Learn Classical piano in weeks, not years
The Complete Piano Path-Level 1 (for advancing beginners)
A 26-week piano course that will develop your technique, sight reading, practice and performance skills.
Registration will open again in fall 2023.
So You Want to Play the Piano...
Being a beginner piano player is incredibly challenging and confusing.
You struggle with being disorganized, you lack clear direction, and use inefficient learning techniques. I’ve seen this over and over again – in my lessons, in my courses, and in my inbox.
If you’re like most new students, you most likely don’t have a clear and specific plan on how to improve your piano playing. You’re probably unsure of which fundamental skills you need to work on.
So what do you do?
You start watching various tips and exercises from YouTube. You learn something, but you don’t have an idea of what you should learn next – so you go down the YouTube rabbit hole, patching together a piano education.
Months (and maybe years) go by watching random videos without understanding the fundamentals of piano playing or experiencing a clear sense of progress.
Maybe you hire a piano teacher to guide you and give you some personal attention – which is fabulous! But it can be a costly hobby. The average piano teacher charges $60/hour.
And while personal instruction can’t be beat, and many teachers are wonderful, it can be hit-or-miss. So you “pause” your lessons and go back to looking for more affordable options (such as books and online videos).
And so the cycle continues.
You start to feel frustrated because you really want to play the piano. You’re spending a lot of time, money, and energy and still feel like you’re not making significant progress.
Let’s stop wasting time and get you playing piano!
I’ve seen this pattern play out over and over again in the lives of my students and I want to end that.
I designed this course to make make your piano journey faster, simpler, affordable, and more fun!
This advancing beginner course will help you further develop foundational piano skills, with a supportive group environment that will help you to stay on the bandwagon and make real progress.
By the end of this course, you'll be able to...
- Play 20+ piano pieces (contemporary and classical)
- Experience stronger right-hand/left-hand coordination
- Sight-read basic piano notation with more accuracy and confidence
- Record your pieces with ease and build a record of your progress through recordings
- Perform your pieces more comfortably
- Prepare for a Grade 1 exam, if desired
- Have your technique, sight reading, ear training and repertoire skills at a Grade 1 level
- Better understand how to interpret rhythms, pedal markings, phrasing, and other musical details
- More accurately self-evaluate your playing skills
How You'll Finally Learn to Play the Piano
I’ve designed this course to accelerate your piano learning and make real progress. We’ll do this by focusing on 3 main areas:
Weekly Recorded Piano Lessons
You will have access to 26 weeks of step-by-step lessons. These lessons are video-based and pre-recorded so that everyone can easily access them and reference them at any time. My aim is to teach weekly concepts in an efficient, clearly organized, and structured way so you can make progress every week. I focus on teaching pieces that myself and my students have enjoyed in the past.
Social Accountability
You will have access to a private, high-quality forum where you can learn with other students who are on the same journey. Think of it like school with friends but more fun! You will be working with the same group of people for the duration of the Level 1 course, and sharing your recordings on a weekly basis. For a lot of my past students the accountability alone has been the best part of the course.
Weekly Feedback
You will be able to submit your piano playing recordings with the opportunity for specific feedback from myself and others on the forum. In our weekly live calls, you’ll hear feedback for other students working on the same piece, which helps develop your ear and your understanding of concepts being taught.
To give you a sense of what students work on in the CPP-1 class, here are a few videos from the class:
Anita submitted Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho (from Piano Adventures 3a):
Here’s a video by Lisa playing A Little Dance (Kabalevsky):
And here’s another video by Andy called “Cool Walkin’ Bass” (from Piano Adventures 3a):
I’ve had the pleasure of seeing their weekly progress for the last 6+ months. They rock!
This should give you an idea of what’s possible with your piano playing when you are given clear structure and surrounded by supportive people encouraging you every week.
Course Content:
If you’re anything like me, you like knowing the exact details of what’s inside a course.
This course contains 26 weekly step-by-step lessons. Every week, we’ll begin a new lesson (with a couple of short breaks in the summer). Each lesson will contain:
- Core lesson theme(s) for the week, such as "formula patterns", with video tutorials on the topic of each lesson
- A new piece each week (sometimes with multiple pieces to choose from), with a video tutorial of how to learn it and downloadable sheet music for
- Official technical exercises at a grade 1 level
- Daily sight reading exercises to keep you sharp and build your skills
- A lesson plan for the week, with action steps and tips on how to organize your practice time
- A checklist for each week to keep you focused
Below is an abridged outline of each lesson in the course.
