The main difference between Pianoforall and Playground Sessions is that Pianoforall is a comprehensive, ebook-based course that prioritizes a chord-based approach, teaching you to play by ear and improvise in popular styles, while Playground Sessions is an interactive, gamified software application that uses a MIDI keyboard to provide real-time feedback on note accuracy as you learn to play popular songs through a more traditional, notation-focused method.

What is Pianoforall and What is Playground Sessions?

Pianoforall is a comprehensive and self-contained digital piano course created by instructor Robin Hall. It is delivered as a series of interactive ebooks that are supplemented with embedded video and audio files. The core philosophy of Pianoforall is to get students sounding like a pro as quickly as possible. It achieves this by starting with rhythm-style piano, similar to how artists like Billy Joel or Elton John play, teaching chords and progressions from the very first lesson. This chord-first method allows students to quickly play along with popular songs and develop a strong foundation in harmony, improvisation, and playing by ear across various genres like pop, blues, jazz, and classical. The entire course is available for a one-time purchase, giving students lifetime access to all materials and future updates without a recurring subscription.

Playground Sessions, on the other hand, is a software-based piano learning platform co-created by the legendary musician and producer Quincy Jones. Its methodology is built around an interactive, gamified application that connects to a MIDI keyboard or digital piano. This connection is central to the experience, as the software listens to what you play and provides instant, on-screen feedback on your timing and note accuracy. The curriculum is divided into a ‘Bootcamp’ for learning fundamentals and a massive, ever-growing library of popular songs from artists like Taylor Swift, John Legend, and Queen. The learning process feels like a video game, with scores, progress tracking, and achievements designed to keep students motivated. It primarily operates on a subscription model, though lifetime access is also available, with song purchases often being separate.

More info at Pianoforall

Key differences between Pianoforall and Playground Sessions

1. Teaching Methodology: Pianoforall focuses on a chord-based, ‘play-by-ear’ approach, teaching students to understand musical structure and improvise from day one. Playground Sessions uses a more traditional, notation-based method combined with modern gamification to teach note-for-note accuracy.
2. Learning Format: Pianoforall is delivered as a set of downloadable ebooks with embedded video and audio. Playground Sessions is a software application that must be installed on a computer or iPad.
3. Feedback Mechanism: With Pianoforall, feedback is based on self-assessment by listening to the audio examples and comparing your own playing. Playground Sessions provides instant, automated feedback on pitch and rhythm by connecting a MIDI keyboard to its software.
4. Pricing Structure: Pianoforall is sold for a single, one-time payment that grants lifetime access to all course materials and updates. Playground Sessions primarily operates on a recurring subscription model (monthly, annual) or a more expensive lifetime membership, with many popular songs requiring separate purchases.
5. Core Skill Emphasis: Pianoforall heavily emphasizes improvisation, composition, and understanding chord progressions. Playground Sessions emphasizes sight-reading, technical accuracy, and perfectly recreating existing songs.
6. Internet Dependency: Once downloaded, Pianoforall’s core materials can be used entirely offline. Playground Sessions requires a consistent internet connection to access lessons, the song library, and sync progress.
7. Song Library: Pianoforall teaches you the skills to play thousands of songs by teaching patterns and progressions, rather than providing a library of specific song tutorials. Playground Sessions boasts a large, licensed library of specific, popular songs that you learn to play exactly as arranged.
8. Hardware Requirements: Pianoforall can be used with any piano or keyboard, acoustic or digital, as it does not require a direct connection. To get the full benefit of Playground Sessions, a MIDI-compatible digital piano or keyboard is essential.
9. Lesson Structure: Pianoforall is structured like a series of books, moving linearly from one concept to the next. Playground Sessions is divided into a structured ‘Bootcamp’ for theory and a more flexible, à la carte song library for practical application.

