Frequently asked questions
Even if you are a complete beginner with no prior musical experience, you are welcome to join The Online Piano Institute. Our piano classes are designed for adults who are completely new to music, so no prior experience is required. There is no need to be concerned because learning to read music notation and theory will be part of your piano course.
Yes, absolutely!
We have successfully taught many students online and have had the same level of success as in-person lessons. In fact, for some students, the online remote option is superior to traditional in-person lessons. You save time and money, and you can take your piano lessons at a time that is convenient for you in the comfort of your own home or office.
Furthermore, if you live in a remote geographic area, this is the ideal opportunity for you to study with some of the world’s best adult piano teachers. We will take care of your piano playing and ensure that you learn the proper techniques and habits from the start!
A digital piano/keyboard (preferably with 88 keys, but with a minimum of 61 keys) or an acoustic piano, as well as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, are required. It’s really simple, and you don’t need a lot of fancy equipment to get started.
Without a doubt! A smartphone performs admirably. Although a larger screen, such as a tablet or laptop, is preferable, we have discovered that smartphone remote piano lessons work extremely well!
At a minimum as a beginner, a 61 keys keyboard will be enough to get started. (Most music stays within that range – esp. for beginners.) However, if you have a choice we would recommend weighted keys and 88 of them. Please view our recommended digital piano guide.
Without a doubt! Learning to play the piano remotely is identical to learning in person. With today’s modern equipment, we can teach you everything you need to know about playing, including proper hand positioning, posture, how to read notation correctly, timing, and so much more! So, yes, you can definitely learn how to play the piano properly as a complete beginner online.
Yes, upon request we can record your lessons for you. (We will provide you with a link where you can then download each recording.)
With group piano lessons, you get the opportunity to learn how to play the piano with others in a group format. At this stage, we only offer online group piano lessons for beginners.
During the lessons we will initially work from Carol Barratt’s ‘The Classic Piano Course – Book 1’. (You can purchase book 1 from Carol Barratt online here).
Everyone will have an opportunity to play an exercise and at that time the other participants will follow along. (We are also working on getting rid of latency as can be seen with https://www.jamkazam.com. Once we have achieved this, everyone can then play at the same time and we can play piano duets to make learning a whole lot of fun!)
Scales and chords will also be worked on, and you will get to know both classical as well as the basics of popular music (I.e. how to play chords successfully on the piano).
Learning in a group format is highly recommended if you are just starting out!
Expect high-quality piano lessons specifically designed for adult learning.
You will also receive notes with each lesson and specific homework to work on.
Yes, we can undoubtedly assist you in preparing for your graded exam. We can assist you in preparing for ABRSM, Trinity, or any other provider of your choice.
Definitely not. We believe that there is no age limit to learn and enjoy playing the piano for your own pleasure.
Yes, we do offer taster lessons if you want to try prior to committing to a course.
To be honest, any standard internet connection is more than adequate these days. If there are any problems during a lesson, they will be resolved with extra time. (Depending on the schedule, this could be at the same or a different lesson.) To summarize, any standard internet connection will suffice!
Yes, we can most certainly do so. In fact lessons over the telephone work amazingly well!
Yes, you do not need to sign up for any premium services. We use Zoom, which is completely free. If you prefer, we can deliver the lessons via Skype, GoToMeeting, or another service of your choice.
No, because we will make up for lost time at a later date. In the event of a total connection failure, we can also continue any lesson over the phone, or simply reschedule the time that has been lost.
Yes, we most certainly do! We also offer lessons in French, Spanish, Italian, Afrikaans, Serbian and Romanian!
At The Online Piano Institute, we understand how difficult it can be for some busy professionals to attend their piano lessons on a regular basis. We will gladly accommodate you, but please notify us prior to signing up as any special requests are subject to availability.