What is wrong with traditional piano lessons?

  • Slow learning curve

    Since their primary focus is learning to read sheet music ( a long, slow process), it usually takes years before you can play anything above a beginner level.

  • They are boring

    Oh, if I had a dollar for every person who told me they hated childhood piano lessons (tedious finger exercises, monotonous scale practice, etc...)

  • They are expensive

    If you add it all up, weekly private lessons will likely cost you $1200 - $1800 per year.

  • You don't get to play modern songs

    Their focus on music reading tends to push you towards Classical music, because that's the music that's written down! Modern songs require a modern style of piano playing that is typically not taught in most private lessons; and you don't need to learn how to read music.

Let’s be honest: there are scores (pardon the pun)
of online piano courses and apps out there.

What makes PLAY FIRST PIANO stand out from the crowd?

  • Easy to Learn

    Similar to learning the guitar or ukulele, Play First Piano teaches you first how to play chords. Chords are quick and easy to learn, and you can be playing dozens of songs within a few weeks. You don’t even need to know how to read music! Once you are adept at chord-playing, you will learn to improvise and add melodies.

  • Modern Music:

    Learn how to play familiar and popular songs the way the professional musicians play them, rather than the amateur, elevator music versions you get with most piano learning apps.

  • Microlearning:

    Microlearning (short learning sessions over a continuous period) has been shown to significantly boost long-term retention. Play First Piano is the only course specifically designed following these principles: over 200 short videos (2-10 minutes each), progressively building your knowledge and skills. Who has time for 25-40 minute tutorials?

  • Understanding Music:

    Play First Piano is the only course that teaches you how music ‘works’ -the gateway to adding melodies to chords, improvising and writing your own songs. It’s all here.

  • Go at Your Own Pace

    Go at your own speed, from the comfort of your own home. Since the program is designed in bite-sized lessons, it is easy to take a break and resume where you left off. There is no pressure to practice - you answer only to yourself.

  • Support:

    Play First Piano goes above and beyond all others in supporting your learning journey: daily/weekly goal-setting plans; live Q&A sessions with founder, Steve Pitkanen; private community membership. You are not alone!

Carolyn Handy

Ontario, CANADA

"As an adult student, I thoroughly enjoy Steve's style of teaching that quickly covers new material and allows you to play in a more current style of piano."

CareyAnn Mayer

Ontario, CANADA

"It is amazing how quickly you can start to play songs. I highly recommend Play First Piano."

Juanita Wootton-Radko

Ontario, CANADA

"Steve's friendly, approachable style makes the lessons fun and easy. And I love that I can go at my own pace. It's such a confidence boost to sound like I'm making real music."

Let me tell you a secret:

THIS IS HOW THE PROS PLAY!

Playing chords is actually the dominant style of piano playing for virtually all modern musicians since the 1950s (including Elton John, Billy Joel, Carole King, Sarah McLachlan, Taylor Swift, Alicia Keys, Adele, Bruno Mars, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and the Beatles).

PLAY FIRST PIANO will show you, step-by-step, how quickly you can start playing in this modern style. With our daily/weekly goal-setting plans, you expect to be:

• playing a few simple songs within days,
• playing familiar and popular songs within weeks.
• playing almost any song you can think of within months.

But there's more...

PLAY FIRST PIANO goes beyond simply teaching you how to play chords.

It's a step-by-step program that steadily builds and improves all aspects of your piano playing - showing you exactly what you need to know...when you need to know it.

Along the way, you learn the secrets of How Music Works, so that by the time you have completed the course, you also have all the knowledge and skills you need to improvise music, or even write your own songs.
GET STARTED FOR FREE!

Meet Your Instructor

Steve Pitkanen
BFA (Music), MMus (Performance)

Hello! My name is Steve. I have been a working musician for the past 35 years, including a 15-year career as an opera singer, and 20 years as a piano instructor.

I have spent the past two years rethinking and redesigning the way keyboard lessons should be taught, based on my experience as a teacher and performer of both Popular and Classical music.

This is how I always wanted to be taught; hopefully it is the same for you.
Picture of instructor smiling

Is This Course For You?


PLAY FIRST PIANO is perfect for:

  • YOU - if you are an adult beginner or former piano student frustrated by traditional lessons.

  • YOU - if you want to learn to play popular songs, rather than Classical music.

  • YOU - if you want to lead others in a sing-along, play in a jam session or simply play for yourself.

  • YOU - if you want to learn from home, on your own schedule.

  • YOU - if you want to learn to improvise on the piano or write your own songs.

  • YOU - if you just want to have fun playing!