In this Piano Marvel review we’ll dive into what you get with a subscription and whether or not it’s a good choice for you to learn how you can play piano.
Be sure to read our full take on the top piano programs and check out our rankings.
Quick Look:
When I first came across this program, I was pretty intrigued.
The idea of a learning aid software that could assess your progress and give you real-time feedback, while also having a decent amount of theory lessons was great.
It’s not our #1 pick for piano lesson – that goes to FlowKey – but it’s still a decent choice.
The real question remains “is the Piano Marvel cost worth it?”
Read on to get our full take on the program and whether or not it’ll work for you, specifically.
Rating:
3/5 Stars Overall
Recommendation:
Should You Buy: MAYBE. We do recommend getting a subscription because it’s a great way to learn how to play piano – it’s interactive and you get feedback on your technique.
BUT, there are a couple points to keep in mind:
- It’s REALLY geared toward classical music
- It’s HEAVILY focused on traditional learning/playing methods
- It works best with an actual piano teacher (but can be used on your own to learn, too.)
At Deviant Noise, our top recommended piano courses are FlowKey and HearAndPlay’s full piano course.
But after my initial look at the product, I can confidently say that if your main goal is to really become a technically skilled pianist, rooted in classical theory, this is likely a really good choice.
There are other courses that aren’t monthly memberships that can teach you that style of playing, but this takes things to the next level because it’s an interactive learning experience and has a decent amount of theory training as well.
One big problem with self-taught learning is that you don’t get feedback on how you’re doing. Piano Marvel actually tries to bridge that gap. And it does a decent job at that. But we think Melodics is a better training app for instant feedback on your rhythm.
Piano Marvel Cost
So what is the price, exactly? Well, you have a couple of options:
- 7 Day Free Trial Account
- $15.99/month subscription
- $110.99 yearly payment option (saves you $80)
At the time of writing this post there was no lifetime membership option.
Pros:
- Instant access to course content and software
- Interactive style of learning
- Get real time feedback on your technique and skills
- Encourages you to practice
- Contains ear training elements
Cons:
- Very traditional style of teaching/learning
- Heavy focus on “classical” style of music
- Collection of “songs” to play is limited (but does contain some original pieces as well)
- Monthly subscription vs. one-time fee.
Buy Piano Marvel Subscription If…
- You want a traditional structured approach to learning how to play piano
- You have an interest in classical music
- You prefer to focus on “sight reading” rather than playing by ear
- You want the best of both worlds – an online self-taught piano lesson with actual feedback on your progress
- You don’t mind a monthly/yearly subscription
Try Piano Marvel Today RISK FREE!
How It Stacks Up to Competitors
There are quite a few different options out there for you to learn piano. So how does this particular program stack up? Although there are many we could compare it to, we’re going to start with our main #1 pick for learning piano.
— Related Content: Read our full review of Rocket Piano —
Piano Marvel vs Flowkey
Flowkey is a GREAT program to learn your favorite piano songs, while still getting a basic idea of how piano works. But if you’re really interested in learning the theory behind music and piano Piano Marvel is probably the better option. They both offer an interactive learning experience which is great. But the depth of “theory” is the biggest difference between the two
The theory and education in how piano/music works is really light in the Flowkey program. So if you’re looking to just learn your favorite songs by reading sheet music don’t go with PM, but if you want to really dig into the theory behind how and why music works the way it does, definitely get this program.
In other words, if you’re interested in writing your own music, and not simply playing your favorite songs from others Piano Marvel is the better choice.
What’s Included in the Program?
When you subscribe to Piano Marvel you’ll get instant access to:
- 6 levels of main course content (30 sections each, with 20 video lessons per section)
- Printable workbooks for each lesson
- Practice mode with 1200 exercises and 2000 song options
- Assessment and Feedback modules (requires MIDI connection to computer)
- Progress tracking
Each module of the main course content covers a specific set of skills, theory and technique.
Method Module 1: The Basics
This module is the foundational concepts where every beginner should start. Here you’ll learn essential technique and theory like finger positions, basic rhythms, notes/symbols, etc.
Method Module 2: Building on the Fundamentals
The next set of lessons builds on the things you learned in the first. Here you’ll learn about intermediate hand positions and rhythms, syncopation and other skills.
Method Module 3: Intro to Scales and Chords
Now you’ll move on to learning piano scales, including things like intervals, chords, key signatures and more. You’ll also be introduced to the sustain pedal on the piano.
You’ll start with the C, G and F major scales.
Method Module 4: More Scales and Chords
With these lessons you’re introduced to triads and chord inversions. You also learn phrasing, pedal techniques and more. You build on the last set of lessons and get introduced to more scales and learn piano chords here.
Method Module 5: Advanced Concepts
In this module you continue to build on the skills, theory and techniques introduced in the previous modules. You get into reading advanced sheet music and are introduced to new scales and chords as well.
You even get to learn some arpeggios.
Method Module 6: Intro to the Classics
In this final module of lessons you’re introduced to the different eras of classical music – Baroque, Classical, and Romantic.
Technique:
In this section you basically get additional exercises and materials that help you hone the skills/knowledge you get from the 6 Method modules described above.
In addition, this is where you get flash cards and ear training exercises.
Wrap Up and Final Thoughts
This program seems great, if you’re ok with learning traditional things in a traditional way. It gives you a solid foundation in theory and sight reading – allowing you to play any sheet music you come across.
And the price isn’t all that bad – it’s actually cheaper than than the standard “online lesson “pricing structure.
But, personally, I prefer the “play by ear” method of playing piano, and this course is NOT for that.
And if you want something that progresses you fast, then you’re better off with something like PianoForAll or HearAndPlay’s options.
But when you throw in the self-assessments and feedback on technique, it’s a pretty enticing piano learning system. That alone is likely worth trying it out, even if you decide you want to learn piano by ear.
Good technique is very difficult to teach – especially with online lessons. So Piano Marvel really excels in this area.
On the other hand, the software does seem like it works best if there’s a traditional piano teacher involved in the mix.
But, overall, this is a really comprehensive course that we can definitely recommend to anyone who wants to learn how to play classical piano and deepen their knowledge of traditional theory. And the pricing is pretty good compared to other offerings.
And regardless of whether you want the traditional approach or the play by ear approach, get this program if only for the assessments/feedback functions! So worth it.
If you really want to level up your piano playing, there’s nothing better than learning your favorite songs. So I highly recommend you try out FlowKey – the best online piano song library around.
Thanks for reading our full Piano Marvel review. We hope you got something out of it that helped you make a decision!
