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Do you dream of playing your favorite melodies on the piano but you need that extra push to start learning?
Fortunately, online learning apps are usually great at motivating you to practice and progress quickly.
One of the most popular and effective online learning lessons is Playground Sessions.
From lively video lessons and games to talented piano instructors, you’ll be sure to get the best out of what an app can offer.
You’ll learn how to play familiar songs while learning about music theory through courses that are suitable for your level of experience.
Perhaps there’s no app that can offer you the quality and depth of learning from a piano teacher, but Playground Sessions offers something that traditional piano classes don’t.
Keep reading this
We’ll show you how everything works and what you’ll learn, so you’ll know exactly if this online piano program is the right one for you.
Playground Sessions Overview
With its gamified format, the app will guide you through the learning process very smoothly.
It will also listen to you play and give you real-time feedback, which will help you progress much quicker.
You can use the Playground Sessions program on Mac and Windows computers and iPads. It works via a USB connection so you’ll need a digital piano or keyboard.
To have full access to the app’s curriculum, you need to choose between a monthly, annual, and lifetime subscription. Each membership offers a variety of benefits and bonus courses.
If you’re not satisfied with the course, you can cancel your subscription and get a full refund within 30 days of the purchase.
Extra Options
The software also offers in-app purchases, all of which are optional.
You can get a Family Plan that provides a discount on multiple memberships. It offers more songs than the standard version.
There’s also an option to request an invitation to their teacher program and receive a free teacher account.
Why Playground Sessions ?
So, what are the benefits of such online classes, and does the
First of all, with virtual piano lessons like Playground Sessions, you’ll be learning from the comfort of your home. It’s more affordable than hiring a piano teacher and you’ll be able to learn at your own pace.
The app’s teaching method will undeniably work if it fits your goals and preferences.
We’ll now dig deeper into the app’s features and content so you’ll know better whether this online course is something you would benefit from.
Playground Sessions Features
All of the app’s features will allow you to not just play the piano efficiently, but also enjoy the whole process.
Moreover, you’ll be learning from famous, talented pianists. We will introduce them a bit later.
So, how does
Gamified Format
The Bootcamp is a learning module that provides video tutorials. They are sorted by the level of difficulty which makes the course suitable for players with all levels of experience.
Step-by-step lessons will guide you through the curriculum. Along with instructors demonstrating how to play the piano, you’ll be playing games, earning badges, and leveling up as you complete your lessons.
The app’s dashboard shows your progress in detail. It also keeps track of every song you’ve ever played.
By keeping an eye on your personal best scores, number of attempts, and earned stars, you’ll discover your weak spots and be able to work on them. You can actually highlight one segment of the song and practice until you master it.
Feedback and Progress
Feedback is often what online piano lessons lack and
Instant feedback is based on your accuracy, so when you hit the wrong note it turns red, and when you play it right it turns green. When the song ends, you’ll receive an overall score.
However, don’t forget that playing the piano is not only about rhythm and correct notes. Yes, that’s essential, but there is more to a good sound, and apps will not give you feedback on your finger placement, posture, or emotions.
This not only helps you determine your mastery level of a particular song but also motivates you to try harder the next time you play.
Famous Instructors
With
One of the co-creators of the platform is Quincy Jones, a Grammy-award-winning musician, and producer. He will tell you about the methodology and arrangements.
You’ll also come across the jazz musician and actor Harry Connic Jr., as well as composer and professor Alex Ness, David Garcia, and Dr. Byron Adams.
You’ll probably learn the most from David Sides. Apart from being a talented pianist, he is a YouTube star, and he will teach you how to play the piano with a positive, engaging approach.
All of the
Having an opportunity to learn from skilled, famous pianists is a great benefit of online music classes. But not all online courses offer it, so this is something that puts Playground Sessions among the most popular piano platforms.
Lessons
Of course, popular names don’t guarantee the quality of the program. Luckily,
The curriculum is divided into Rookie, Intermediate, and Advanced courses.
When you start the course, each lesson will teach you music theory by using the part of a popular song. That way, you’ll learn about musical concepts and how to play songs on the piano at the same time.
You’ll learn rhythm, how to read music and play chords, key signatures, hand coordination, and much more.
If you take advanced lessons, you’ll work on 16th notes and more complex piano techniques.
The app also devotes some lessons to playing by ear. David Sides is known to play by ear, so he will help you find the notes you hear on the piano and play parts of the song by ear.
All in all, Playground Sessions offers a well-rounded music curriculum that covers both playing songs and music theory. However, the Advanced lessons don’t delve very deep into some elements, but they will give you a good start for really enhancing your piano skills.
The Song Library
Another benefit of the
There are over 500 songs and they’re arranged by level and genre. You can choose from classical, country, pop, jazz, film/TV music, R&B, etc.
Different levels are also divided by difficulty so you slowly progress towards more complex songs.
Basically, you can access as many songs as your subscription allows. Some of the versatile artists you’ll come across are Coldplay, Norah Jones, Ludovico Einaudi, and Miles Davis.
You’ll also get printable sheet music which is great for your practice outside the app.
Songs usually have backing tracks so you’ll feel like you’re playing with a band. You can also slow them down if you want to practice properly before getting into the performance vibes.
Playground Support and Community
Unlike some online piano platforms,
Before sending an e-mail, check their FAQ section as your question might already be there.
Apart from your questions, on the
There are also plenty of forum discussions you can join. Connecting with fellow students, whether it’s via the forum or general chat, and exchanging experiences and thoughts can be really helpful and motivating.
Moreover, the platform often has live YouTube discussions and interviews, so they make sure to keep you updated.