Week 1: Shifting hand positions and 5ths
Week 2: Ostinato and changing meter
Week 3: I, IV and V7 in C, F, G
Week 4: Binary form and minuets
Week 5: Alberti bass and ternary form
Week 6: Syncopation review
Week 7: Contrary motion
Week 8: Common tim
Week 9: Cut time
Week 10: Phrasing review
Week 11: Harmonic minor scales
Week 12: 6/8 review and upbeat
Week 13: Dynamic control
Week 14: Accelerando
Week 15: 8th-note triplets and swing
Week 16: Syncopated pedal review
Week 17: Broken triads and left-hand melody
Week 18: Harmonic minor keys
Week 19: Stem directions and beaming
Week 20: Glissando
Week 21: Lead sheets
Week 22: 2/2 time
Week 23: Haydn
Week 24: Waltz
Week 25: Mozart and cadences
Week 26: Aria and trills
I’ve also created this handy checklist that shows which topics you’ll learn every week.
Since this course runs for a longer duration, it is not mandatory to complete every single lesson. If you miss a week, just jump back in with the group when you can. This course builds on many previously-learned concepts and if you miss a lesson, you can always go back to it later when you have time.
I started with PianoTV about a year ago as I have never been professionally trained and Allysia’s personality and approach seemed to be exactly what I was looking for. Her methods are very much like an in person one on one setting; albeit virtual. Very simple to follow videos and in-depth instructions for each weeks lessons if needed. What I value the most is the weekly feedback sessions where she reviews your submission and points out the areas which can be improved. This has been gold for me as I can break bad habits early and continue to hone in on my skills and gradually improve week to week. I am amazed at what I have accomplished in just under a year. My fluidity has improved tremendously and my sight reading skills have developed extensively. I honestly feel I have done a 180 from where I was when I started! Looking forward to the next level!
Social Accountability
Learning any new skill is hard, and piano playing is no exception. It can take months to play at a decent level and the journey can feel lonely and isolated.
I wanted to help make piano playing a fun experience for my students, even if I can’t personally teach everyone 1-on-1. That’s why I created the forum, a high-quality, private space to share piano recordings, tips and camaraderie.
For many of my students, the forums alone have been worth the cost of joining. They found that using the forum has added accountability to their lessons. Once they got to know their fellow classmates, they wanted to continue practicing and improving.
Learning is all well and good – but learning with friends is fun!
Weekly Feedback
Every week you will have an opportunity to get feedback on your weekly piano piece assignment.
We will have live sessions on Zoom 3x/month where I will review submissions from participants and give specific feedback.
This can be a good way for you to practice recording yourself performing. Even if you don’t submit your video for feedback, recording yourself is something I encourage my students to do as a rewarding way to track progress.
A lot of beginner students make similar mistakes and have similar questions, so by hearing feedback for your own performances or those of other participants, you’ll get new ideas every week on how to improve your piano playing.
I highly recommend this well thought out course. It was money well spent. My piano playing and sight-reading abilities have improved greatly. Allysia’s feedback sessions are excellent and support from the group makes the journey more fun and provides extra motivation to practice. I am now looking forward to Level 2 and beyond!
Hi! I'm Allysia.
Hi! I’m Allysia van Betuw, the creator and host of PianoTV. My channel has over 137k subscribers and my videos have been viewed over 11 million times.
For over 15 years, I’ve been teaching piano to people of all ages and levels, from three-year-old beginners to retired adults.
I created these Complete Piano Path courses because throughout the years so many students have reached out to me and expressed their desires and frustrations with learn how to play the piano.
I wanted to provide more clarity, structure, and support to help them accelerate their musical journey.
I believe this school will move people from wanting to play the piano to FINALLY playing it.
Bonuses
In addition to the ample course content and weekly lessons, when you join the Complete Piano Path, you’ll also receive:
- Weekly practice log templates (including the e-book version of my practice journal)
- 5 sight-reading exercises to try each week
- Weekly technique-building exercises each week
- MuseScore files (app version and download version) to practice along with
- A detailed book list with all recommended Lesson 1 materials and how to access them
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Start Your Piano Journey Now
Registration Closed
Join the waitlist and you’ll be notified when classes open again.
You can pay via 2 options: A one time payment OR a monthly payment.
(You will save the cost of one month with the one-time payment option.)
There is a 14 Day money back guarantee with both options.
14-Day Money Back Guarantee
My goal is to help you play the piano. I don’t want you to have any concerns about investing in your piano playing.
If you’re not happy with your purchase, you can get a full refund within 14 days. Simply email me and you will get your money back. No questions asked. I like happy students 🙂
Join by September 1st to receive 20% off! This way, you’ll be able to follow along with others and complete the challenge by the end of September.