Link to Pianoforall home

Key similarities between Pianoforall and Playground Sessions

1. Target Audience: Both platforms are designed primarily for adult beginners who want to learn piano outside of a traditional, in-person lesson environment.
2. Self-Paced Learning: Both Pianoforall and Playground Sessions allow students to progress through the material entirely at their own pace, on their own schedule.
3. Use of Video Instruction: Both courses rely heavily on video demonstrations where students can watch an instructor’s hands on the keyboard to understand technique and finger placement.
4. Focus on Popular Music: While their methods differ, both programs deviate from a strictly classical curriculum and focus on teaching skills applicable to playing popular, contemporary music genres.
5. Digital Delivery: Both are modern learning solutions delivered entirely in a digital format, accessible on devices like PCs, Macs, and iPads, eliminating the need for physical books or materials.
6. Comprehensive Curriculum: Each program aims to be a complete learning system, taking an absolute beginner from the basics of navigating the keyboard to playing full songs.
7. Lifetime Access Option: Although their primary pricing models differ, both platforms ultimately offer a lifetime access option, allowing dedicated students to make a one-time investment for long-term learning.

Features of Pianoforall vs Playground Sessions

1. Core Learning Material: Pianoforall delivers its curriculum through a series of nine downloadable, interactive ebooks in PDF format, which contain embedded video and audio links. In contrast, Playground Sessions delivers its content through a dedicated software application that must be installed on a PC, Mac, or iPad.
2. Feedback Mechanism: Pianoforall relies on student self-assessment; you listen to the examples and compare them to your own playing. Playground Sessions utilizes a direct feedback loop via a MIDI keyboard connection, where the software automatically grades your note and rhythm accuracy on-screen.
3. Content Library and Song Approach: Pianoforall’s content is an integrated course that teaches you patterns and techniques to play thousands of songs, but it does not provide specific arrangements. Playground Sessions features a structured ‘Bootcamp’ for theory and a separate, massive library of licensed, note-for-note arrangements of popular songs, many of which require individual purchase.
4. Hardware Requirements: To use Pianoforall, any 61-key keyboard or piano (acoustic or digital) will suffice, with no computer connection needed. To unlock the core features of Playground Sessions, a MIDI-compatible keyboard connected to a computer or iPad is essential.
5. Primary Skill Emphasis: Pianoforall is heavily weighted towards fostering creativity, teaching chord-based playing, improvisation, and developing a good ear. Playground Sessions is weighted towards technical precision, note-for-note accuracy, and developing strong sight-reading skills by following on-screen notation.
6. Offline Functionality: Pianoforall’s materials, once downloaded, are 100% functional offline. Playground Sessions is fundamentally an online platform and requires a consistent internet connection to access lessons, the song library, and sync user progress.
7. Instructor Presence: In Pianoforall, the instructor, Robin Hall, is present through all the video and audio demonstrations, providing a consistent teaching voice. Playground Sessions features a primary instructor for its Bootcamp (David Sides) but also includes high-profile celebrity co-creators and guest instructors like Quincy Jones and Harry Connick, Jr.
8. Interactive Tools: Pianoforall’s interactivity is limited to playing embedded video and audio files within a PDF. Playground Sessions offers a suite of dynamic practice tools, including interactive tempo control, section looping, hand isolation, and a full backing band accompaniment.

