Learning piano can feel intimidating at first, but it becomes surprisingly approachable when you follow a clear path that blends technique, listening, and music theory. This free online piano course is designed to take you from your first notes at the keyboard to confident playing with both hands, stronger timing, and the ability to understand what you are performing instead of memorizing blindly. You will start with fundamentals like finding notes quickly, building major and minor scales, and forming triads, then gradually connect those basics to real musical results.
As you progress, you will develop core musicianship skills that unlock independence: reading sheet music with ease, recognizing intervals by sight and sound, and understanding rhythm at a deeper level through beat accents, triplets, and polyrhythms. The course emphasizes practical habits that help you improve consistently, including relaxed posture, efficient practice routines, and using a metronome to build reliable timing. You will also learn how piano works physically, which helps you shape your touch and control your sound more intentionally.
Rather than treating theory as separate from playing, you will see how it supports everything you do at the instrument. Tools like the circle of fifths, transposition, cadences, modulation, and basic harmony make it easier to learn songs faster, play in different keys, and understand why certain progressions sound resolved or tense. You will explore expressive techniques like turns and trills, pedaling choices for clarity, and approaches to emotional interpretation that go beyond playing the correct notes.
Along the way, you will strengthen coordination with patterns such as arpeggios, Alberti bass, chromatic and pentatonic ideas, and classic technical routines, while also learning strategies for leaps and jumps without constantly looking down. Finally, you will build the mindset and preparation skills needed to perform with less anxiety, plan practice goals, and keep motivation high, whether you are self-taught, returning after a break, or guiding a young learner at home.
Course content
Video class: How to play piano: The basics, Piano Lesson #124m
Exercise: How do you find the note C on the keyboard using the black keys?
Video class: How to play piano: Lesson #220m
Exercise: What is the whole tone and semitone pattern for building a major scale on any starting key?
Video class: How to play piano: Lesson #3 Piano Lounge: Andrew Furmanczyk21m
Exercise: In a major scale, how do you build the tonic triad (three-note chord)?
Video class: #4 Music theory: Note values and time signatures28m
Video class: #5 Music Theory: Reading sheet music25m
Exercise: Which mnemonic correctly names the spaces in the treble clef (right hand)?
Video class: #6 Music theory: Interval Music theory27m
Exercise: In sheet music, what is the rule for an accidental (sharp/flat/natural) within a measure?
Video class: #7 Grand Piano Tutorial; The Piano and how it works.27m
Exercise: What happens inside a grand piano when you press a key and then release it?
Video class: #8 Minor Scales: natural minor, harmonic minor, melodic minor19m
Exercise: In a melodic minor scale, what happens to the 6th and 7th notes when descending?
Video class: #9 Circle of fifths tutorial; How to draw a circle of fifths (circle of keys)26m
Exercise: In the circle of fifths, what is the main purpose of the phrase Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle?
Video class: #10 How to Play Piano: learn chromatic, pentatonic scales applied to piano14m
Video class: #11 How to learn a new song for any piano, guitar, bass or drum set.30m
Exercise: When learning a new piano piece efficiently, what should you do first before playing many notes on the keyboard?
Video class: #12 Learn how to play chords fast: Chromatic Chords20m
Video class: #13 How to Transpose Music: Learn Transposition17m
Exercise: What does it mean to transpose a melody on the piano?
Video class: #14 Beats and Time Signatures: Understanding basic rhythm and beats27m
Exercise: In 4/4 time, what is the correct beat-accent pattern?
Video class: #15 Music Theory: Scale degrees, Tonic22m
Exercise: In a major scale, what is the name and function of scale degree 7?
Video class: #16 Learn to Recognize Intervals by Sight and Sound of Pitch23m
Exercise: Which song reference is suggested to help recognize a perfect fifth interval?
Video class: #17 Pianist Posture: Proper posture at the piano; RELAX yourself23m
Exercise: What is described as the first and most important factor for good piano posture?
Video class: #18 Relax Your Mind, Learn to Play the Piano EASY Fluid and Relaxed26m
Exercise: What practice habit is recommended to strengthen the brain-to-finger connection and make playing more accurate over time?
Video class: #19 How to Sight read: Sight read tips and tricks22m
Exercise: What is the most important rule to follow when sight-reading on piano?
Video class: #20 Rhythm20m
Exercise: In rhythmic counting, what is the defining feature of a triplet?
Video class: #21 How to Play Arpeggios: Lesson on Arpeggio pattern20m
Exercise: When practicing arpeggios at higher speeds, which touch is recommended to make the tuck and notes easier to execute?
Video class: #22 Turns, Trills23m
Exercise: When playing a trill written above a note, how should it typically begin and end?
Video class: #23 How To Play Piano Emotionally: Expressing Emotion in Music15m
Exercise: Which approach is suggested to make piano playing feel more emotionally authentic (beyond just playing the correct notes)?
Video class: #24 How to Use a Metronome: Why is a Metronome Important?23m
Exercise: What is the main purpose of using a metronome when practicing piano?
Video class: #25 Music History: The General History of Music from 1600-Present32m
Exercise: Which performance approach best matches the Romantic period described?
Video class: #26 Polyrhythms: How to Play and Clap a Polyrhythm12m
Exercise: Which spoken phrase is used to help count and internalize the 3-against-2 polyrhythm?
Video class: #27 Cadences : How to play and recognize a Cadence19m
Exercise: Which chord progression defines a perfect cadence in a key?
Video class: #28 Basic Modulation : How to Modulate into another key.19m
Exercise: In the key of C major, what does the label V/V (five of five) refer to?
Video class: #29 Für Elise Tutorial: Learn to play Fur Elise by Beethoven, the tutorial is easy and fun!30m
Exercise: In the simplified approach taught, how is the piece structured before the ending is added?
Video class: #30 Basic Harmony Rules: Music Theory Harmony 10125m
Exercise: When resolving a V7 chord to a I chord in basic harmony, where should the 7th of the V7 (e.g., F in G7) resolve?
Video class: #31 Structure in Music: Structural Aynalisis; Binary Form15m
Exercise: Which feature is a common telltale sign of ternary form in sheet music?
Video class: #32 Playing Leaps, Jumps,22m
Exercise: When practicing large leaps without looking at the keyboard, what is a recommended method to find your position and landing spots?
Video class: #33 Alberti Bass Patturn: How to play broken Chords; How to Play Piano21m
Exercise: Which note order best describes the basic Alberti bass pattern for a chord?
Video class: #34 Hanon: How to Play Piano, How to play Hanon26m
Exercise: What is the main technical belief emphasized by Hanon exercises?
Video class: #35 Scales in 6th's24m
Exercise: What best describes a "formula pattern" scale exercise?
Video class: #36 How to Perform; Getting over Nerves when Playing at a Performance, Tips and Tricks to a Successful and FUN Performance.21m
Exercise: What is the main purpose of using numbered memory spots throughout a piano piece when preparing to perform?
Video class: #37 Teach your kids Piano29m
Exercise: When teaching a young child piano, what is emphasized as the most important way to keep them motivated long-term?
Video class: #38 Rolling Chords on Piano15m
Exercise: Which situation is a main reason to use a rolled chord?
Video class: #39 How to Play Piano: Pedaling32m
Exercise: When should you usually do a quick pedal change to avoid a blurry sound?
Video class: #40 How to Teach yourself piano online39m
Exercise: Which sequence of goals is recommended to create clear direction in piano practice?
