The main difference between Piano For All and Piano In A Flash is that Piano For All teaches students to play by ear and improvise using a chord-based, rhythm-focused method presented through a series of interactive eBooks, while Piano In A Flash focuses on teaching adults how to read and play from lead sheets and fake books, using a more structured video-based approach to play popular standards.

What is Piano For All and What is Piano In A Flash?

Piano For All, created by Robin Hall, is a comprehensive online piano course designed to take absolute beginners to an intermediate level in a relatively short time. Its core philosophy is built around learning chords and rhythm patterns first, which allows students to quickly start playing popular songs in various styles like pop, blues, jazz, and rock. The curriculum is delivered through a series of nine interactive eBooks that are supplemented with over 200 video lessons and 500 audio clips embedded directly within the pages. This integrated format allows students to read a concept, then immediately see and hear it demonstrated. The primary goal of Piano For All is to equip students with the foundational skills to play by ear, improvise, and eventually create their own music.

Piano In A Flash, developed by Scott Houston (often known as ‘The Piano Guy’ from his public television series), is an online piano method specifically geared towards adults, particularly those who may have tried and failed with traditional lessons in the past. The program’s central tenet is teaching students how to play using professional-style lead sheets and fake books—the same tools used by working musicians. Instead of emphasizing rigorous classical training and note-for-note sight-reading, Houston’s method focuses on understanding melody lines (played with the right hand) and chord symbols (played with the left hand). The course is delivered through a structured series of video lessons, guiding students step-by-step on how to interpret these charts to play a wide variety of popular songs and standards for their own enjoyment.

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Key differences between Piano For All and Piano In A Flash

1. Core Teaching Methodology: Piano For All builds a foundation on learning chord shapes and rhythm patterns, enabling students to play by ear and improvise. Piano In A Flash, conversely, is built around teaching students to read and interpret lead sheets and fake books.
2. Primary Learning Materials: The backbone of Piano For All is its set of interactive eBooks with embedded video and audio. Piano In A Flash relies primarily on a structured series of online video lessons that guide the student through the learning process.
3. Target Audience: While both are for beginners, Piano For All has a broad appeal to all ages. Piano In A Flash is more specifically marketed towards and designed for adult learners, including seniors, who want to play for personal fulfillment.
4. Initial Focus: A student in Piano For All will first learn a series of essential chords and rhythmic accompaniments. A student in Piano In A Flash will begin by learning to identify notes on the keyboard and read the melody line on a treble clef.
5. Musical Genre Emphasis: Piano For All has a strong emphasis on contemporary styles like pop, blues, ballads, rock ‘n’ roll, and jazz. Piano In A Flash tends to focus more on classic pop hits, show tunes, and standards typically found in fake books.
6. Instructor and Presentation Style: Robin Hall (Piano For All) has a direct, to-the-point teaching style presented within the eBook format. Scott Houston (Piano In A Flash) has a friendly, encouraging on-camera personality honed from his years on public television.
7. Path to Improvisation: Piano For All explicitly teaches improvisation and composition from early on, encouraging students to create their own melodies and accompaniments. Piano In A Flash focuses on accurately interpreting the chords and melodies provided on the lead sheet, with less initial emphasis on improvisation.
8. Cost Structure: Piano For All is typically sold for a one-time payment that grants lifetime access to all materials and future updates. Piano In A Flash often utilizes a tiered or subscription-based model for its different course levels.
9. Portability and Access: Because Piano For All is based on downloadable eBooks, all the core material can be saved and used offline on any compatible device. Piano In A Flash generally requires an internet connection to access its video lesson portal.

