Have you ever wanted to learn how to play the piano? Or maybe you used to play, and you wish you could brush up on your skills? If so, we might have found an option for you.
Today, we'll be taking a look at Rocket Piano, an online learning system that seems like the real deal. Rocket Piano offers a free beginner course, and you can take their other courses for a very low cost. But before that, let's take a look at some of the things you may want to think about before choosing a course.
Things to Consider Before Buying an Online Piano Course

Rocket Piano - Online Piano Course
PRO's & CON's of Rocket Piano
Before we get into the specifics of this course, let's take a quick look at some of the pros and cons of Rocket Piano:
Pros
Cons
Features & Benefits
In this section, we'll take a closer look at some of the key features of RP. With this knowledge, you'll be equipped to decide whether or not this is the right piano course for you.
Who Started the Program?
This unique program was started by Ruth Searle, a pianist who specializes in classical music. However, Ruth has expertise in several different genres, and she has 15 years of piano experience.
She recruited a team of other pianists to help develop this program, and she is the teacher in all 57 video lessons. If you want to check out Ruth's teaching style, check out this sample lesson video.
Core Materials
We think that RP is an intelligently designed program that will help you learn how to play. On the course site, the founder claims that you can do more and get farther with short, intentional practice sessions than you can be practicing for hours a day.
This may sound unbelievable, but we think RP's guided practice approach is a good one. As you move through the books, you're guided through video lessons and audio files. In the absence of an in-person teacher, these videos and files can help you check your sound and technique and ensure you're on the right track.
In terms of the books, you can start where you need to. RP's core curriculum is made up of three books:
If you find yourself wanting to go deeper into learning a specific genre, RP also has a few specialized books:
For many newer players, learning to read sheet music is intimidating. This review offers some insight into the program, and it has a special focus on learning to read music.
Bonus Materials
Makers of online music programs know that the competition is stiff. This benefits you, the learner -- in order to make themselves stand out, courses will often include several bonus features to help you learn. Here's what you get at RP:
Of course, reading our review and visiting the course website can only tell you so much. If you want to learn more, this video review takes you behind the scenes and into the members' area of RP.
How Much Does It Cost?
Despite all that you get with RP, this program is remarkably affordable. But before we get into the purchased program, we'll briefly look at the free option, which we think is great for those who want to try it out before paying anything.
First, you get a weekly newsletter, the LaunchPad. The newsletter provides a useful introduction to the world of piano. You'll get interviews with composers and performers, playing tips, and motivational videos to get you going.
You also get a short beginner piano course. The course is made up of seven video lessons. These lessons build you up to playing a song.
Of course, this is a small sampling of what RP has to offer. The full program has 57 video lessons and nearly 300 audio files. But we think this little course is a great start, especially for the complete beginner.
If you do decide to purchase RP, the price might surprise you -- you get access to all books and tools for a one-time purchase of $39.95. And for the uncertain learner, there's a money-back guarantee. For eight weeks after your purchase, if you aren't satisfied, you get a 100% refund.
We think this is one of the most affordable and thorough options for online music learning. If you still aren't quite sure, you might want to check out this video testimonial.Social Proof of the Course
If you're looking to learn how to play the piano, you may already know that there are plenty of course options out there. So before you settle on one, it's a good idea to first look at a few customer reviews to get a feel for the course.
We found that just about every review we found was a positive one. Here are some that we saw along the way:

This snapshot is from the review site Old Time Music. This site has done a great job of listing out some of the many pros of RP -- aside from the many available courses, you also get a handful of games that keep you entertained as you learn.

This review excerpt is from the site Keyboard Kraze. We think it succinctly lays out the teaching methodology and organization of the course. Like many reviewers, this site was also impressed.

This last review snapshot is from Piano Lesson Critic. This one also does well with outlining some of the many benefits of this affordable course.
Conclusion
There are plenty of online piano lessons out there. But we think this one sets itself apart. We like the fact that you get a free beginner course without paying anything, and we also like RP's systematic approach to learning to play. And lastly, we appreciate the fact that RP, while being thorough, is one of the more affordable courses we've come across (and the paid membership comes with a money-back guarantee). Think it's right for you? Click here to check it out!