Complete Piano Path School
How does The Complete Piano Path work?
Complete Piano Path A
Designed to take you from the very start of your piano journey through the first 26 weeks. Learn to read music, rhythm, chords, keys and more! Corresponds with the Preparatory A level of piano.
Complete Piano Path B
For the progressing beginner, this course will take you through 26 weeks of Preparatory B (pre-grade 1). Ideal for students who have been playing for six months to a year, or who want a refresher. This course is a continuation of CPP-A, but anyone can join.
Complete Piano Path 1
For the beginner who is further along, this 26-week course takes an in-depth look at the many aspects of grade 1 piano, including weekly repertoire, technique, and sight reading exercises. This level is appropriate for someone who has been playing for around a year (can play music from, for example, Alfred’s Adults Method Book 2), and who is looking to significantly upgrade their ability to read music, understand rhythm, and play with artistry.
Complete Piano Path 2
For the advanced beginner. This 26-week course completes the beginner stage of piano, deeply reviewing and developing a variety of concepts that were started in earlier classes. This class finishes with foundational concepts in order to learn more complex music from a Grade 3 level onward. It is appropriate for people who have been actively learning for about two years. Someone joining this class can play music equivalent to the end of Piano Adventures 3a.
Complete Piano Path 3
For the early intermediate student, this 26-week course takes an in-depth look at the many aspects of grade 3 piano, including repertoire selections, technique, and sight reading exercises. Each semester has a theme: Semester 1 features work with a sonatina, and Semester 2 focuses on the Baroque dance suite. This level is appropriate for someone who has been playing for a minimum of around three years, but more likely 4-5. See the RCM syllabus (Grade 3 section) to get a sense of what kinds of pieces are at this level.
CPP A/B: Accelerated
The Complete Piano Path Level A&B: Accelerated is a fast-paced preparatory class. Semester 1 is a condensed version of CPP-A, and semester 2 is a condensed version of CPP-B. Each semester has 13 lessons. This class is best for people who have played piano previously (perhaps as a child) or who are adept at another musical instrument. It is not recommended for the average complete beginner.
How do I know if this course is the right level for me?
One of the most common questions I get during my course launches is “Is this course right for me?”
To determine if you’re at an appropriate stage in your learning to join this course, here are a few questions :
- Have you been playing piano for at least one year?
- When looking through the course checklist, are many of the concepts familiar (ie you’ve come across them before)?
- Would you be able to learn this piece well in approximately 2-3 weeks, with approximately 6 practice hours spent on it? (Burlesque in G Major) Note that there is high variability in practice times, and this is just an average.
If you answered “No” to even one question, then this course may be too advanced (or too easy!) for you. I’d recommend you check out CPP-A or CPP-B for more beginner-friendly content.
Need Help?
FAQs
Can I still join the course later?
The deadline to join the course is May 24, 2023. After that, the course will be closed until the end of 2023.
Why is there a deadline?
One of the biggest challenges piano students have is lack of focus. Piano playing can seem like a never-ending project.
I wanted to keep this course focused and treat it like a classroom. Think of it like a couple of semesters at college. Classes begin and then registration is closed. There is a start and finish.
You’ll have weekly lessons and assignments with clear objectives. Keeping things closed allows students to bond and follow a consistent rhythm.
Imagine how distracting it would be if you were in class and a new student kept showing up every day. 🙂
What if I miss a weeks lesson?
Life happens. You can get sick, busy, and distracted. It’s understandable.
Even if you miss a week, you’ll still have access to all the lessons and my feedback. It’s not the end of the world if you don’t practice one week’s piece much – get back on the bandwagon when you can, and you can always go back to these pieces once the course is finished, or on easier weeks.
Will I get personal feedback every week?
I will aim to give feedback to as many people as I can during our weekly live feedback sessions, which run for around 1 hour, but realistically I might not be able to review your specific submission every week (especially in the first month or two).
In the current group, I typically give feedback to 10-15 people each week, often all of the submissions I receive.
It will depend on the number of students submitting and who has not received any feedback in a while.
But I promise you will still benefit from the feedback session even if I don’t review your specific submission.
A lot of students have similar challenges. So you might get your questions answered even if you don’t get direct feedback.
You’ll get value out of hearing my feedback for other people, since everyone is working on the same pieces and lesson concepts together.
How much piano experience should I have before joining?
I’ve designed this course for the advancing beginner. If you’ve been playing for a year, you’ll likely be ready to join CPP-1.