Key similarities between Piano For All and Piano In A Flash

1. Rejection of Traditional Methods: Both courses were created as alternatives to traditional, classical-focused piano lessons that often overwhelm beginners with heavy sight-reading and technical exercises.
2. Goal of Rapid Results: A core philosophy for both programs is to get students playing recognizable songs as quickly as possible to build confidence and maintain motivation.
3. Emphasis on Chords: Although they teach them differently, both methods place a strong emphasis on the importance of chords as the foundation of most popular music, rather than focusing solely on individual notes.
4. Designed for Beginners: Both Piano For All and Piano In A Flash are structured to guide students with little or no prior piano experience from the very beginning.
5. Focus on Practical Application: The objective of each course is not to create a concert pianist but to teach practical skills that allow students to play songs they know and love for their own enjoyment.
6. Self-Paced Learning: Both are online digital products that allow students to learn entirely at their own pace, reviewing lessons as many times as needed without the pressure of a live instructor.
7. Development of Hand Independence: A key milestone in both programs is helping students develop the coordination to play a melody with the right hand while playing chords or an accompaniment with the left hand.

Features of Piano For All vs Piano In A Flash

1. Core Learning Material: Piano For All utilizes a set of nine interactive eBooks with embedded video and audio clips as its primary teaching tool. In contrast, Piano In A Flash is built around a structured online portal of sequential video lessons.
2. Primary Skill Development: Piano For All is designed to develop the skills of playing by ear, improvising, and understanding chord-based music theory from a creative standpoint. Conversely, Piano In A Flash is designed to develop the specific skill of reading and interpreting professional lead sheets and fake books.
3. Payment Structure: Piano For All is sold for a single, one-time fee that grants lifetime access to all current and future course materials. Piano In A Flash typically employs a tiered or subscription-based model, which may result in a higher total cost over time.
4. Instructional Delivery: Instruction in Piano For All is delivered through written text within the eBooks, supplemented by short, functional video demonstrations. Instruction in Piano In A Flash is delivered by a charismatic, on-camera host who guides the student through each lesson.
5. Portability and Access: The entirety of Piano For All can be downloaded for complete offline use on any compatible device. Piano In A Flash is a web-based platform that requires a consistent internet connection to access the video lessons.
6. Approach to Music Notation: Piano For All introduces sight-reading as a supplementary skill after a strong foundation in chords and rhythm is established. Piano In A Flash integrates reading the treble clef for melodies as a foundational component from the beginning.
7. Genre Specialization: Piano For All offers dedicated sections on a wide array of modern genres, including specific books on Blues, Rock ‘n’ Roll, and Jazz. Piano In A Flash focuses primarily on the repertoire of classic pop, standards, and show tunes commonly found in commercial fake books.
8. Ideal Learner Profile: Piano For All appeals to a broad audience of all ages who desire creative freedom and a deep understanding of how music works. Piano In A Flash is specifically tailored for adult learners, including seniors, who seek a structured, encouraging environment to learn familiar songs.

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Pros of Piano For All Over Piano In A Flash

1. Superior Cost-Effectiveness: Piano For All is offered for a single, one-time payment that grants lifetime access to all nine eBooks, supplementary materials, and all future updates. This presents a significant long-term financial advantage over Piano In A Flash, which often relies on a tiered or recurring subscription model that can accumulate to a higher cost over time.
2. Complete Offline Accessibility: Once downloaded, the entire Piano For All course, including all embedded video and audio files, is available offline. This allows for learning anywhere, anytime, without dependence on an internet connection, a stark contrast to the online portal required to access the video-based lessons of Piano In A Flash.
3. Strong Foundation in Improvisation: The course is fundamentally designed to teach students how to improvise. From early on, Robin Hall provides the tools, chord knowledge, and rhythmic patterns necessary for students to create their own melodies and accompaniments, a skill that is not a primary focus in the more structured, notation-based approach of Piano In A Flash.
4. Development of Aural Skills: A core tenet of Piano For All is teaching students to play by ear. The method trains the ear to recognize chord progressions and melodies, fostering a deeper musical understanding that transcends reading notes on a page. This is a distinct advantage for musicians wanting to play more freely.
5. Broader and More Modern Genre Coverage: The curriculum explicitly delves into a wide array of popular music styles, including dedicated sections on Blues, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Jazz, and Ragtime. This provides a more diverse musical palette compared to the primary focus on classic pop standards and show tunes typically found in the fake books used by Piano In A Flash.
6. Integrated and Efficient Learning Materials: The format of interactive eBooks with embedded audio and video is highly efficient. Students can read a concept, see it demonstrated in a video, and hear an audio example without ever leaving the page or switching between different browser tabs or applications.
7. Direct Pathway to Composition: By focusing on the building blocks of music—chords and rhythm—Piano For All inherently equips students with the skills needed to compose their own songs. The method encourages creativity and musical expression beyond simply interpreting the work of others.

