With several online piano teaching platforms out there, it can be a bit challenging to find the right fit.
However, if you’re looking for an online piano course that’ll give you the knowledge and skills you need to play popular pop songs, then Piano in 21 Days is worth checking out.
With Piano in 21 Days, you don’t get the usual video game outlook that most online piano teaching platforms use. Rather, after signing up, you’ll receive one video course per day alongside some bonus materials.
In addition, the course veers off from traditional piano lessons. Instead, it’s designed to teach you to play the piano by listening rather than reading sheet music.
In this review, we’ll delve into what Piano in 21 Days is all about and what you should expect if you sign up for the course. So, stick around!
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Piano in 21 Days Review: At a Glance
Piano in 21 Days is an online learning platform that’s quite different from your traditional online course. It was founded by Jacques Hopkins, a pianist who seeks to transfer his piano skills to those who sign up for the course.
He teaches through short videos accompanied by audio lessons and a workbook to ensure that in 21 Days, you’ll be able to play selected songs. Also, if you can’t take the time to complete the course in 21 Days, Jacques gives you lifetime access to the course when you enroll.
Pros:
- The course is designed to teach you how to play your favorite songs easily.
- You can email Jacques if you have any questions or concerns, and you’ll receive a response.
- The element of human interaction is present since Jacques instructs you through video lessons.
- Jacques uses a teaching style that ensures you don’t get bored while watching the videos.
- You become part of a Facebook group with other players where you can exchange concerns and ideas.
Cons:
- Doesn’t include lessons on music theory.
- Lack of proper introduction to the piano.
- Constant reminders about the author’s dislike of music theory in the video lessons.
Enroll If:
- You want to learn how to play your favorite songs in an easy-to-understand way.
- You’re not interested in learning music theory.
- You’re an adult beginner seeking an online piano course.
How Does Piano in 21 Days Work?
Jacques Hopkins uses a combination of video and audio piano lessons to help you learn piano playing. Also, to help you decide whether to sign up for piano lessons, you get a free 5-day ebook sent to your email address upon request.
This ebook has written instructions to help you learn how to play some popular songs on the piano. The free ebook serves as a free trial to enable you to determine if this method of teaching the piano is something you’ll be interested in.
If you want to register for a paid plan after going through the lessons in the ebook, you can choose from three packages, ranging from $97 to $497.
The piano course is for 21 days. However, you can move at your own pace as you’ll get lifetime access after registering for the course.
From day 1-21, you’ll be taken through various lessons, such as the names of the keys on your keyboard and how to play the piano using different finger patterns.
All you need for the course is a keyboard with at least 49 keys and a sustain pedal. And if you don’t have a keyboard and are wondering how to select the right one, Jacques has got you covered. He published a buyer’s guide that takes you through four types of pianos, namely acoustic, digital, keyboard, and midi.
At the end of taking this course, you’ll be playing modern songs on your piano or keyboard. However, note that Jacques Hopkins doesn’t teach how to play the piano by using sheet music. So, if you’re looking to play classical music, this course might not be the best choice.
What the Lessons Give You
The course outline is spread across 21 lessons. Each day features a unique video with a set of clear instructions. Let’s see what each day offers.
Days 1-5
On the first day, you’ll be introduced to the white keys on the piano. Jacques will take you through the seven white keys, what they’re called, and where you can find them on the piano.
On days 2 and 3, you’ll be introduced to the major and minor chords. By the fourth day, you’ll learn to add a left-hand octave to the chords. And by day 5, you should expect to learn hand coordination and rhythm.
Days 6,15,18, and 20
These days have been put together because they all cover improvisation. Also, the course covers playing in different octaves, chord patterns, and arpeggios during these days.
Days 7, 8, and 9
On Day 7, you get to try your hands on an original song: Five for Fighting’s “Superman.” On day 8, you’ll be introduced to black keys, while Day 9’s course focuses on finger movements.
Days 10 – 17
From days 10 to 17, you’ll learn a variety of things, including major and minor chords, advanced chords, chord inversions, and using the sustain pedal.
Days 19 and 21
On day 19, you’ll learn about scales and improving finger dexterity. Day 21, the last day of the course, focuses on moving beyond, including melody lines, learning sheet music, and playing songs just like artists.
Features
What exactly do you get when you sign up for Piano in 21 Days? Let’s take a look at what this online piano learning platform offers.
Personalized Help Option
One of the reasons why we like Piano in 21 Days is that you can connect with Jacques Hopkins via email and ask him any questions you might have.
In addition, you get to join a private Facebook group where you can interact with other students and learn from their experiences with learning how to play the piano. Currently, the private Facebook group has about 2,000 members.
Being part of a community of like-minded folks when it comes to learning the piano sounds like a good idea. Moreover, seeing other learners ask questions will help you know that you’re not the only one with difficulties in one area or another.
Also, as you interact with your instructor and the Facebook group members, you’ll get the feedback you need to improve your piano playing.
Video Lessons
Piano in 21 Days teaches you how to play the piano through videos. Although the videos aren’t live, they’ll provide you with what you need.
All the videos feature Jacques Hopkins in the upper corner playing while talking. There’s also a virtual keyboard that shows you what notes you should play. You’ll find this particular feature very helpful if you’re a beginner.
