Hoffman Academy and Playground sessions are two excellent online piano courses. They’re very affordable, easy to use, and you can start at any experience level. However, there are distinct differences that separate these two from being alike.
Playground Sessions and The Hoffman Academy are both great for teaching the piano. Playground Sessions is better if you want a course that allows you to jump around at your own pace. Alternatively, The Hoffman Academy has a strong emphasis on teaching kids using child development and learning theory.
Throughout this article, you’ll also learn the following info:
- Why you should consider Hoffman Academy
- Why you might prefer Playground Sessions
- Which one you should choose
- What they’re both missing
Five Reasons to Try Hoffman Academy
Hoffman Academy isn’t as well-known as Playground Sessions, but it’s considered a gem among those who’ve used it. It is primarily designed for children but can be used by adults. It allows you to move through a series of training steps that slowly bring you to the desired level. Below, you’ll find quite a few examples of why you should consider Hoffman Academy, especially if you have kids that are looking to learn.
- Hoffman Academy comes loaded with plenty of fun games. Rather than being stuck on a monotonous grind of step-by-step lessons, you can take a break and learn new skills in all sorts of ways. These games include Mystery Melodies in which you have to listen and guess the song, as well as Alphabet Towers and many others.
- It also has a wide variety of popular songs to choose from. You don’t have to wait until you’re deep into the course to start playing your favorite music. Choose the track and learn the notes as quickly or slowly as you please. You can pause and keep track of your stats as you go.
- The lessons on Hoffman Academy come in chunks of 10 to 20 in a bundle. You can do a bundle per week or work at whatever pace you see fit. With over 240+ lessons throughout the entire program, you’ll never run out of learning opportunities. They occasionally update and add more lessons, too.
- The help tab and customer service team that works with Hoffman Academy are among the best in the business. Any questions or concerns you may have will be answered relatively quickly, allowing you to return to the lessons as soon as possible. You can also look through the FAQ for pre-answered questions.
- Every set of lessons on Hoffman Academy gives you a preview of the new skills you’ll learn. If you already know the skills and songs that are presented in the bundle, you can skip it and move to the next section. All in all, this system is ideal for beginners and experienced pianists alike.
As you can see, Hoffman Academy has plenty to offer for anyone who wants to give it a try. The way that everything is sectioned and separated for easy viewing simplifies the whole process. If you want to learn some of the high-quality features of Playground Sessions, proceed to the next section.
The Best Features of Playground Sessions
Playground Sessions continues to be one of the world’s most popular online piano courses. The beginner-friendly atmosphere and educational guides make it fun for everyone to use. You’ll also be able to try out a free trial before subscribing and paying a monthly fee.
Here are the numerous benefits of Playground Sessions:
- Playground Sessions offers all sorts of different ways to track your progress. For example, it has a badge system that gives you trophies every time you complete a milestone. You’ll also be able to track individual progress on songs, lessons, bundles, techniques, and other features.
- Playground Sessions has a unique tab that lets you create your own songs. All you have to do is click the ‘My Songs’ tab and start creating music or following premade lessons right away. They also have a song store to download many other songs if you feel that you’re too experienced for the current selection.
- Perhaps one of the most beneficial features of Playground Sessions is that it comes with a community forum. You’ll be able to ask for help or seek advice on anything that relates to the program. There are even a few developers who hop on and answer questions and concerns, so you’ll never go too long without a helping hand.
- If you prefer a traditional piano teacher setting, you’ll love Playground Sessions. The teacher is friendly and informative, giving you one-on-one lessons every step of the way. You can also skip the lessons and head straight to the training part of every course. Either way, you’ll have the option of learning something new.
- Finally, Playground Sessions allows you to use a MIDI keyboard, record your piano through a microphone, or even use your desktop keyboard to control the onboard piano. If you haven’t decided whether you want to play the piano, this feature is a great way to give it a chance.
Playground Sessions is a fantastic choice for anyone, but it’s even better if you’re a beginner in search of a long-term course. The price costs less for one month than most piano teachers charge for one hour, so the value trade-off is a natural choice.
Which Should You Choose?
Now that you’ve seen the reasons people choose both courses, it’s time to decide for yourself. Truthfully, neither of these programs will let you down. They’re both as good as you’ll find on the internet, and most people compare them to traditional piano teachers.
If you’re someone with kids who want to learn or are looking to learn yourself and prefer to go step-by-step, then Hoffman Academy is a great program to follow. The fact that every set of lessons is bundled together with detailed instructions makes it an excellent choice for beginners. It’s also an easy way to see what you’ll learn before diving into each bundle.
On the other hand, you might prefer to choose Playground Sessions if you like to track your progress and interact with a teacher. Although the lessons are all prerecorded, it mimics a familiar feeling that people who’ve trained with a real teacher might enjoy.
The option to use forums is invaluable on Playground Sessions as well. Beginners can learn from experts, and professionals can share opinions and tips with one another. The sense of community promotes a motivating learning environment.
However, if you don’t want to deal with a community, then Hoffman Academy has more than enough to learn from. Whether you’re contacting customer support, cruising through the lessons, or using the FAQ help tab, you’ll be able to move along without being stumped for too long.
All in all, these two programs give you the best bang for your buck compared to almost any other online piano course. Since they’re always growing, you’ll have a consistent platform to learn and grow as a pianist.
Conclusion
Playground Sessions and Hoffman Academy are both worth the low fee that they cost. In comparison to other programs and in-person lessons, you’ll get an incredible amount of value. Through updated courses, easy lessons, and unique tips unseen anywhere else, they’re among the top of the list.
You can visit Playground sessions by clicking here and have a look around. If you want to sign up you will generally begin a paid membership straight away (protected with a 30-day money-back guarantee). However, if you click here you can get a free 7-day trial first!
You can visit Hoffman Academy here. They have a free account you can sign up for to see whether it’s for you or your child.
Here’s a quick recap of the post:
- Playground Sessions has a helpful forum, whereas Hoffman Academy has top-notch customer service.
- Hoffman Academy focuses more on teaching kids.
- Both of the programs promote the idea of customizing your lessons as you go.
- Keep track of your progress and advance to the next bundles whenever you want to.