Cons of Piano For All Compared to Piano In A Flash

1. Lack of a Charismatic On-Camera Host: The instruction in Piano For All is delivered primarily through text and short, functional video clips. It lacks the engaging, friendly, and encouraging on-camera personality of Scott Houston, which can be a significant motivational factor for many adult learners in the Piano In A Flash program.
2. Less Direct Path to Reading Lead Sheets: If a student’s specific goal is to become proficient at playing from the vast library of commercially available fake books, Piano In A Flash provides a more direct and focused curriculum for that exact skill. Piano For All teaches the underlying theory but does not center its method on interpreting lead sheet notation.
3. eBook-Centric Format May Not Suit All Learners: The learning experience is heavily based on reading and interacting with eBooks. Students who are primarily visual or auditory learners and prefer a more passive, ‘watch-and-do’ style might find the structured video-lesson format of Piano In A Flash more appealing and less demanding.
4. Steeper Learning Curve for Traditional Notation: Because Piano For All prioritizes chords and playing by ear, it places less initial emphasis on reading traditional sheet music. A student wishing to transition to classical pieces or standard notation later may find they have more ground to cover compared to a Piano In A Flash student who has been reading treble clef melodies from the beginning.
5. Less Structured Progression: The course provides all the materials at once, allowing the student to progress at their own pace. While a pro for some, this can feel less structured and potentially overwhelming for absolute beginners who prefer a more linear, step-by-step video path where each lesson unlocks the next.
6. Song Selection May Be Less Familiar to Older Adults: While diverse, the song examples in Piano For All may lean towards more general pop, blues, and rock idioms. Piano In A Flash’s focus on classic standards from artists like Frank Sinatra or Elton John might be more immediately recognizable and motivating for its target demographic of older adults.

Pros of Piano In A Flash Over Piano For All

1. Engaging and Relatable Instructor: Scott Houston’s on-camera presence, honed through his public television series, is a major asset. His friendly, encouraging, and clear teaching style is specifically designed to put adult learners at ease, building confidence and making the learning process feel more like a personal coaching session.
2. Direct and Practical Application for Fake Books: The entire method is built around the practical skill of reading and playing from professional-style lead sheets and fake books. This gives students immediate access to playing thousands of popular songs exactly as working musicians often do.
3. Highly Structured, Video-Based Curriculum: For learners who thrive on structure, the course is ideal. It is presented as a series of linear video lessons that guide the student systematically from one concept to the next, minimizing confusion and providing a clear, easy-to-follow learning path.
4. Specifically Tailored for Adult Learners: Every aspect of the course, from the pacing and song selection to the teaching philosophy, is curated for adults, particularly those who may have had negative experiences with traditional lessons. This targeted approach fosters a highly supportive and relevant learning environment.
5. Provides a Solid Introduction to Music Notation: By teaching students to read the melody line on the treble clef and understand chord symbols, the course offers a gentle yet effective introduction to the fundamentals of reading music, a skill that is less emphasized in the early stages of Piano For All.
6. Focus on Immediate Gratification with Familiar Songs: The curriculum heavily features well-known popular standards and classic hits. This allows students to quickly learn to play songs they already know and love, which is a powerful motivator and provides a tangible sense of accomplishment early in their journey.
7. Clear Division of Labor for Hands: The method’s clear instruction—melody in the right hand, chords in the left—is a very logical and easy-to-grasp concept for beginners. This can simplify the initial challenge of hand independence compared to learning more complex, two-handed rhythmic patterns from the start.
8. Organized Support and Community: Often, programs like Piano In A Flash that use a subscription or multi-level course model include access to dedicated student forums, Q&A sessions, or direct support, creating a sense of community that can be very beneficial for learners.