Pros of Pianoforall Over Playground Sessions

1. One-Time Payment for Lifetime Access: Pianoforall is offered for a single, affordable price. This grants the user complete, lifetime access to all nine interactive ebooks, along with all future updates, eliminating the concern of recurring subscription fees or the higher cost of a lifetime membership.
2. Emphasis on Improvisation and Creativity: From the very first book, the course teaches chords, progressions, and rhythm patterns that are the building blocks of popular music. This approach empowers students not just to replicate songs, but to understand their structure, improvise, and even begin composing their own music far earlier in the learning process.
3. No Special Hardware Required: Because the course is based on ebooks with embedded media, it can be used with any piano or keyboard, whether it’s a digital model with 61 keys or a full-sized acoustic grand piano. There is no need for MIDI connectivity, cables, or specific software compatibility.
4. Complete Offline Accessibility: Once the course materials are downloaded, they can be accessed anytime, anywhere, without an internet connection. This is a significant advantage for those who wish to study while traveling or in locations with unreliable internet service.
5. Develops Aural Skills (Playing by Ear): The method actively encourages students to listen to the audio examples and then replicate them. This process of listening and self-assessment is fundamental to developing the ability to play by ear, a skill often underdeveloped in app-based learning that relies on visual feedback.
6. Comprehensive and All-Inclusive Content: The purchase includes everything you need to progress from a beginner to an intermediate-advanced player. There are no additional costs for song packs, advanced lessons, or genre-specific modules; it’s all integrated into the core package.
7. Rapid Path to Sounding Proficient: The chord-first methodology allows students to play full-sounding accompaniments to popular songs very quickly. This provides a powerful sense of accomplishment and motivation that can be lacking when learning single-note melodies one at a time.

Cons of Pianoforall Compared to Playground Sessions

1. Lack of Instantaneous Feedback: The course relies entirely on self-correction. There is no software to confirm if you are playing the correct notes with the correct timing. This requires a good ear and a higher degree of self-discipline from the student.
2. Less Structured Sight-Reading Training: While Pianoforall does teach you how to read music, it is introduced alongside the chord-based method and is not the central focus. Students whose primary goal is to become a proficient classical sight-reader may find the curriculum less rigorous in this specific area.
3. Static Learning Format: The course is delivered as a series of ebooks. While they contain interactive video and audio, the format is less dynamic than a gamified application. Learners who thrive on points, badges, and interactive challenges may find the format less engaging.
4. No Licensed Popular Song Library: Pianoforall teaches you the techniques and patterns to play countless songs, but it does not provide official, note-for-note arrangements of specific, licensed hits by artists like Taylor Swift or Ed Sheeran. You learn the ‘how,’ but not the exact ‘what’ for specific popular tracks.
5. Requires More Intrinsic Motivation: Without a system of scores, progress bars, and weekly goals, the onus is entirely on the student to remain motivated and maintain a consistent practice schedule.
6. Visuals are Pre-Recorded and Non-Interactive: The video lessons are fixed recordings. Unlike in a software application, you cannot digitally slow down the tempo, loop a specific section with feedback, or isolate the notes for one hand within an interactive interface.

Pros of Playground Sessions Over Pianoforall

1. Real-Time, Accurate Feedback: This is the platform’s cornerstone. By connecting a MIDI keyboard, the software listens to your playing and provides immediate on-screen feedback, highlighting correct notes in green and incorrect ones in red. This removes guesswork and accelerates the process of learning note accuracy and timing.
2. Gamified and Motivating Structure: The entire learning experience is designed to feel like a video game. Students earn scores, unlock content, and track their progress through detailed charts. This gamification is highly effective at encouraging consistent practice and keeping learners engaged.
3. Extensive Licensed Song Library: Playground Sessions offers a massive, constantly growing library of popular songs from every genre, legally licensed and arranged for various skill levels (Rookie, Intermediate, Advanced). This allows students to learn the exact songs they know and love.
4. Superior Interactive Practice Tools: The software provides powerful tools that are impossible in an ebook format. Students can slow down any song to a crawl, loop a difficult measure to practice it repeatedly, practice with only the right or left hand while the app plays the other, and play along with a full backing band.
5. Strong Foundation in Music Notation: The curriculum is built around reading sheet music on the screen. From the very beginning, students are trained to associate the notes on the staff with the keys on the piano, building strong sight-reading skills.
6. Structured ‘Bootcamp’ Curriculum: For beginners, the platform offers a comprehensive ‘Bootcamp’ section that methodically teaches music theory, technique, and fundamentals. This provides a clear, linear learning path before students dive into the song library.
7. Celebrity Instructors and High Production Value: The involvement of co-creator Quincy Jones and video lessons from artists like Harry Connick, Jr. lend credibility and a professional polish to the content.
8. Regularly Updated Content: As a subscription-based service, the platform is constantly being updated with new songs, features, and lessons, ensuring there is always fresh material to explore.

