time cost)
- Taught by one teacher overall
- Cumulative lesson methodology
- Video lessons taught by guest artists
- Multimodal learning (reading, listening, watching, and doing)
- Access to student support site and online community
- 20 DVD lessons and 5 play-along CDs
Learn & Master is a comprehensive platform that extends a helping hand to students from the comfort of their own homes. With a long history of providing at-home learning, Learn & Master offers a variety of lessons to choose from.
Works even though it's not state of the art
While the website and DVD learning style might not offer modern aesthetics, Learn & Master excels in teaching a classical piano style. Students may not find contemporary popular music here, but it's important to recognize that the fundamental principles of piano playing remain consistent over time, and classical music is built on traditional teaching methodology. On the whole, Learn & Master accommodates learners of varying skill levels, which includes beginner and advanced pianists.
Cumulative teaching method for all levels
Learn & Master Piano is designed to provide comprehensive lessons. The teaching approach employed by the company follows a step-by-step methodology, helping to lead absolute beginners as well as more advanced pianists on a journey toward becoming self-assured and proficient musicians. These lessons are delivered by Will Barrow, complemented by occasional guest artists for professional instruction. The curriculum unfolds progressively, with each lesson building upon previous instruction.
Tailored for at-home learners
These lessons have been tailored to accommodate at-home learners. They feature practical tools for self-assessment, with "you're ready to move on when" indicators. Detailed instructions are provided for instrument setup, and students have the flexibility to pause and resume video content at their convenience. One remarkable aspect of Learn & Master's piano courses is the wide array of topics they cover. With over 38 topics in their curriculum, you can find lessons on things as simple as understanding the keyboard layout to delving into chord inversions and classical piano concepts. The Learn & Master piano series spans various styles, including rock, classical, ragtime, country piano, modern pop piano, boogie-woogie, blues piano, jazz piano, and Latin piano.
Online support community
While this program primarily takes place in the comfort of your home, you're far from isolated in your learning journey. Learn & Master extends an online support community to all its students to create a more collaborative environment. You can use the Learn & Master discussion boards to connect with fellow learners and also gain the opportunity to engage with Will Barrow himself. This allows you to ask questions and share recordings, seeking the support of a community that comprehends your learning requirements. Learn & Master provides you with all the essential resources in one place.
Outdated tech is disappointing
However, there is a minor accessibility concern. To access the materials, you have to have a DVD-compatible system or acquire an external CD drive, as modern computers often lack built-in CD drives, and many households have transitioned away from DVD players in favor of online streaming. The fact that Learn & Master uses more dated technology might pose challenges for some individuals who want to learn from this company.
Competitive one-time payment
One of the benefits of Learn & Master is its one-time payment. Instead of signing up for monthly subscriptions or lengthy private lessons, you can get the entire curriculum for Learn & Master with one payment. To acquire the full set of DVDs, a workbook, and accompanying CDs, the total cost amounts to $89. If that upfront payment seems a bit steep, there's a convenient payment plan that allows you to spread the cost over three or four installments. However, considering the cost of piano lessons can range from $50 to $70 an hour, a single payment of $89 is highly competitive. But there is just one problem: at the time of this review the Learn & Master packages were out of stock, so you might need to contact them to get a hold of more inventory.
60-day returns
In the event that you're dissatisfied with the piano course post-purchase, Learn & Master provides the assurance of a 60-day money-back guarantee. It doesn't say anything on the site about return shipping, so you might want to take that possibility into account, but otherwise their return policy is highly competitive in this industry.
No buzz for Learn & Master
One thing that detracted from Learn & Master aside from the outdated technology is its reputation. The company doesn't necessarily have a bad reputation, it just doesn't have any information out there at all. The handful of reviews we could find for Learn & Master weren't for the piano program, so without clear feedback or a page on the Better Business Bureau, customers are left somewhat in the dark as to the effectiveness of Learn & Master.