Cons of Piano In A Flash Compared to Piano For All

1. Higher Potential Long-Term Cost: The course is typically offered through a subscription or a multi-level payment structure. Over time, this can become significantly more expensive than the one-time purchase price of Piano For All, which provides lifetime access for a single fee.
2. Requires a Constant Internet Connection: As a program delivered primarily through an online video portal, learning is contingent upon having a reliable internet connection. This makes it less portable and flexible than Piano For

All, which makes it an inflexible option for learning on the go or in areas with poor connectivity.

3. Limited Emphasis on Improvisation and Creativity: The method is primarily focused on interpretation—accurately playing the melody and chords written on a lead sheet. It does not inherently foster the skills of improvisation, composition, or playing by ear to the same degree as Piano For All.
4. Slower Development of Aural Skills: Because the student is always relying on a visual guide (the lead sheet), the development of the ear can be a slower process. Students may become dependent on having the music in front of them rather than learning to pick out melodies and chord progressions on their own.
5. Potentially Narrower Genre Focus: The curriculum’s reliance on songs typically found in standard fake books can lead to a focus on a specific era of pop, standards, and show tunes. Students interested in a deep dive into genres like blues, modern rock, or intricate jazz may find the material less comprehensive than Piano For All’s dedicated sections.
6. Less Focus on Rhythmic Complexity: While teaching chords, the initial emphasis is on playing simple block or broken chords to support a melody. Piano For All introduces more complex and style-specific rhythmic patterns for the left hand early on, building a more dynamic rhythmic foundation.

Situations when Piano For All is Better than Piano In A Flash

Piano For All is the superior choice for learners in specific contexts where its unique methodology and features provide a distinct advantage. It excels for individuals who prioritize creativity, flexibility, and a deep, foundational understanding of music theory as it applies to popular genres.

1. For the Aspiring Songwriter or Improviser: If your ultimate goal is not just to play existing songs but to create your own music, improvise solos, or compose melodies, Piano For All is the clear winner. Its curriculum is built from the ground up to teach the chordal and rhythmic structures that are the very building blocks of composition and improvisation.
2. For the Budget-Conscious Student: The one-time payment model for lifetime access makes Piano For All a more financially predictable and often more affordable long-term investment. Learners who are wary of recurring subscription fees or multi-tiered payment plans will find its straightforward pricing structure highly appealing.
3. For Learners Who Need Offline Access: Students who travel frequently, have unreliable internet, or simply prefer to own and store their learning materials locally will benefit greatly from Piano For All. The entire course, including all videos and audio, can be downloaded to a computer, tablet, or phone for use anywhere, anytime.
4. For Those Who Want to Play by Ear: The course places a significant emphasis on training the ear to recognize chord progressions and melodic patterns. For a student whose ambition is to hear a song on the radio and be able to figure out how to play it, this aural-focused training is invaluable and more direct than a notation-based method.
5. For the Self-Directed, Hands-On Learner: Individuals who prefer to learn by reading, exploring, and experimenting will thrive with the interactive eBook format. It allows you to jump between sections, review concepts quickly, and progress at a non-linear pace, which can be more engaging than passively watching a sequence of video lessons.
6. For Students Interested in Blues and Jazz Fundamentals: Piano For All contains dedicated books that provide a solid and practical introduction to the specific chord voicings, progressions (like the 12-bar blues), and rhythms that define blues and jazz piano. This genre-specific training is a core part of the curriculum.
7. For Individuals Seeking a Deeper Understanding of Music Theory: While both courses use chords, Piano For All’s approach inherently teaches the why behind the music. Students learn how chords are constructed, how they relate to each other in a key, and how to use them creatively, leading to a more comprehensive theoretical foundation.

Situations when Piano In A Flash is Better than Piano For All

Piano In A Flash holds a distinct advantage for a specific demographic of learners, particularly adults who value a structured, encouraging, and highly focused approach to playing familiar songs. Its methodology is perfectly suited for those with a clear and specific goal in mind.

