Questions parents ask

Online piano lessons for children, taught by Gima, a real piano teacher with over 25 years of experience. Gima teaches each lesson on video, one small step at a time. Your child plays the piece at home, every song is scored, and you see what went well and what to practice next.

From about 4–5 years old, as long as they're ready to listen and enjoy music. My First Piano Adventure is made for young beginners. The sweet spot is ages 6–9, and the courses go on toward ABRSM Grade 2.

No. The first course starts from zero. Complete beginners are welcome and expected.

Yes. Pick your child's age and where they are now, and a real lesson opens. No card needed, nothing to install. Try a free lesson →

No. What's free: sample lessons, the placement check and the printable practice chart.

Take the free placement check. A few questions for you, then a short music check for your child. It suggests a starting level, and you can take it again any time. Take the placement check →

Yes. Each course is used alongside the official Faber Piano Adventures book for your child's level, the same books private teachers use. You only need the book for the current level to start. They're sold on Amazon and in music shops.

Self-paced. Lessons are on demand, whenever it fits your family. Basic includes one free Zoom call with Mrs. Gima, and Premium adds a Zoom call with her every week.

For many families, yes, especially for young students building foundations. The lessons follow one structured path, paced like private lessons. Some families use it alongside occasional private lessons.

Basic is $49.99 a month or $499 a year: every lesson, with instant scoring on every song. Premium is $139 a month or $1,499 a year: everything in Basic, plus a Zoom lesson with Mrs. Gima every week, at the same time. See plans and prices →

Both include everything in your plan. Monthly opens one level at a time; the next level unlocks when your child finishes the current one. Annual opens every level right away.

Yes, for the first 50 families. Basic: 50% off your first month, or 30% off your first year. Premium: $25 off your first month, or $150 off your first year. It ends December 16, 2026 for Basic and December 17, 2026 for Premium. No code needed; it's applied when you sign up from the plans page.

No, each child needs their own account. The scores and reports are built from one child's playing, so two children on one account would mix up their feedback. Every additional child is $15 off every month, or $150 off every year, on any plan for as long as it runs, up to four siblings (30% of the Basic price; the teacher's time in Premium is always paid in full). Once your first plan is active, add the sibling from Family & discounts; the price is applied at checkout. Add a sibling →

Yes. A month with 12 or more practice days counts. After 3 counted months the plan is $2.50 off every month, after 6 months $5, after 12 months $7.50, and after 18 months $10 (ten times that on an annual plan), on top of any sibling price. It is applied to the next bill and stays as long as the plan keeps running. Cancelling the plan resets the count to zero. See your family discounts →

Yes, from Account & billing. You keep access until the end of the period you've paid for, and you aren't charged again. Your child's progress stays saved if you come back.

Plans are paid in advance and are non-refundable, except where the law requires a refund. When you cancel, you keep access until the end of the period you already paid for.

Yes. Send us a message with the date you'd like to restart. The pause starts at the end of the period you've paid for, you aren't charged while it's paused, and it restarts by itself on that date.

Yes, from Account & billing → Plans. Moving up (Monthly to Annual, or Basic to Premium) starts right away and you pay only the difference. Moving down starts on your next billing date.

By card, processed securely by Stripe; we never see your card number. Prices are in US dollars, and no sales tax is added. Banks outside the US may add their own conversion fee.

In the Practice Room, tap your initial in the top right, then Account & billing. Your card is on the Dashboard there; receipts are under Invoices.

Each lesson is a few short steps: Gima's video, a short theory quiz, sight-reading days in some lessons, then the performance quiz, where your child plays the song and it's scored. A score of 90% opens the next lesson. The video is recommended but never required.

As your child plays, the software checks the right notes, rhythm and timing. When the song ends, the bars that need work are shaded on the sheet music, with a score and a short tip. Your child can replay just those bars or slow the tempo down.

The For Grown-Ups tab in the Practice Room shows how your child is doing this week, every song from first try to best score, and a calendar of practice days. You can also get a short summary by email every Sunday. Signs your child is improving →

Lesson videos are 10–20 minutes. For young beginners, 5–15 minutes a day is plenty; older children can do 15–20 minutes, 4–5 times a week. Short, regular practice beats one long session.

