If you’re reading this, chances are you’re planning to move beyond those YouTube piano lessons and onto something with more personalized instruction. Maybe you want something more constructive and structured, or perhaps you simply want to advance. 

Luckily, BYJU’S FutureSchool has online lessons that provide students with an experienced instructor in a live 1:1 setting. Below, we’ll simplify your search for you and help guide you in the right direction. 

Why Go Online?

Online piano lessons are beneficial for players just starting. Let’s discuss why. 

Learn on your own instrument

Music is not objective, and everyone learns and reacts to music differently. You may be drawn to a particular piano or music style, which may not necessarily be conducive to your instructor’s home piano and style. Learning at home on your instrument not only familiarizes you with it, but will make you more confident and help you feel like you have more ownership over your learning process. 

[Read: How to Play the Piano]

Save both time and money

Perhaps one of the top benefits of taking piano lessons online is the money you’ll save. Saving on transportation costs to and from your instructor’s location and repurposing the time spent traveling for practice benefits you in more ways than one. Furthermore, online lessons are more affordable since they don’t have rent and overhead costs.

Range of tutors available

Choosing an in-person instructor can be somewhat limiting. Consider this: you live in a location away from the city, but the best piano tutor in your area holds their sessions in the city. Would you waste time and money to reach them, or would you save up and go to a lesser-talented tutor nearby? With online classes, you don’t have to choose. Instead, you’ll get access to expert tutors across boundaries for affordable fees, including international ones.

Fewer cancellations

Sometimes, in-person tutors will get sick; that’s life! Scheduled lessons get canceled! Depending on where you live, other factors could also lead to more frequent cancellations. With online lessons, you don’t need to worry about these issues. You can take the class on your terms, on your time. 

Recorded lessons

Another great incredible feature of online classes is that they can be recorded for practice later. Rewatching your sessions will help you figure out which areas you need to work on. Additionally, many online tutors provide progress tracking features in real-time. Quick, qualitative, and available feedback only helps you progress more efficiently. 

Flexibility

When you take an online course, you can learn on your own time. Furthermore, some institutes, such as BYJU’s FutureSchool, also provide options for a personalized learning curriculum, meaning that you can learn what you want when you want. 

Fewer distractions 

In-person courses likely will have other participants. Unfortunately, because we are all human, the tutor may sometimes get carried away with friendly banter or helping another student, making you lose out on your lesson time. Distractions inhibit focused learning. With online sessions, you can learn from the comfort of your home and eliminate all distractions. 

Opportunities for everyone

Online lessons can be taken from anywhere, any part of the world, and provide access for those who may not be able to make it to a physical location for various reasons. In particular, for anxious children, both the benefits of learning privately and immersing themselves in music can prove to be a valuable therapy.

What You’ll Learn

While each online course will offer a different and unique perspective, the fundamentals are pretty universally agreed upon. Let’s talk about a few. 

Notes

You’ll first learn to read the notes on your piano keys, i.e., the left hand or bass notes and the right hand or treble notes. Learning these notes is essential – they are the building blocks upon which you’ll learn to play your favorite pieces. 

Chords

As you progress throughout your initial sessions, you’ll learn the structure of piano chords and how to play them on your own. Next, you’ll learn chords, not just chord symbols, but chords with notes. You’ll learn their inner workings – intervals, inversions, triads, exercises, and more. 

Finger Numbering 

Next, you’ll be taught to number your fingers in relation to the keys. Setting up specific fingers to play particular notes is very important.

Hand Positioning

Hand positioning is essential to ensure that you don’t strain your fingers, wrists, or back. Most online classes will show you the right way to position yourself before you start learning to prevent these problems in the future. 

Scales

You’ll also learn a wide range of scales. Understanding scales and knowing the finger patterns will help you navigate the keys in an agile way. Some students find scales boring, but online lessons can make them fun and simple and teach you the tricks of the trade. 

Practice

Most platforms will encourage regular practice. You’ll likely be offered session recordings that you can rewatch and learn from. You can find out where you’re falling short and improve, and track your progress, sometimes in real-time. 

Rhythm

Learning the rhythm or timing of a musical piece is what makes it sound melodious. At the fundamental level, half of your learning is notes, while the other is mainly rhythm. We recommend selecting a class that emphasizes teaching rhythm.

Music Theory

Putting your fingers to the keys isn’t all that there is to learn the piano. You also need to train your mind to read music sheets, as they are a universal language that any instrument player must know. For piano players especially, reading music is essential when playing prominent pieces to know the rhythm and pedals.

Pedals

Speaking of piano pedals, some online classes will fail to teach you to use them. As a result, many early piano players go without learning about pedals at all. However, they are essential additions as they control the sound and add melody to your piece.

Considerations 

Before you dive in head first, there are a few key points to consider.

Commitment

Learning any new skill takes time and commitment. You will need to be willing to assign the hours necessary to become a piano player. Before joining a course, we recommend outlining how much time you need to give to a particular program and determining if it fits in with your schedule & ideal learning pace. 

Goals

You won’t become an expert pianist overnight. Setting both long-term and short-term learning goals will keep you focused and positive. Make these goals specific and realistic. Practice regularly and take feedback constructively. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. 

Track Your Progress

Goals are great, but you also want to be able to measure them. Many online courses will provide tracking tools to help you make sure you’re on pace. We highly recommend utilizing these tools. 

Type of Piano 

Choosing an instrument is a big decision. Selecting the right piano for your musical interests will take you a long way. For your first piano, you may not want to invest a ton and will decide to rent. In considering cost, there are different types of pianos – digital pianos, digital keyboards, and acoustic pianos, each with a distinct sound and price point. 

Instructors

Learning virtually doesn’t mean you’ll be without interactive learning. Most platforms use expert tutors to interact with you in real-time during lessons. When selecting a class, find out more about the instructors and how their teaching style might mesh with your learning style. 

Enjoy the Benefits

Once you decide to learn music, you can also enjoy its benefits. Music has cognitive benefits, aiding in concentration, memory, and language skills. Children also understand the importance of motivation, self-discipline, and social skills. 
You can enhance their musical journey through BYJU’S FutureSchool’s School of Music. We offer piano lessons that help children and adults discover their passion for music. Our research-based curriculum provides a customized learning experience with 1:1 attention, fun projects, and live performance that boosts your child’s confidence, creativity, and technical skills.