Have a look at the course checklist and sample piece provided above to determine if this course would be a good fit for you.
You should note that I aim to challenge you and expect consistent practice in order to keep up with the group.
I have been playing piano for a while. Is the course still right for me?
That’s a tough one to tell. You can look at the lesson checklist I created and see how strongly you feel you understand these concepts.
I would also suggest you gauge how easy you find the Piano Adventures 3a Lesson book – my assignments tend to be slightly more difficult than method book material.
Have a look at the the following piece – if you could learn this well in a week or less, the course might be too easy for you.
Worst case is you sign up and realize the course is too easy (or hard) for you. In that case, you can ask for a full refund within 14 days.
This is still a beginner-stage course – intermediate piano playing doesn’t begin until Level 3. If you’re an intermediate student, this course might not be for you (unless you’re looking to review the beginner stage to fill in gaps in your knowledge).
What if I don’t want to/can’t buy the books?
If you’re investing in piano lessons, it’s also important to invest in materials to use when you’re playing piano! I provide the bulk of materials (pieces, sight reading, technique and lessons) free, but observing copyright is important to me. Without at least a couple of recommended books, you won’t be able to participate in each weekly lesson (though you’ll still be able to follow along with the lesson videos)
Do I need to purchase any books?
In the Level 1 class, some pieces I teach are contemporary and must be purchased for the lesson. I provide sheet music for classical music and all technique and sight-reading exercises. I have a clear and detailed book list for the course, and you can get by with a minimum of 2 books to go along with this class, though I’d recommend 3-4. Several options are available as digital downloads, though one important book I love teaching from currently only exists in hard copy format.
What kind of piano pieces will you be teaching?
It’s a combination of contemporary and classical – I was taught with a hybrid approach, and both styles inform the other. I feel very strongly about this approach.
Most pieces in the course are composed by classical artists (like Mozart) and contemporary artists (like Christine Donkin).
What if I don't like the musical pieces?
Everyone has different musical tastes – I don’t expect you to like every piece of music you perform every week.
However, I prioritize teaching pieces I’ve taught in my studio many times before, and that have been vetted by years of previous students.
In Level 1, unlike CPP-A and CPP-B, some weeks have more than one piece to choose from. Increasing the variety increases the chances that you’ll enjoy what you learn, while still working the same core concepts as everyone else in the group.
What if I don't like the course?
If you for any reason feel you’re not getting value out of the course, feel free to email me within 14 days of purchasing and I’ll happily refund your money. No questions asked.
Do I need a lot of technical equipment to submit videos?
All you need is your smartphone (or laptop with webcam/recording device). I encourage participants to record themselves each week, and smartphones are sufficient for this.
During the first week, I’ll go through helping you set up so you can record your piano videos or audio files.
Do I have to make/share my videos?
It’s certainly not a requirement but I highly encourage it.
Even if you decide not to submit a video to be viewed by me or other members, it’s a good resource for yourself.
You’ll be able to see and hear your playing. You’ll be surprised how much you don’t notice about your playing when it’s just you by yourself. Not only that, you’ll have a record of your progress, which is very valuable.
How long do I have access?
When you sign up, you will have permanent access to the course material. This includes the lesson videos, downloads and recordings of the live sessions.
I aim to keep the forum accessible only to people going through the course, so once our class is finished, you’ll have the option to join another class, or stay on the forum with access to your peers and the weekly live lessons for a small monthly fee.
What's the difference between Complete Piano Path Level 1 and 2, Path A , and Path B?
Complete Piano Path Level 2:
For the advanced beginner. This 26-week course completes the beginner stage of piano, deeply reviewing and developing a variety of concepts that were started in earlier classes. This class finishes with foundational concepts in order to learn more complex music from a Grade 3 level onward. It is appropriate for people who have been actively learning for about two years. Someone joining this class can play music equivalent to the end of Piano Adventures 3a.
Complete Piano Path Level 1:
This course is for the advancing beginner. It will take you through 26+ weeks of Grade 1 (ABRSM/RCM). Ideal for students who have been playing for around a year, and is a continuation of CPP-B (but anyone can join).
Complete Piano Path A:
This course is aimed at complete beginners. Designed to take you from the very start of your piano journey through the first 26 weeks. Learn to read music, rhythm, chords, keys and more! Corresponds with the Preparatory A level of piano.
Complete Piano Path B:
This course is for the progressing beginner. It will take you through 26 weeks of Preparatory B (pre-grade 1). Ideal for students who have been playing for six months to a year, or who want a refresher. This course is a continuation of CPP-A, but anyone can join.
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Get notified when classes open again in the fall.