Recent Articles

How to Improve Piano Finger Speed and Dexterity at Home.

FOR PIANO LEARNERS

How to Improve Piano Finger Speed and Dexterity at Home

By Aron Bernstein

9/8 time in music.

9/8 Time Signature: The Flowing Meter Every Pianist Should Know

By Hannah Kendall

Monthly Roundup - Featuring images of resources mentioned in the blog article

Monthly Roundup: Apps, Back to School, and a Posture Challenge

By Kelly Kennedy

Learn the 2-5-1 chord progression in music.

What Is the 2-5-1 Chord Progression, and Why Is It Everywhere?

By Aron Bernstein

What is a waltz music?

What is a Waltz? A Guide to One of Music's Most Beloved Styles

By Jesse Preis

A complete guide to this versatile time signature. Learn what the 2/4 time signature is, how to count it, & how it differs from 4/4. Explore rhythmic patterns, note values, & musical examples.

What Is the 2/4 Time Signature? A Complete Guide

By Aron Bernstein

The best children's piano teacher online.

Why Hoffman Academy Is Your Child's Best Piano Teacher Online

By Rebecca Carlson

What is a piano concerto?

FOR PIANO LEARNERS

What Is a Piano Concerto? A Guide to One of Music's Greatest Forms

By Aron Bernstein

What's New? June 2026 | Treble Maker t-shirt, Piano Cadence download, Manuscript Paper, The Phyrgian Mode blog article

What's New at Hoffman Academy: Free Downloads, Blog Reads, and Homeschool News

By Kelly Kennedy

All About The 3/4 Time Signature.

What Is the 3/4 Time Signature? A Guide for Beginners and Beyond

By Hannah Kendall

Monthly Roundup - July 2026, including "What is a Piano Concerto" blog article

Monthly Roundup: Sevenths, Inversions, and Two Ways to Count

By Kelly Kennedy

Find 18 free and paid note reading games from Hoffman Academy for kids, including treble and bass clef activities, flashcards, and premium sight reading resources.

Note Reading Games: Free and Premium Options for Parents and Teachers

By Claire Robertson

Preschool Music Lessons.

Preschool Music Lessons: Ideas, Plans, and Teaching Tips

By Claire Robertson

How to Teach Piano to Children: A Guide.

How to Teach Piano to Children and Inspire a Love of Music

By Joseph Hoffman

Phrygian Mode for piano players.

Phrygian Mode Explained: Theory, Emotion, and Application

By Claire Robertson

Techniques, touch, and training for a great piano sound.

Getting a Great Piano Sound: Technique, Touch, and Training

By Aron Bernstein

The Bohemian Composer Antonín Dvořák.

Antonín Dvořák: The Bohemian Composer Who Captured Two Worlds

By Jesse Preis

Classical Music for Kids.

Classical Music for Kids: Benefits, Best Pieces, and Getting Started

By Claire Robertson

What's New? May 2026 featuring images of The Mandalorian piano tutorial, CPE Bach Blog, and more

What's New at Hoffman Academy: The Mandalorian, Homeschool Resources, & More

By Kelly Kennedy

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach: The Bridge Between the Baroque and Classical Eras.

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach: The Bridge Between Baroque and Classical

By Aron Bernstein

Free music games and activities for kids.

MAKING PRACTICE FUN

The Complete Guide to Free Music Games & Activities for Learning

By Hannah Kendall

Harmonic minor scale on piano.

The Harmonic Minor Scale Guide for Pianists

By Aron Bernstein

Notespeller for piano: 16 options for students.

Notespellers for Piano: A Complete Guide for Parents and Teachers

By Claire Robertson

What's New? April 2026

What's New at Hoffman Academy: Clementi, New Resources, and Summer Surprises

By Kelly Kennedy

Music Education for Kids.

Music Education for Kids: Benefits, Methods & How to Get Started

By Hannah Kendall

What is a measure in music?

What Are Measures in Music? A Beginner's Guide

By Jesse Preis

Summer Activities for Kids that Make Music Learning Fun.

Summer Activities for Kids that Make Music Learning Fun

By Rebecca Carlson

Music Appreciation for Kids: A Parent's Complete Guide.

RECENT ARTICLES

Music Appreciation for Kids: A Parent's Complete Guide

By Claire Robertson

Piano Skills: Basic to Advanced.

FOR PIANO LEARNERS

Level Up Your Piano Skills: From Basic Fundamentals to Advanced

By Jesse Preis

Relative minor scale: what it is, and how to find and use it on piano.

Understanding the Relative Minor in Music Theory

By Aron Bernstein

What's New? March 2026

What's New at Hoffman Academy: Merch, Rhythm Activities, and More!

By Kelly Kennedy

Best Music Education Software for Your Family.

Finding the Best Music Education Software for Your Family

By Claire Robertson

What is a bar in music?

