Gone are the days when learning to play piano (or any other musical instrument for that matter) was a costly activity that requires searching for and hiring a tutor, buying expensive instruments, learning complex music sheet, and finding peers to practice with. With the advance of technology and especially mobile technology, all these hardships become a thing of the past.
There is a wide variety of apps that allow you to learn the art of playing piano right from the comfort of your couch. These apps offer specialized courses, step by step guides and lessons, video tutorials, access to online teachers, and many more. Below is a collection of what I think are some of the best piano learning apps to use with your students. For more resources, check out best music websites for teachers and students, and for learning guitar, check out best guitar learning apps.
1. Simply Piano
Simply Piano is one of the most popular piano learning apps out there. It allows users to learn to play their favourite songs using any piano or keyboard. The way it works is simple: place your mobile device on your acoustic/MIDI piano or keyboard and start playing. The app will instantly recognize what you are playing.
Other interesting features provided by Simply Piano include: courses to help you learn piano, a library full of fun songs for practice, feedback on your playing, learn the basics step-by-step from reading sheet music to playing with both hands, personalized 5-min workouts, 3D touch, and many more.
Compatibility: iPhone/iPad and Android / Price: Free, offers in-app purchases / Age: 4+
2. Flowkey
Flowkey is another great piano learning app for iPad. Flowkey allows users to play their favourite songs and learn everything related to notes, chords, and proper technique. It works with various instruments including keyboard, electric, real piano, and acoustic,. Flowkey offers instructional step by step guides to help you learn about music and develop the proper playing technique.
Flowkey's library contains a wide range of courses and songs from classical to pop that you can easily access and work on. The app also enables you to 'practice effectively with learning monitoring via microphone or MIDI connection'. Flowkey premium offers way more features and perks and comes at different subscription plans. 1 month costs $19.99, 6 months plan costs $83.99, and 12 months plan costs $119.99.
Compatibility: iPhone/iPad and Android / Price: Free, offers in-app purchases / Age: 4+
3. OnlinePianist
OnlinePianist is a good piano learning app to use on your iPad and other compatible mobile devices. It is especially ideal for helping you play piano to songs you like. Its library features tons of popular and classical songs that are updated on a regular basis. Online Pianist includes 13 virtual piano learning features which you can adjust to your preference. For instance, you can customize your individual hand practice, change the speed, select between beginner or pro versions of songs, and more.
Online pianist also offers instructional lessons and tutorials designed to walk you through the process of becoming a better piano player. 'Just open the app to access piano tutorials! Select 3 songs to begin, choose one of those songs, hit “play full song” and learn away! Your piano tutorial will appear, showing the keyboard helper to show you how the song goes! Follow along as the falling colors appear to show you what keys to hit for both your left and right hand!'
Compatibility: iPhone/iPad and Android / Price: Free, offers in-app purchases / Age: 4+
4. Piano by Yousician
Piano by Yousician is a great piano learning app that you can use to learn and play tons of songs on your real instrument. Yousician listens to your performance and provides you with instant feedback on your accuracy and timing. Yousician also offers a music curriculum designed to help you through step by step lessons and tutorials master the art of piano playing.
Other features provided by Yousician include: over 1000 missions and exercises, tons of video tutorials covering different music skills (e.g., sight reading sheet music, classical and pop songs for piano, etc), resources on music theory, weekly challenges to complete with friends and Yousician community, and many more.
Compatibility: iPhone/iPad / Price: Free, offers in-app purchases / Age: 4+
5. Perfect Piano
Perfect Piano is 'an intelligent piano simulator design for your iPhone and iPad'. The app offers a wide variety of features including: 88-key piano keyboard, built-in piano timbre, multitouch screen support, MIDI and AAC audio recording, metronome, direct sharing of recording files or set as ringtone, two guidance patterns (falling note and waterfall), speed and difficulty adjustment, real-time online chatting, weekly new song challenge ranking, and many more.
Compatibility: iPhone/iPad and Android / Price: Free, offers in-app purchases / Age: 4+
6. Piano Planet
Piano Planet offers different educational resources to help you learn piano playing. These include step by step tutorials and videos, quizzes to test comprehension, online teachers to help you build practice skills, guided practice sessions, song performances, and more. Using these resources, you will be able to learn key basics of music and piano such as major, minor, and chromatic scales, chords, rhythm, ear training, sheet music, intervals, and many more.
Compatibility: iPhone/iPad / Price: Free, offers in-app purchases / Age: 4+
7. Playground Sessions
Playground Sessions is another good iPad piano learning app. It helps you learn piano through playing songs you like. As you perform, you get to receive real time feedback from celebrity teachers and trainers. Playground Sessions features over 1000 songs by artists like Taylor Swift, Queen, Beethoven, and many more.
Other features provided by Playground Sessions include: specialized courses to help with your piano learning, a helpful community of passionate piano players to exchange tips and learn from each other, access to accuracy score after every session, unlock rewards like free songs, effective Bootcamp to guide you through your learning journey, and many more.
Compatibility: iPhone/iPad and Mac/ Price: Free / Age: 4+
8. Piano Marvel
Piano Marvel helps you learn how to read music and play piano. You can use it to play your favourite songs. Its song library contains over 26.000 songs with the ability to upload your own songs. The app also offers a wide variety of instructional materials and lessons covering 10 levels from complete novice to professional. You will get to learn things such as phrasing, expression, dynamics, articulation and theory, and many more.
The way Piano Marvel works is simple: First 'Set your device (iPhone-iPad-iPod) on your keyboard or piano then sign in or create a free account. For MIDI pianos, connect via USB or Bluetooth MIDI and for acoustic pianos, use Book Mode to play along'.
Compatibility: iPhone/iPad and Mac / Price: Free, offers in-app purchases / Age: 4+
Check out this video wrap-up
8 Great Piano Learning Apps for iPhone and iPad
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