Do online piano lessons work? Of course! Learn why below
Online learning is here to stay. Most colleges and even some high schools now offer online courses. Studies show that this kind of learning can be just as effective as traditional classroom lectures, such as this research from MIT, but can you learn something like the piano online? Musical instruments aren’t usually taught in a classroom. If you don’t have someone sitting next to you, correcting your every move, can you still learn to play a musical instrument well? Yes, you can, and here’s why it works.
Watch and Learn with Piano Lessons Online
In most traditional piano lessons, students don’t get to see the teacher play very often. They don’t have the example of a teacher playing something correctly, over and over, for them to watch and imitate. When students see and hear a piece played correctly, they will almost unconsciously, effortlessly match their own playing to that of the teacher. They will correct their own mistakes because they’re seeing good posture and hearing how the piano is supposed to sound.
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How are online piano lessons different from in-person piano lessons?
Before we talk about online vs in person piano lessons, first it’s important to understand that there are two different types of online piano lessons. In private online lessons, students usually meet with a teacher over a video call. These lessons are very similar to in-person piano lessons because a teacher is watching and listening as the student plays and can give immediate feedback. The teacher can also demonstrate playing for the student, but usually spends most of the lesson listening to the student play. In private online lessons, the main difference from traditional in-person lessons is that the teacher is not in the same room as the student, but instead is observing the student on a screen. Private online lessons can be a great option for students who don’t live near a piano teacher. They usually cost as much as regular in-person lessons because the student is paying the teacher for one-on-one time and attention.
In online video tutorial lessons, piano students watch a video that demonstrates how to play the piano. Then it is up to the student to follow the teacher’s example and determine how well their playing matches what the teacher has shown them. In this kind of online lesson, the student doesn’t play for the teacher and get feedback. Instead, they listen, watch, and imitate. Video tutorial lessons can cost much less than private online lessons because the same video lesson can teach any number of students. Mr. Hoffman’s first video lesson has over a million views. If he taught piano 24 hours a day it would have taken him almost 50 years to teach that lesson to so many students one-on-one!
How do online piano lessons work?
While private online lessons work about the same way as private in-person lessons, a music education program that includes video tutorial lessons is a little different. Instead of a teacher who observes a student and gives them feedback on their playing, the student observes an expert teacher and matches their playing to the teacher’s example. Both of these are valuable methods of learning. In fact, observing a teacher and following their example is a very natural way of learning, especially for young children, who learn so many complex skills simply by watching their parents and other older people around them. Combine this powerful learning method with a complete music education program that includes fun online games, printable worksheets, practice instructions, and professionally produced audio tracks for listening and for playing along with, and many students can make better progress than they would with an in-person teacher.
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Embrace the Power of Technology with Piano Lessons Online
Online piano lessons embrace the power of technology. Professionally produced videos, listening tracks, and learning games are all at your fingertips when you learn online. Effective use of technology is one of the reasons online piano students remain engaged and motivated. When piano lessons include watching videos, listening to music, and playing games online, learning feels like fun. We’ve even heard that some parents let their kids spend time with their online piano lessons as a reward for finishing their chores!
Join the Online Community
Learning online doesn’t have to be an isolating experience. Music learners make up a thriving community that spans the globe. Hoffman Academy is a great example. Our students connect through Facebook, our weekly live broadcast, our blog, and our YouTube pages. When you’re part of an online community you can share your progress and get feedback from people who are learning just like you. We love it when Hoffman Academy students post videos of their piano playing for all their fellow students to see.
Learn at Your Speed
Online learning allows you to learn more in less time. For one thing, when you take piano lessons online you don’t have to spend time driving to your teacher’s home or studio. More importantly, you can go through lessons as fast as you want. For an eager learner this usually means that you’ll progress faster than you would with in-person lessons. Of course you should take the time you need to do well on each lesson. Remember the power of review! Sometimes that means slowing down your pace, but once you’ve got something mastered you can move on to the next lesson right away.
Try Free Online Piano Lessons for Yourself
So are online piano lessons worth it? We think so, but the best way to find out if online lessons really work is to give it a try. If you’ve been thinking about piano lessons for yourself or someone else in your life, check out Hoffman Academy Lesson 1 for free. Experience how much fun it can be to take piano lessons online while learning the piano from the comfort of your own home.