In addition, the videos are designed so that you can learn at your own pace. They’re also short, so you can always pause when you get to a point to rest or practice on your own. However, you should note that the videos don’t include lessons on reading sheets.
And to make the course more effective, he incorporates the use of audio lessons and flashcards.
Pop Music Lessons
In his videos, Jacques teaches how to play famous pop songs. The online course features songs by famous artists like Bruno Mars and The Beatles.
While most people focus on trying to play pop songs by learning all the chords of the songs, Jacques teaches that you don’t have to learn entire songs; you only need to master four chords at the start.
Most pop songs follow this progression: C-Major, G-Major, A-Minor, and F-major. Once you learn those cords, you can easily play over 36 common songs. This includes songs like Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing, Alphaville’s Forever Young, and Jason Mraz’s I’m Yours, to name a few.
However, if you prefer other genres of music, you might not enjoy learning how to play pop songs.
Exercises and Workbook
Although the primary method of teaching how to play the piano is through videos, you get access to a workbook and exercises that serve as additional learning material.
So you don’t have to worry, even if you learn better by reading or writing, you’ll find Piano in 21 Days an effective learning companion. This course gives you a workbook based on the same lessons you go through in the videos.
This is a great way of remembering what you’ve already learned. You can also download flashcards to help you practice some more.
Additional Lessons
When you upgrade to Piano in 21 Days’ Ultimate package, you get access to extra lessons that’ll help you improve your piano playing skills. These courses are just to add up to what you’ve already learned in the video and audio lessons.
All the extra lessons aren’t necessarily taught by Jacques Hopkins. For example, the Hand Coordination course, designed to help you improve your rhythm, is taught by Josef Sykora, a pianist, and includes six lessons.
And since we mentioned the Ultimate package, let’s now look at different enrollment options.
Enrollment Packages
Besides the free workbook, you can enroll in the Essential or Ultimate packages. For the Essential package, you can opt for six monthly payments of $97. However, you can also go for a one-time payment of $497.
With this package, you get access to the video lessons and the workbook. This is great if all you’re looking for is a course on learning how to play your favorite songs and not how to master the piano.
If you’re looking for a more detailed course, then the Ultimate package is for you. You can enroll for 12 monthly payments of $97 or a one-time payment of $997. You get access to the same things in the essential package, but with some added benefits like:
- Better Hand Coordination in 90 minutes.
- Jazz, Blues, and Cocktail in 21 Days.
- Two one-on-one lessons with Jacques Hopkins.
- Melody & ear training in 21 Days.
- Weekly Q&A.
Alternatives
Of course, Piano in 21 Days is a great platform where you can learn how to play your favorite songs without bothering about learning sheet music. However, there are other online piano courses you might like. Let’s take a look at a few of them.
Piano in 21 Days vs. Flowkey
Flowkey is one of the easiest ways to learn how to play the piano, especially if you’re a beginner. Flowkey has an app you can use on your phone or tablet, no matter where you are.
This is one of the features Piano in 21 Days lacks. You’ll have to go to the website if you want to have access to the lessons.
Of course, this is not necessarily a dent in its reputation. Piano in 21 Days has other features that make up for its lack of a music app. We looked at these features in the above points.
Another difference between Piano in 21 Days and Flowkey is the access to lessons on sheet music. Jacques Hopkins’ approach to piano teaching doesn’t involve sheet music. On the other hand, Flowkey has videos with sheets and someone playing the piano.
Piano in 21 Days vs. Pianoforall
Another popular online piano learning software is Pianoforall. The course is designed to enable you to play music from different genres. When you sign up for Pianoforall, you get access to resources, ebooks, video lessons, and exercises.
If you’re a beginner, you’ll appreciate the Pianoforall course outline because it starts lessons from the basics and helps you get better as you continue with the learning materials.
Like Jacques Hopkins, Robin Hall, the creator of Pianoforall, is not enthusiastic about sheet music. He teaches how to play songs by ear instead of sight.
FAQs
Can I Complete Piano in 21 Days After 21 Days?
The online course is called Piano in 21 Days because the course outline is spread across 21 days. However, you don’t have to worry if you can’t complete it in 21 consecutive days. When you sign up, you get lifetime access; hence, you can go through the course at your own pace.
Is Piano in 21 Days a Good Way to Learn the Piano?
Yes, Piano in 21 Days is a good way to learn how to play the piano. If you’re looking for a website that can teach you how to play popular songs, then Piano in 21 Days is ideal for you.
What Extra Equipment Do I Need in Addition to My Piano?
To learn how to play piano with Piano in 21 Days, all you need is a piano or keyboard with at least 49 keys and a sustain pedal.
Final Verdict: Is Piano in 21 Days Worth It?
Piano in 21 Days is an online platform that can give you the knowledge and skills you need to play your favorite songs. It’s designed in an easy-to-understand way, so no matter how old you are, you’ll find the video and audio lessons easy to follow.
Before enrolling, you’ll have to decide what you want to get from the course. Remember that the course prioritizes learning music by ear instead of sight. So, if you’re interested in the traditional way of learning the piano, you should consider some alternatives.
In addition, you’ll need to practice if you want to get anything from the course. For example, Jacques promises that you should be able to play the songs he teaches in his online course, but you won’t see any results if you don’t practice.