1. For the Absolute Beginner Who Feels Intimidated: Scott Houston’s friendly and reassuring on-camera presence is a significant asset. For adult learners who are nervous or believe they lack musical talent, his encouraging style can be the key factor in building the confidence needed to stick with the lessons.
2. For Learners Whose Sole Goal is to Play from Fake Books: If a student’s primary ambition is to sit down with a fake book of their favorite artist (e.g., The Beatles, Elton John) and be able to play the songs, this course is the most direct route. It teaches the exact skill set required for this purpose without detours into improvisation or complex theory.
3. For Students Who Thrive on Structure and a Linear Path: The course is laid out as a clear, step-by-step video series. For learners who prefer to be told exactly what to do next and appreciate a highly organized curriculum, this format eliminates guesswork and provides a predictable, easy-to-follow journey.
4. For Older Adults Wanting to Play Familiar Classics: The song selection in Piano In A Flash is heavily curated to appeal to adults, featuring a wealth of classic pop, show tunes, and standards. This immediate connection to beloved music serves as a powerful and consistent motivator throughout the learning process.
5. For Visual Learners Who Prefer Video Instruction: Students who learn best by watching and copying will find the video-centric format of Piano In A Flash more engaging than the text-heavy eBook style of Piano For All. The entire learning experience is built around watching the instructor demonstrate each concept.
6. For Individuals Seeking the Simplest Entry into Hand Independence: The method’s clear division of labor—melody in the right hand, chords in the left—is an exceptionally straightforward concept for beginners to grasp. It provides a logical and less overwhelming introduction to the challenge of playing with two hands simultaneously.

Learning Experience and Pacing

This section looks at the day-to-day process of using each course. The way a student moves through the material differs greatly between the two methods.

The Piano For All Experience

A typical session with this program is very active. The student reads a small amount of text in an eBook, watches a very short video showing the technique, and then immediately tries it on their own keyboard. This creates a fast cycle of instruction and application, preventing long periods of just watching or reading. The entire process is hands-on from the start.

The pacing is completely self-directed because all the materials are provided at once. A student can jump to the blues section if they feel inspired or spend an entire month mastering a single rhythmic pattern. This freedom is great for motivated individuals but requires personal discipline to maintain steady progress through the course books.

The Piano In A Flash Experience

The learning here often begins with watching a video lesson. Scott Houston explains a concept, demonstrates it on the piano, and offers encouragement. The student watches for a period before pausing the video to practice the specific skill or song section that was just shown. It feels more like a traditional one-on-one lesson.

Progression through the course is very linear and organized. One lesson follows the next in a set order, creating a clear and predictable path for the student. This structure is very helpful for beginners who might feel overwhelmed by too many choices and prefer being guided step-by-step from one level to the next.

Comparing Session Flow and Momentum

Practice sessions for Piano For All can be short and focused. A person could make real progress in just 15 or 20 minutes by working through a few pages of an eBook. This makes it easy to fit practice into a busy schedule. The flow is broken into many small, manageable parts.

Momentum with Piano In A Flash is built differently. It comes from the satisfaction of completing a full video lesson and from the direct encouragement of the instructor. The flow is more like a formal class, where a student might set aside 30 to 45 minutes to watch the video and complete the associated practice assignments.

Long-Term Skill Development and Musical Growth

The skills a student develops after months of practice will be quite different with each program. Their future musical paths are shaped by the foundational method they choose.

A Year with Piano For All

After a year, a student of this method would be comfortable playing a wide variety of chords and rhythms. They would likely be able to hear a simple pop song and figure out the basic chords needed to play along. Their ability to make up their own music would be developing well.

This student’s skill in reading standard sheet music might be less developed. They would have focused more on chord charts and playing by ear. This makes them well-suited for playing in a casual band setting or accompanying a singer, where improvisation is a valuable skill.

A Year with Piano In A Flash

A student using this program for a year would be very good at playing from lead sheets. They could take a fake book of standards, read the melody and chord symbols, and produce a finished-sounding song. Their personal library of songs they can play from memory or from a book would be quite large.

This person might be less comfortable playing without any music in front of them. Creating a new arrangement of a song or improvising a solo would be a bigger challenge. The training is centered on accurately playing what is written on the page.

Future Musical Pathways

The Piano For All student is well-prepared for a future in songwriting or playing in popular music groups. Their knowledge of chord theory and rhythm gives them the building blocks for creative musical work. They might later study advanced jazz harmony or arrangement techniques.