Cons of Playground Sessions Compared to Pianoforall

1. Ongoing Subscription Costs: The primary pricing model is a recurring monthly or annual fee. Over the long term, this can become significantly more expensive than Pianoforall’s one-time purchase. The lifetime membership option is also substantially pricier.
2. Dependency on Hardware and Internet: To function as intended, the platform requires a MIDI-compatible keyboard, a specific connection to a computer or iPad, and a constant internet connection to access lessons and sync progress. This setup is less portable and flexible.
3. Additional Costs for Songs: A significant portion of the song library, particularly the most popular and current hits, must be purchased individually. These microtransactions can add up quickly, even for subscribers.
4. Weaker Emphasis on Improvisation and Theory Application: The program excels at teaching students to perfectly replicate pre-written arrangements. However, it places far less emphasis on teaching chord theory, composition, or the skills needed to improvise or create one’s own music.
5. Risk of ‘Video Game’ Dependency: Some learners may become overly reliant on the on-screen visual cues of falling notes, similar to games like Guitar Hero. This can hinder the development of traditional sight-reading and the ability to play from physical sheet music.
6. Potential for Technical Glitches: As with any software, there is the potential for bugs, MIDI connection issues, software updates causing compatibility problems, or server downtime, all of which can interrupt a practice session.
7. Limited Portability for Study: Learning is tethered to your keyboard-and-computer setup. You cannot easily review lesson concepts on a phone while commuting or print out a piece of music for offline study, which is simple to do with Pianoforall’s PDF-based books.

Situations when Pianoforall is Better than Playground Sessions

Pianoforall’s unique, chord-based methodology and self-contained format make it the superior choice for specific types of learners and learning goals. It excels for individuals who prioritize creative freedom, long-term value, and a deep, practical understanding of music theory.

1. For the Aspiring Songwriter or Improviser: Pianoforall’s core philosophy is built around teaching chords, progressions, and rhythm patterns. This approach provides the fundamental building blocks for composition and improvisation from the very beginning, making it an ideal choice for learners who want to create their own music, not just replicate others’.
2. For the Highly Budget-Conscious Student: The one-time payment model is a significant advantage. A single, affordable purchase grants lifetime access to the entire course and all future updates. This eliminates the long-term financial commitment of a recurring subscription and the potential for additional song purchase costs inherent in the Playground Sessions model.
3. For Learners Without a MIDI Keyboard: Pianoforall works perfectly with any type of piano or keyboard, including acoustic pianos or older digital models without MIDI connectivity. Its learning method does not depend on a hardware connection, offering greater flexibility and removing a potential barrier to entry.
4. For Individuals Seeking to Develop Their Aural Skills: The course actively trains your ear. By requiring you to listen to audio and video examples and then replicate them through self-assessment, it inherently strengthens your ability to play by ear, a crucial skill for jamming with other musicians or figuring out songs on your own.
5. For the Self-Motivated and Disciplined Learner: Pianoforall provides the tools and a clear path but trusts the student to manage their own practice schedule and assess their progress. This is ideal for self-starters who prefer a less guided, more independent learning environment and do not need gamification to stay motivated.
6. For Those Who Need Complete Offline Access: Once the course materials are downloaded, they are fully accessible without an internet connection. This is a critical advantage for students who have unreliable internet, wish to practice while traveling, or simply prefer to learn without being connected online.
7. For Learners Who Want to Understand the ‘Why’ of Music: Beyond just playing notes, Pianoforall teaches the theory behind why certain chords sound good together and how musical pieces are structured. This foundational knowledge empowers students to understand music on a deeper level, allowing them to adapt and play in various styles with confidence.

