What should we make of online courses and “hacks” that claim to teach either the best way or cut corners to successful learning?  This is a fascinating area.  There are so many wonderful tools on the web that can help musicians grow.  Youtube videos by great masters, interviews with great artists, pedagogical resources (such as websites with free music scores like http://www.imslp.org), websites, games, virtual lessons, courses, specialized platforms, interest groups and more.  

With learning, one size doesn’t fit all.  We all bring our unique mind, motivation and heart to learning.  Claims from an online resource that there is one way or the best way is both false and naïve.  There are great opportunities for online resources and apps to strengthen and cultivate musicianship.  But there is also no substitute for a real guide; a real person to share the learning experience with!  Find someone with experience, openness and curiosity.  Someone with passion and optimism.  Someone to demonstrate physically and acoustically (with a real piano). Someone who builds a relationship in person with heightened levels of communication and awareness.  Someone to form a relationship with as a trusted guide opening doors of inspiration.  Someone who learns from the learner and is humble enough to understand the partnership between a learner and teacher. If face-to-face is impossible, the next best thing is an online lesson with a real person-not just an app.

Holding the tension between Artificial Intelligence, online resources and virtual formats for games, lessons and more is the solution.  The landscape of pedagogy is changing rapidly.  Don’t hold on to any one truth; be open and curious for ways that can help you, “the individual learner” to grow. Embrace resources as tools, but not as “the way, truth and light”.