Pianoforall - 'Classics By Ear' - Moonlight Sonata (Udemy.com)
An incredible new way to learn this timeless classic - from the creator of best selling piano course Pianoforall
Created by: Robin Hall
Last updated April 2022
What you will learn
- You will be able to sit down at any piano and play Moonlight Sonata by ear
- You will be able to play the piece without any performance anxiety
- Your sight reading will improve dramatically
- You will understand how to deconstruct any piece of classical music to make it easier to play and memorise
Course Description
A New Way to Learn
For over a decade, Pianoforall has taught over 300,000 people worldwide how to play amazing pop, jazz, blues, ballads and improvisation, and now we’re going to teach you how to play INCREDIBLE Classical pieces in the same way.
These courses are for ADULT BEGINNERS who would love to build a repertoire of great classical pieces but who don’t have the time (or the inclination) to learn the ‘traditional’ ‘hard’ way.
This Classics By Ear Series will teach you a NEW way to learn classical piano – from the ‘inside out’.
Instead of learning complicated sheet music one note at a time by memory, you will learn how to take a piece of classical music apart bar by bar, section by section, and understand how it was all put together: from the musical ‘form’ – distinct sections and subsections – to the underlying chord structure, visual clues, patterns and repeats.
So not only do you learn how to play – the pieces but you UNDERSTAND what you are playing and this makes it SO much easier to memorise and perform.
No more performance fear
This really helps if you feel nervous performing in front of others. If we rely solely on ‘muscle memory’ we can have a fear of ‘forgetting our lines’ but if we have a deep understanding of a piece from many different angles – chords, sections, patterns, repeats and memorable elements – then we go beyond muscle memory until it feels as if we have written the piece ourself!
And you will learn everything in a refreshingly NATURAL way – the way we all learn to speak or read as kids: we first LISTEN to others, then we imitate them and SPEAK what we hear – and ONLY then do we attempt to READ words or sentences that we can already say. And so it makes so much more sense.
Similarly with Classics By Ear you will learn to play the pieces by following the videos, keyboard diagrams or ‘cheat sheets’, and then you will find it MUCH easier to follow the sheet music – because then it will all make perfect sense!
No Cliched Beginner’s Pieces!
The pieces you will be learning aren’t the usual cliched beginner’s pieces (like ‘Fur Elise’ or ‘Minuet in G’). We have especially chosen pieces that sound more advanced (watch the Promo video to hear the pieces) yet they are actually deceptively EASY to play – which means your audience will think that you have been playing for YEARS!
The course is perfect for those people who read a little music but aren’t very advanced – or those who play by ear but want to play some beautiful classical pieces.
If you have no prior knowledge you can still follow the lessons if you are prepared to put in lots of practice. Section 2 of this course also teaches BASIC SIGHT READING in just 18 minutes! It will give you enough knowledge to follow the rest of the lessons.
Like Pianoforall – these Classics By Ear courses come with exceptional and comprehensive supplementary PDF ebooks that you can print out and set on your piano or keyboard.
Instructor Details
- 4.9 Rating
935 Reviews
Robin Hall
Hi Everyone
Thanks you for checking out my courses on Udemy.
PIANOFORALL is one of the most popular piano courses online and has now taught more than 450,000 students worldwide since 2006. If you would like more information on the course or to read hundreds more amazing reviews check out the Pianoforall main website online.
CBT4PANIC is a professional Cognitive Behavioural Therapy treatment plan for anxiety, panic disorder and agoraphobia. CBT4PANIC was created by a group of dedicated Professional Cognitive Behavioural Therapists and Psychotherapists with extensive training and years of expertise working both in the private sector and for the British National Health Service.
My goal in life is to share my passions and to make whatever seems complicated EASY! I believe we all have a great capacity for learning - if we are taught in the right way! Learning should be FUN :-)
Robin Hall
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Reviews
By Ruey Wu on 9/9/2026
Moonlight sonata was the dream piece for a self-taught beginner like me. I thought it would take years before I could play it. Robin has made my dream come true sooner than expected. This is a wonderful course. Robin breaks up a daunting 69-bar piece into 3-bar chunks so you can just play this little chunk over and over, hundreds of times, as he always says encouragingly. He also explains the necessary music theory, pedaling, expression, anything you need to know to play it beautifully. I highly recommend this course!!!
By Aidan Jon Walker on 7/10/2022
This is incredible course for a self taught hobby and though it’s difficult to begin with and has to be learnt in piece meal chunks first before putting together when you get to end of sheet one which you don’t think you will ever accomplish at first it really is a gratifying feeling. Just to be able to learn to play a tune you like for yourself in your own time by following along to the guidance this course musician provides aligned with the detailed sheet music has, imo made this a worthwhile hobby I enjoy returning to, so from me it’s a thumbs up. I have a ways to go yet as I took this up alongside my academic studies which are also a completely new field and this course helps give me that much needed break and escapism all in the comfort of my own home and, not having to worry about being frowned upon by a tutor for hitting those wrong chords or missing that note when practising to string a row of bars together lol. Well worth purchasing in my opinion and presented by someone who has put such effort into their online course to help others interested in and wanting to learn and study at the own pace and, who is worthy of much more praise than I could ever offer up.