Situations when Playground Sessions is Better than Pianoforall

Playground Sessions leverages technology to create an interactive, motivating, and highly structured learning environment. It is the better option for students who thrive on immediate feedback, a game-like structure, and learning to play their favorite popular songs accurately.

1. For Learners Who Crave Instant Feedback: The MIDI connectivity is the platform’s greatest strength. Getting immediate, color-coded feedback on every note you play eliminates guesswork, corrects mistakes in real-time, and rapidly builds muscle memory for note accuracy and rhythm.
2. For Students Motivated by Gamification: If points, scores, progress charts, and unlocking achievements keep you engaged, Playground Sessions is the clear winner. Its entire system is designed to feel like a fun challenge, which can be a powerful tool for encouraging consistent daily practice.
3. For Those Who Dream of Playing Specific Hit Songs: The platform’s extensive, legally licensed library of popular music is a major draw. If your primary motivation for learning piano is to play exact arrangements of songs by artists like John Legend, Queen, or Taylor Swift, Playground Sessions provides the direct path to do so.
4. For Individuals Focused on Developing Sight-Reading Skills: The curriculum is heavily centered on reading music notation from the screen. This constant reinforcement of associating notes on the staff with keys on the piano builds strong sight-reading abilities, a foundational skill for classical music and playing from sheet music.
5. For Learners Who Benefit from Interactive Practice Tools: The software offers powerful practice aids that Pianoforall cannot. The ability to slow down any piece, loop a difficult section endlessly with feedback, and practice with one hand while the app plays the other is invaluable for mastering challenging passages.
6. For Beginners Who Need a Highly Structured Path: The ‘Bootcamp’ curriculum provides a clear, step-by-step introduction to music theory and piano fundamentals. This linear, guided approach is perfect for absolute beginners who may feel overwhelmed by a more open-ended course structure.

Learning Progression and Long-Term Skill Development

The path you take with each program shapes your piano skills differently over the long run. One builds a foundation for creating music, while the other refines your ability to perform existing pieces.

The Pianoforall Progression

Pianoforall produces a musician who thinks in terms of chords and harmony. After finishing the course, a student can sit at a piano and play accompaniments for many pop songs without sheet music. They can hear a chord progression and find it on the keyboard.

The long-term skill is musical independence. The student is not tied to specific arrangements. They develop the ability to join a band, accompany a singer, or compose their own simple tunes with a solid harmonic foundation.

The Playground Sessions Progression

Playground Sessions produces a student who is very good at reading music and playing songs accurately. Their long-term skill is performance of specific pieces. They can confidently play a song from the library in front of others, knowing they are playing it correctly.

This student’s progress is measured by the difficulty of the songs they can master. They become proficient at using the software’s tools to get through complex parts. Their development is tied to the platform’s library and structure.

Moving to Advanced Play

A Pianoforall student might move to advanced play by studying more complex jazz theory or classical composition. Their foundation in chords makes this a natural next step. They already think about how music is constructed.

A Playground Sessions student would move to more difficult arrangements within the app. They might tackle advanced classical pieces or intricate pop solos. Their next step is often to find a private teacher to refine technique and interpretation beyond what the software can offer.

Community and Support Systems

Getting help and connecting with others are important parts of practicing an instrument. The two programs offer very different approaches to student support and community interaction.

Pianoforall’s Support Method

Support for Pianoforall is direct and personal. Students can email the instructor, Robin Hall, directly with questions about the material. This provides access to the course creator for specific guidance.

There is no official integrated community forum or social platform. The experience is largely solitary. It is focused on the student and the course materials, with help coming from a single source.

Playground Sessions’ Community System

Playground Sessions has a more built-out community system. The platform often has forums or social media groups where students can share their progress. They can ask questions and interact with each other.