Playground Sessions Pros and Cons
To make things clearer for you, we’ve made a list of
Pros
- Well-rounded curriculum – The app will not only teach you how to play popular songs, but also the music theory behind them.
If you want to gain basic piano skills, learning notation and musical concepts is a must.
- Gamified format – Interactive interface, game-like layout, and features like scores and rewards make the learning process fun and engaging.
It’s really easy to get around the app and follow lessons.
That also makes it suitable for younger users.
- Progress tracking – The progress visualization and chart in the “My Playground“ section is really clear and useful.
You’ll see your scores, stars, and the time spent practicing, so it’s easy to set your goals and improve your weaknesses.
- Instructors – Besides interactive videos and games, you’ll also have lessons that are guided by the piano teacher.
You’ll be learning from experienced, well-respected pianists that know a thing or two about the craft.
- Rich song library – The app offers more than 500 songs to play.
Even though there’s always an array of popular songs, it’s nice to see a diversity of genres and artists.
Cons
- Insufficient feedback – Although getting instant feedback is actually beneficial, sometimes you need more than an accuracy score to really know where you stand with your piano practice.
Also, real-time feedback will put you into the correct rhythm, but it will not give you space to be creative, as you’ll perhaps want to try once you reach the advanced level.
- Limited content – Although you’ll get a good grasp of the piano basics, the amount of advanced content is somewhat limited.
Also, as some of the important elements are covered in additional courses, you might not come across them at all.
- Works only for digital pianos – This is not a con if you already have a digital piano or keyboard, but if you have an acoustic piano at home, you’ll not be able to use the most important features.
Factors to Consider When Deciding if Playground Sessions is Right for You
If you’re still wondering if the
Lesson quality
Playground Sessions offers excellent production quality. Lessons are also well-structured and easy to follow, and they are designed to make piano learning engaging and rather easy.
With
Structure & curriculum
Playground Sessions provides well-structured piano lessons that cover both playing songs and music theory. Lessons are linear, and they will help you learn in a step-by-step fashion.
The curriculum is divided into Rookie, Intermediate, and Advanced courses. Therefore, the program is suitable both for beginners and experienced piano players.
Platforms and devices
Playground Sessions is software, you can use it on Mac and Windows computers. It’s also available as an app on iPads. That makes it rather convenient and portable.
Songs
The
Playground Sessions songs also have backing tracks, which is great for learners who like to practice with other instruments.
Price
To access the
If you’re not satisfied with your purchase, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Extra features
The
Therefore, if you like gamified apps that can teach you a variety of songs on the piano, you will like what
Who is Playground Sessions For?
The curriculum is divided into Rookie, Intermediate, and Advanced lessons, so the course is suitable for all levels of experience.
However, we believe it’s the most beneficial for beginners and intermediate players. Lessons are easy to understand and well-organized, so people with no experience at all will find them comprehensible and quite effective.
Skilled piano players will probably find the advanced section quite elementary.
On the other hand, lessons can be great for anyone who wants to brush up on their skills and musical knowledge.
Due to its game-like features and simple interface, it’s also great for younger users.
Similar Platforms
An online piano course that works similarly to Playground Sessions is Yousician.
It also has gamified features, comprehensible step-by-step lessons, and plenty of songs in the library.
Another similar piano app is Flowkey. It’s a bit less gamified though, and it’s a great tool for learning specific songs on the piano.
Both Yousician and Flowkey also cover some music theory and teach playing songs in a fun and quick way.
But with
Read our alternative platform comparisons:
- Playground Sessions vs Flowkey
- Playground Sessions vs Simply Piano
- Playground Sessions vs Piano Marvel
- Playground Sessions vs Yousician
Playground Sessions Review – Final Thoughts
Playground Sessions is a great learning source for anyone who wants to gain core piano skills or continue their previous practice.
You’ll learn the material through guided video lessons and games, as well as have a chance to learn from some real piano superstars. Meanwhile, you’ll be receiving scores and rewards, so you’ll truly feel like you’re competing with yourself.
However, it’s easy to get lost in all the ratings and game-like features, so don’t forget about your musical expression. You’ll start playing beautifully only when you add spirit and emotions to your correct notes and rhythm.
The best way to play with spirit is by choosing a song you really like. The
All things considered, the platform is informative and easy to use. It will help you build solid musical background that can be a great start to your journey to becoming a skilled pianist.
Even if you only want to master a few of your favorite songs, the app will surely make it happen – so, the final result depends completely on you!
FAQs
Does Playground Sessions really work?
Yes, Playground Sessions is a very effective program that works. It includes gamification elements that can help beginners to learn the basics in a fun and easy way. It also has step-by-step lessons taught by experienced, famous pianists. Plus, the program provides instant feedback so learners can know if they played something correctly.
Is Playground Sessions good for beginners?
Yes, Playground Sessions is a good option for beginners. The program provides step-by-step lessons that cover all the basics. It’s focused both on playing songs and music theory, so learners can get a solid foundation to build on.
Can you learn piano with Playground Sessions?
Yes, you can learn piano with Playground Sessions. It’s an effective program with a well-rounded curriculum, extensive song library, and experienced teachers. The program also features useful tools and fun features. It also provides real-time feedback so you can learn the right rhythm and notes.
Are Playground Sessions free?
No, Playground Sessions is not free. To access Playground Sessions, you need to choose from a monthly, annual, and lifetime membership. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Do Playground Sessions teach chords?
Yes, Playground Sessions teaches chords. Lessons cover important topics such as how to play chords, chord inversions, chord progressions, chord voicings, and so on. So, besides basic piano chords, you’ll have a chance to learn more advanced techniques.