Yes. Keep practice short and regular, praise effort, and focus on one thing at a time. The report tells you the one or two things to help with this week. How to help your child practice →

A Zoom lesson with Mrs. Gima every week, at the same day and time until you change it (changes need a week's notice). Missed weeks can't be made up. Your child plays during the call and gets feedback on what software can't hear: phrasing, dynamics, hand shape and posture. There's nothing to record or upload.

Basic members get one free Zoom call with Mrs. Gima, about whatever your child needs: how they sit, a song that's stuck, or your questions as a parent. Save it for when you need it, for example when setting your child up for the first time. Connecting the keyboard is covered step by step in the first performance quiz. Book the call →

No, exams are optional. The lessons follow ABRSM standards, so children who want to take exams are ready for them.

They're on the way. There's no date yet.

It's a normal stage. Try a short reset: shorter, more fun practice, music they like, and making their progress easy to see. What to do when your child wants to quit →

A piano or keyboard (61 keys or more is enough to start), a tablet or computer with internet, and the Faber Piano Adventures book for your child's level. Nothing to download or install.

Both work. A keyboard plugged in with a cable (MIDI) gives the most accurate score. With an acoustic piano, the device's microphone listens instead.

One direct cord, no adapters or hubs. An older piano with two round 5-pin MIDI holes takes a "5 pin MIDI to USB C cable" (USB-C iPad, Mac, Chromebook, Android), a "5 pin MIDI to USB cable" plus a "Lightning to USB camera adapter" (Lightning iPad or iPhone: an older plug, so two pieces) or a "5 pin MIDI to USB cable" (computer with the big flat USB hole). A newer piano with one square USB hole takes a "USB C to USB B MIDI cable", a "Lightning to USB B MIDI cable" or a "USB A to USB B cable". An acoustic piano needs no cord: the microphone listens. Show the name in any music store, like Guitar Center, or buy it from any online shop. The questions on your child's first quiz (and Grown-ups → Piano setup) work this out with pictures and link an Amazon search; we don't earn anything from it.

Chrome or Microsoft Edge on a computer, or Chrome on an Android tablet. Safari can't read a MIDI keyboard. On iPad or iPhone, use the free Gima's Piano app, which reads MIDI keyboards by cable or Bluetooth.

A tablet or a computer is best, so the sheet music is big enough to read. A phone works in a pinch. For a keyboard on a cable, use a computer with Chrome or Edge, or the Gima's Piano app on iPad.

Not yet. A free iPad and iPhone app is coming soon, and an Android app is planned. Until then, everything works on the website; on Android, use Chrome.

Only with the microphone on duet songs, or with the metronome on, so the microphone hears just the piano. With a keyboard on a cable you don't need them.

Allow the microphone in the browser's site settings and reload. Put the device near the middle of the piano, not on top of it, in a quiet room. If the score still seems off, a keyboard with a cable is the most accurate.

For you. A parent or guardian (18+) creates and runs the account. We only ask for your details, nothing about your child.

Only after a parent gives permission: for members, once you agree and your payment is confirmed; for free accounts, through the confirmation links we email you. Until then nothing about your child's practice is saved.

Only with your permission: lesson progress, quiz results and practice scores. It is never sold or used for advertising. Read the privacy policy →

Usually parent permission isn't finished yet (check your email for the confirmation link), or your child practiced while logged out or on another account. Make sure the same account is logged in on your child's device, then reload.

Log in and type the new address on the Change email page (Practice Room → your initial → Change email). We send a link to the new address; nothing changes until you open it, and your old address gets a heads-up with a cancel link. Your username, password and Google sign-in keep working. Change my email →

Cancel any plan first, then email [email protected] from your account's email. We confirm it's you, then delete the account and your child's learning data within 30 days.

Close and reopen the lesson, or reload the page. That fixes most hiccups. On iPhone or iPad with no sound, check the silent switch and tap the screen once.

Use the contact form and pick a topic. Gima reads every message and replies personally. Please never send card numbers or passwords. Message Gima →

Usually within 2 hours, and within 1 day if Gima is away.