By Joe Garcia on 5/24/2022
I've wanted to learn how to play all my life and I've finally taken the plunge at 63! Moonlight Sonata is the 1st song I'm learning to play and the journey with Robin is fantastic so far! I'm still on the first page but everyday is a victory! Between the video, the sheet music (which I'm reading by the way) and Robin's great voice, I'm on my way. I'm also learning with the entire Pianoforall course, which is also fantastic and deserves it's own separate review. Bravo Robin, Bravo!!!
By Yasemin Saygıdeğer on 5/3/2022
I am 48 yrs old and started learning piano during my late 30s, taking overall 10-15 hours of private courses. I had this sheet music book gifted with my electronic piano when I bought it. I always stared at the notes of Moonlight Sonata and tried to play, but I decided I needed 3 hands to play this song, which meant it was impossible for me! Till I met this course. I appreciate the efforts of Robin Hall and the course provider Udemy. I have little knowledge of reading notes. I usually unwillingly memorize each song I play while studying, and this is not good as far as I know. Therefore, this course is invaluable for people like me. It took me about 2 months to complete the course (studying only on weekends and in the evenings) and finally today I could play the whole song without mistake. I need to practice more, in order to play in front of my friends and family and to add more expressions. Thank you.
By Fernando Rodriguez on 1/2/2022
This course was amazing - as was the Bach preludes course. It delivered as promised! I now know how to play the Moonlight Sonata! Put in the time, follow his instructions and you will learn how to play it. I'm amazed. I'm 53 and I've tried to learn piano over the years. I came across this and figured why not?! I plan on continuing to learn how to read sheet music and improve but in the meantime - I now have a few beautiful songs under my belt that I play often - very relaxing and fulfilling.
By Nuno Guerreiro on 10/13/2021
This course may be a life changer for me. I have never played a musical instrument and I have no musical education at all, except for a 2-year education I had 40 years ago at Preparatory School. But after buying my digital Roland FP-30X piano and starting this course (about 2 months ago), I'm now able to play from ear up to section 59!!! I'm almost finishing. My wife and friends are puzzled :) :). I always thought that these and some other classical works were only attainable by professional pianists, but I'm able to play it!!! What a great achievement I made! Of course, few good things come without effort. I've playing almost every single day for the past two months (although only for about 20 minutes each day). Thanks for this wonderful course, Robin Hall and for having me entering the wonderful world of music and piano. I can hardly wait for the next course!! I will probably buy the Bach Preludes. I will also try to learn more about scales and chords and musical theory in general. Best regards, Nuno Guerreiro
By Worawit Saetan on 6/7/2021
I just started playing piano (from zero experience) for one week by learning one course on Udemy named "Basic Piano". After I finished that course ,then I decided to play one complete song not just a tutorial. I ended up with this 1st movement of Beethoven's moonlight song. Amazingly I learned this song in only 10 days ,I mean I can remember all the notes and play them until the song completes but not fluently, sometimes I have to recognize some notes for a while but I can complete this song. Super thanks to this author of this course. I feel more confident about playing any other songs out there. Super highly recommended, and let me thanks you again. Great Teacher
By Juana Rozo on 5/17/2021
I just finished my course, Moonlight sonata… I am very happy. Robin Hall is an excellent teacher. I thought I wasn't going to be able to learn the whole sonata, but I did. My husband and children are very surprised with the results. I feel very happy because playing the piano was my dream since I was a child and even though I am now an adult, I succeeded. I love classical music dearly. THANK YOU VERY MUCH PROFESSOR ROBIN HALL !!!!
By Scarlet Buckle on 4/12/2021
I would buy any course by robin hall. This and others i have bought are great and inspirational
By George Theotokis on 3/18/2021
I never thought I would be able to play this piece, or anything as complex as this. But the way Robin Hall takes you literally by the hand and guides you step by step, it’s just amazing, I mean it works, all it takes is persistence and the results will come. Of course, this is a complex and fairly difficult piece, it is not for novices but with Robin Halls’ guidance, someone with a few years experience, (let’s say, someone like me who has competed most of Robin Halls “Piano For All” course) can give it a go and with practice, the results will come. Also, a suggestion: if you try this score/course and you find it difficult, do Robin Halls’ Bach Preludes course first or even his Satie course, both courses follow the same method with well written scores, keyboard diagrams and step by step guidance, and Bach's Prelude No. 1 in C major (BWV 846) and Satie's Gnossienne No 1 are much simpler than the Moonlight Sonata Mov 1, this is what I did and as I said, the results have been above my expectations...
Quality Score
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Overall Score : 98 / 100