Low tech option may not be ideal for all
While Learn & Master sounds good on paper, there's one huge problem: all Learn & Master lessons are distributed via CDs, which poses compatibility issues since many modern computers lack CD drives, necessitating external drives. While the content maintains a professional and comprehensive standard, making it a cost-effective alternative to subscription-based piano lessons, it's evident that Learn & Master could benefit from technological updates. Given this lack of regular updates and modern technology, it may not entirely align with students seeking to master modern songs or cater to their music preferences.
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Where's the Best Place to Find Piano Lessons Online Today?
Have you always wanted to plunk out a tune for your friends and family? Are you seeking to grow your piano-playing technique, or perhaps to elevate your existing skills to new heights? Maybe you've got a little remorse for neglecting those childhood piano lessons (hey, don't worry, we understand!) and are now yearning to revisit this musical journey.
While some might argue that digital piano lessons (no matter how they're taught) can't replace the in-person quality of piano, we're here to check out all the options for you and tell you what's what. Which sites are worth your time if you're just starting out? Which sites are best for enjoying the music and learning along the way?
Piano Lesson FAQ
Continued from above...
Mastery of the piano is a versatile skill, and music is known for being an invaluable pursuit not just for impressing your friends with expert renditions of the Piano Man, but also for helping your mind and body connect with memory skills and the beauty of musical expression. And, it's something you can use surprisingly often.
Whether you want to step in as an accompanist in a school play for your kiddos, regale and entertain guests in your home, find solace and expression through therapeutic musical outlets, or even work towards that dream of taking center stage as a professional performer, your decision to learn piano is one that you'll undoubtedly cherish. As with any pursuit, success hinges on your dedication to practice and your unwavering commitment to the online lessons that will unlock your latent musical prowess, ultimately allowing you to savor the joy of your newfound talent.
For most of us, piano lessons have traditionally been offered in two primary settings: private lessons at home where a seasoned piano professional teaches you theory, performance, and technique from a variety of method books, or at a local studio, fostering a collaborative environment where students frequently showcase their burgeoning talents to their peers. While some students find these settings to be invigorating opportunities for growth, others may feel a certain apprehension, preferring the intimate setting of solitary learning from the comfort of their homes.
In-person piano lessons also carry a hefty financial burden. Learning in your home means paying for the teacher and their travel fees, which can mean you're looking at lessons over $70 an hour. However, in the age of technology, there are new and exciting ways to learn the piano without those long-term financial commitments.
No matter your reason for seeking out piano lessons, there's plenty of places to choose from. As the digital age unfolds, a multitude of online piano lesson options, each ready to cater to your unique musical aspirations, are available to you. There are plenty of different learning styles, but the bottom line is: you can find instruction that's similar in content and methodology to that private teacher feel, and we're going to help you find which ones.
To get you started on your journey through treble and bass clef, to arpeggios, scales, and music technique, we've put together a quick list of key things (pun intended) to help you find the best fit for your new piano lessons. If you're not sure where to start, take a peek at these factors first:
- Cost. Choosing online piano lessons will get you savings every time when compared to traditional in-person lessons. However, not all online courses are created equal. Variations in pricing often correlate with the inclusion of supplementary materials, access to live instructors, and an extensive catalog of songs for learning. So making sure the site has what you need at a reasonable price may help you make a decision.
- Format. The format and teaching methods for piano courses are extremely important. Looking for courses that offer one-on-one feedback or live lessons can really help you take your piano studies from beginner to advanced. On the other hand, some students do much better with a gamified approach. Knowing your learning style and what kind of methods each site uses can help you find the best fit.
- Satisfaction guarantee. While you want to get started with piano ASAP, not all methods and courses will harmonize with your individual learning journey. It's perfectly normal to discover that a particular course may not be the right fit for you. So, keep an eye out for piano courses that offer money-back guarantees or a refund window so you can feel secure with trying out a piano course without committing to long-term fees.
Guided by a love of music and experience with piano, the experts at Top Consumer Reviews have reviewed and ranked the top online piano lesson sites out there. Our aim is to give you the proverbial theory book on how to find your way to piano mastery. We hope you find a harmonious and melodic fit, where your musical aspirations can flourish unencumbered.
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