The Piano In A Flash student is perfectly set up to be a skilled hobbyist musician. They can entertain themselves and others by playing from a huge collection of available music books. Their next step could be to find more difficult arrangements or to begin a more formal study of classical music and notation.

FAQs

What are the technical requirements to use these courses?

For Piano For All, the primary requirement is a device capable of opening PDF files, as the core material is delivered in interactive eBooks. This includes most computers, tablets, and smartphones. Because the files are downloadable, consistent internet is only needed for the initial purchase and download. Piano In A Flash, being a video-based portal, requires a stable internet connection for streaming lessons and a modern web browser. Both courses function on both PC and Mac operating systems without any special software installation.

Is an acoustic piano required, or is a digital keyboard sufficient?

A digital keyboard is perfectly sufficient and often recommended for both courses. The ideal keyboard would have at least 61 keys and feature touch-sensitivity, meaning the volume changes depending on how hard you press the keys. While a full 88-key weighted keyboard that mimics the feel of an acoustic piano is beneficial for long-term development, it is not a prerequisite to begin or succeed with either program. Any instrument that allows you to practice the concepts is adequate.

What kind of student support is available for each program?

Piano For All offers direct email support from the creator, Robin Hall, who is known for being responsive to student questions. The support is personal but less structured than a community forum. Piano In A Flash, often due to its subscription or tiered model, typically provides a more organized support system which may include a dedicated help desk, student forums for peer-to-peer interaction, and potentially Q&A sessions. The community aspect can be a significant benefit for learners who value shared experiences.

How much daily practice time is suggested to see results?

Neither course mandates a strict practice schedule, as both are self-paced. However, for consistent progress, a general recommendation for either program is 20 to 30 minutes of focused practice at least five days a week. The key is consistency over duration. The bite-sized lesson format of Piano For All can be particularly effective for short, frequent practice sessions, while the video-lesson structure of Piano In A Flash might be better suited for slightly longer, dedicated blocks of time.

What are the refund policies for these courses?

Piano For All is well-known for offering a clear, no-questions-asked 60-day money-back guarantee, which provides a risk-free trial period for students. The refund policy for Piano In A Flash can be more varied as it may depend on the specific course package or subscription plan purchased. Prospective students should carefully review the terms and conditions on the official website at the time of purchase to see the specific guarantee or trial period offered for their chosen plan.

How deeply do the courses cover formal music theory?

Both courses teach practical, applied music theory rather than academic, formal theory. Piano For All provides a very strong foundation in chord theory, teaching how chords are built, how they function within a key, and how to use inversions and progressions creatively. Piano In A Flash teaches the theory necessary to read a lead sheet, focusing on note names, scales for the melody, and the construction of the chords indicated by the symbols. Neither is a substitute for a dedicated classical theory curriculum.

Are there printable materials included with the courses?

Yes, both programs offer printable resources. Since Piano For All is delivered as a series of eBooks in PDF format, the entire course can be printed out for offline reference, allowing a student to make notes directly on the pages. Piano In A Flash typically provides printable lead sheets, chord charts, and exercise worksheets to accompany its video lessons, ensuring the student has the necessary sheet music and reference material for practice away from the screen.

How is physical technique, like hand posture and fingering, addressed?

Both courses address physical technique in a functional, practical manner rather than with the rigor of a classical instructor. In Piano For All, short video clips demonstrate correct fingering for chords and patterns. In Piano In A Flash, Scott Houston demonstrates proper hand position and fingering for melodies and chords as part of his video instruction. The focus for both is on what is effective for playing popular music, not on formal ergonomic training for advanced classical performance.

Piano For All vs Piano In A Flash Summary

In summary, the choice between these two effective programs hinges on the student’s primary objective. Piano For All is the ideal path for those who wish to develop a deep, intuitive musicality, focusing on playing by ear, improvising, and composing across various popular genres. It suits the self-motivated individual who values creative freedom and offline access. In contrast, Piano In A Flash is perfectly tailored for the adult learner who desires a structured, encouraging, video-based system to quickly play familiar songs from lead sheets and fake books. The decision ultimately rests on whether your goal is to create music freely or to interpret existing music accurately.