This creates a sense of shared experience. Students can see how others are scoring on songs. This can create a friendly sense of competition for people who enjoy being part of a larger group.

Technical vs. Musical Help

Playground Sessions offers a formal customer support system for technical issues. If the software is not working or a MIDI keyboard will not connect, there is a dedicated team to help solve the problem. This is separate from musical instruction.

With Pianoforall, support is almost entirely musical. Since the product is a simple set of files, technical problems are rare. The help offered focuses on the concepts within the lessons, like how to play a certain chord or get the idea of a rhythm.

FAQs

Which program is better for learning classical music?

While both platforms focus heavily on popular music, Playground Sessions has a slight edge for those specifically interested in classical pieces. Its curriculum is built around reading traditional sheet music and its song library includes arrangements of many famous classical works. The emphasis on note-for-note accuracy is more aligned with the discipline required for classical performance. Pianoforall does include a book on classical piano, but its primary strength remains in chord-based popular styles.

Can I use these programs on a mobile phone?

Playground Sessions is designed for the larger screens of PCs, Macs, and iPads and does not have a functional mobile phone application for its main lessons. Pianoforall, being a series of PDF ebooks, can technically be opened and viewed on a mobile phone, but the experience is not optimal. The small screen makes reading the material and viewing the embedded videos difficult, so a tablet or computer is strongly recommended for a better experience with either program.

How long does it take to complete each course?

Both programs are self-paced, so completion time varies greatly depending on individual practice habits. A dedicated student practicing 30-60 minutes daily could work through the core Pianoforall curriculum in a few months. Playground Sessions’ ‘Bootcamp’ can also be completed in a similar timeframe, but its song library is designed for continuous, long-term use. The platform is not meant to be ‘completed’ but rather used as an ongoing practice tool.

Is there a money-back guarantee for either program?

Yes, both platforms typically offer a satisfaction guarantee. Pianoforall provides a 30-day unconditional money-back guarantee, allowing you to try the entire course risk-free. Playground Sessions also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on its memberships, giving new users a period to assess if the software and teaching method work for them before committing.

Can I print the lesson materials?

You can easily print all of the material from Pianoforall. Since the course is delivered as a series of PDF ebooks, you have the freedom to print any or all of the pages for offline reference or to place on your piano’s music stand. Playground Sessions is a software-based platform, and its interactive sheet music is designed to be used within the application; it does not offer a feature to print the arrangements or lessons.

Which platform is better for a family with multiple learners?

Pianoforall is more straightforward for multiple users. Because it is a set of downloaded files, it can be installed on multiple computers within a household without issue, and family members can use it simultaneously. Playground Sessions’ standard memberships are designed for a single user profile. While they offer family plans at a higher cost, the base subscription does not accommodate separate progress tracking for multiple people.

What happens if the company behind either program goes out of business?

For Pianoforall, the risk is minimal. Once you purchase and download the course files (PDFs, videos, audio), they are yours to keep on your own devices forever, regardless of the company’s status. For Playground Sessions, particularly for subscription users, access would cease if the company shut down its servers. Even for lifetime members, the software would likely stop functioning without the online infrastructure required to log in and access the song library.

Pianoforall vs Playground Sessions Summary

In summary, the choice in the Pianoforall vs Playground Sessions debate hinges on your primary learning objective. Pianoforall is the superior option for the self-motivated student who values creative freedom, desires to play by ear, and wants to appreciate the harmonic structure of music to improvise or compose. Its one-time cost and offline accessibility make it a flexible and high-value package for building musical independence. Conversely, Playground Sessions excels for the learner who thrives on structure, immediate feedback, and the motivation of a gamified system. Its strength lies in teaching note-for-note accuracy for a vast library of popular songs and building strong sight-reading skills through its interactive software. Your ideal choice is not about which program is definitively better, but which one’s philosophy and toolset are the right fit for the type of piano player you aspire to become.