Best Apps for Music Lessons
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I’ve always wanted to learn the violin. I remember telling my parents this when I was a kid and my dad would say, “Get really good at piano first.” So I just continued to focus solely on piano and I’m really glad that I did.
As a Music Major in college, we were required to take classes on each of the instrument groups. These classes included playing one or two of the instruments from the group. I couldn’t have been more excited for Strings class and to finally play the violin! Unfortunately, I only got to play for about two weeks. And ever since then, I’ve been meaning to continue playing, but you know how life is... things just get in the way and you keep putting it aside for another time.
Well, my friends, that time has now come. My husband gave me a violin for Christmas and my dream of playing the violin is now back on track. I picked up my old All for Strings method book that I used in college, ready to teach myself the basics again. While this offers a great foundation, I also like to learn from videos and more interactive instruction.
And so began my search for the best apps and websites to learn an instrument. Here is what I discovered!
TOP 5 APPS FOR LEARNING AN INSTRUMENT
Tonestro
Tonestro provides instruction for woodwinds and strings. They offer a 7-day free trial and then a subscription is $12.49 per month or $149.99 annually. I really like this app for the simple, easy-to-follow video lessons. You also don’t need to devote a ton of time to learning, which is great for us busy folk who have full-time jobs or need to run the kids to various activities. Ten minutes a day is all you need! The other nice thing about Tonestro is that you are assigned a teacher, who is introduced in your first video lesson. This teacher leads the video lessons and there is also a contact button for the teacher if you ever have any questions.
Simply
Simply is another great app for music lessons. It offers piano, guitar, singing, and drawing lessons! Just like with Tonestro, you can get a 7-day free trial. The Introduction lesson is also free. From there, you can choose an individual plan (only available for piano) or a family plan. The individual piano plan is currently $9.99 a month and the family plan is $14.99 a month. Great deal if you have multiple family members wanting to learn! I checked out the piano lessons on Simply and found the format to be exactly what the app intended it to be – simple. 😊 You are shown a demonstration of a note on the piano and then you repeat what was played. The app picks up your sound and recognizes if you hit the correct note or not. The music historian in me also likes that it gives some background into a song before you play.
Trala
If you are someone who prefers 1:1 lessons with an instructor, Trala is the app for you! You are matched with an instructor who will create a plan for you. You determine how often you want to meet – once a week or once a month, etc. In between lessons, you can practice with the app, where you have access to video tutorials and play-along exercises. The app will also pick up your sound and provide feedback. Half-hour lessons are currently $40 each and $70 for an hour lesson.
Yousician
Yousician offers guitar, bass, piano, ukulele, and singing lessons. You can watch the interactive video lessons from your PC or mobile device. Like Simply, they have a family membership plan and also offer a free trial for one week. The current price is $29.99 monthly or $139.99 yearly. You answer some questions to start that cater your lessons to your preferences. I like that they provide a library of song tutorials of various genres, so you can search for your favorites that you’d like to learn. The tutorials show you the sheet music to play as you are accompanied by a full band.
Musora
Musora provides video lessons with a 10-level curriculum taught by professional musicians. You can opt for piano, guitar, drums, or voice lessons through the program. Lessons can be viewed on a computer or mobile device. Pricing is $30 a month or $240 a year with the standard 7-day free trial as with the other apps discussed. The cool thing about Musora is that they also offer on-demand courses to improve your playing skills in addition to the guided lessons.
ONLINE INSTRUCTION
There are also some great websites out there that offer music lessons to learn an instrument. Here are a few good ones I’ve found!
Singorama
Singorama is a voice lesson program led by vocalist Melanie Alexander. Right now, you can purchase the entire Singorama System for $67 with a 60-day money back guarantee. The digital download program includes 28 audio lessons, as well as the Singorama mini recording studio, advancement app for additional practice, and the “How to Read Music” guide.
Ukulele Buddy
Ukulele is next on my list after violin, so I am naturally interested in what programs are available for lessons. I have a good friend from college who teaches in-person group ukulele classes, so I will likely try that first. However, Ukulele Buddy with JP Allen is a popular online course I found that I will also consider. For $67 you receive 10 hours of videos that can be viewed on either a computer or mobile device. Video lessons are just 7 minutes! Bonus digital books are also included with your purchase.
Red Desert Violin
Red Desert Violin includes online lesson videos, practice videos, play-along videos and audio, and downloadable resources. You can also get support from your instructor, Lora Staples, along the way, or schedule a lesson with her. The cost is $47 for 7 months and you can choose from Suzuki, fiddle, technique, or scales and etudes courses. There is also a video tutorial library.
Violinspiration
Violinspiration with Julia Termeer is another site I’ve been visiting frequently while learning violin. I love that it offers a free 3-day violin course and tons of free videos. There is also a great selection of video tutorials and helpful tip videos. As a novice, I find the videos with tips to be extremely helpful, especially when you don’t have a teacher in the room with you to correct your form or technique.
LESSON BOOK INSTRUCTION
Maybe you are the type who learns best from a book. Have no fear! I have suggestions for books, too! Check out these easy to follow instruction books.
Piano Book for Adult Beginners: Teach Yourself How to Play Famous Piano Songs, Read Music, Theory & Technique (Book & Streaming Video Lessons) by Damon Ferrante
Beginner Guitar Lessons Book 1 with Online Video Access by Peter Vogl
All for Strings Book 1: Violin by Gerald E. Anderson and Robert S. Frost
Bass for Beginners by Guitar Head
Ukulele Primer for Beginners by Bert Casey
Whether you prefer to learn from an app, online video lessons, virtual lessons, or an instruction book, there should be plenty of options to choose from to fit your ideal preference. The apps, sites, and books mentioned in this post are just a few suggestions out of many and the ones I’ve found to be most helpful. While I do think in-person lessons are most beneficial, it is often difficult to find the time to devote to them as an adult learner. Learning at your own pace with a video lesson or app is so much more convenient. I hope you can find a little bit of time to learn an instrument. I know you will find it both fun and fulfilling!