What Is a Bar in Music? Definition and Examples

By Hannah Kendall

Learn Beethoven Piano Sonatas, Symphonies, and More.

FOR PIANO LEARNERS

Learn Beethoven Piano Sonatas, Symphonies & More

By Jesse Preis

Classical Piano Sheet Music for Beginners.

Easy Classical Piano Sheet Music: Best Pieces for Beginners

By Hannah Kendall

Exploring Piano Methods for Beginners.

FOR PIANO LEARNERS

Exploring Piano Methods for Beginning Students

By Claire Robertson

80/20 rule for piano and music education.

Using the 80/20 Rule for Improving Piano Skills

By Joseph Hoffman

The 6/8 time signature explained.

6/8 Time Signature Explained: From Basics to Beautiful Music

By Aron Bernstein

Fun Singing Games for Young Piano Learners

MAKING PRACTICE FUN

Fun Singing Games for Young Piano Learners

By Claire Robertson

What's New? February 2026

What's New at Hoffman Academy: Powerful Intervals, Handy Guides, and More

By Kelly Kennedy

Robert Schumann Biography.

Robert Schumann: Composer, Pianist, and Romantic Visionary

By Jesse Preis

Children's Music Games - Fun, Educational Options for Students.

Children's Music Games: Fun Activities to Build Musical Skills

By Rebecca Carlson

Ionian Mode for piano.

Understanding the Ionian Mode: Piano Theory & Examples

By Claire Robertson

Sergei Rachmaninoff: Biography, Music and Influences.

All About Composer Sergei Rachmaninoff: His Life, Music & Influences

By Jesse Preis

Chord inversions for piano players.

Chord Inversions: Piano Essentials for Rich, Expressive Harmony

By Aron Bernstein

What's New? January 2026 - 4/4 Time Signature Explained; Soda Pop Piano Tutorial; More

January Releases: Scarlatti, KPop Tutorials & More!

By Kelly Kennedy

Easy Piano Worship Music.

Easy Piano Worship Music: Simple Songs and Tips

By Claire Robertson

4/4 time signature explained.

4/4 Time Signature Explained: Counting, Songs & Sheet Music

By Rebecca Carlson

Aeolian Mode in music.

All About the Aeolian Mode in Music

By Claire Robertson

Learn all about suspended chords on piano and how to use them in music.

Learn Suspended Chords on Piano: Theory, Examples & Tips

By Aron Bernstein

Wrapping up 2025 - Canon in D, Golden, Sea Turtle Shuffle

Our 2025 Year in Review: New Features, Fan-Favorite Tutorials & Holiday Magic

By Kelly Kennedy

9 Chopin Pieces to Learn.

9 Famous Chopin Pieces to Learn

By Hannah Kendall

Piano repertoire: Essential pieces, periods and practice tips.

Piano Repertoire: Essential Pieces, Periods & Practice Tips

By Jesse Preis

16 Children's Piano Songs to Learn Today.

16 Children's Piano Songs to Learn Today

By Rebecca Carlson

Piano pieces for all levels.

Piano Pieces: Easy Types and Famous Options for All Levels

By Jesse Preis

How to Introduce Kids to Music: A Complete Guide for Parents.

How to Introduce Kids to Music: A Complete Guide for Parents

By Joseph Hoffman

The life and music of Baroque composer Domenico Scarlatti.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHTS

Domenico Scarlatti's Revolutionary Approach to Baroque Composition

By Aron Bernstein

What's New? November 2025 - For Good, Christmas Songs, Locrian Mode Explained, Advent Calendar

Broadway Magic & Holiday Cheer: Our November Highlights

By Kelly Kennedy

What is counterpoint in music?

What Is Counterpoint in Music? A Practical Guide for Beginners

By Jesse Preis

Online Music Advent Calendar from Hoffman Academy.

Countdown to Christmas with a Music Advent Calendar

By Claire Robertson

Scale Degrees in Music.

Scale Degrees Explained for Piano Players

By Claire Robertson

What is an augmented chord?

Augmented Chords Guide for Piano Players: Structure & Use

By Aron Bernstein

Locrian Mode on Piano explained,

Locrian Mode Explained: How It Works & When to Use It on Piano

By Claire Robertson

What's New? October 2025

What's New at Hoffman Academy: October 2025 Roundup

By Kelly Kennedy

Keyboardist and pianist comparison.

What’s the Difference Between a Pianist and a Keyboardist?

By Jesse Preis

Diminished Chords in music.

Learn the Diminished Chord Types on Piano

By Aron Bernstein

The piano keyboard layout with keys labeled for beginners.

Piano Keyboard Layout: What Beginners Should Know Before Starting

By Jesse Preis

What's new? September 2025

September 2025 Releases & Halloween Fun

By Kelly Kennedy

Top Piano Brands -- What to Know Before You Buy

Top Piano Brands: What to Know Before You Buy

By Claire Robertson