Understand How Music Works
Explore theory, harmony, structure and analysis in a practical context designed for pianists.
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Hear More in the Music You Play
Explore theory, harmony, style, structure and musical literacy in ways that enhance how you hear, learn and interpret music at the piano.
Our resources help you make better sense of the score, recognise patterns and relationships, understand stylistic context and make more informed musical decisions.
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Develop a Broader Musical Understanding
Understand Style
Explore the musical language of different periods to make informed decisions.
Read Music More Fluently
Recognise patterns, rhythm, harmony and structure as you read, helping you make sense of unfamiliar music more quickly, sight-read with greater fluency and learn new pieces more efficiently.
Understand the Pieces You Play
Use analysis, demonstrations and interpretative guidance to discover more about individual works and the decisions involved in bringing them to life.
Featured from the Academy
Connect Understanding with Playing
Explore resources that connect musical knowledge with what you see, hear and do at the piano.
There's More to Playing the Piano
Develop Your Knowledge of Music Theory. Understanding music theory can help you learn repertoire more quickly, interpret it more authentically and open up new possibilities in areas such as improvisation and composition. David Hall’s concise, interactive course covers musical notation and theory from the basics to just beyond Grade 5, with opportunities to apply what you learn as you go.
Included with membershipHarmony, History & Style
Understand Style Through Harmony and History. Lona Kozik brings together analysis, harmony and music history to explore the musical language of the Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods and what distinguishes one style from another.
Included with membershipSight-Reading
See More in the Score. Recognise patterns, rhythm, harmony and structure as you read, helping you make sense of unfamiliar music more quickly, sight-read with greater fluency and learn new pieces more efficiently.
Included with membershipRepertoire Library
Explore Repertoire from Practice to Performance. Explore detailed resources on a wide range of works, from video walk-throughs and practice suggestions to analysis, stylistic context, interpretative ideas and musical narratives. Depending on the piece, resources may focus on one or several of these areas.
Included with membershipSupporting resources: There's Even More to Playing the Piano continues the structured theory material, while Building Firm Foundations uses analytical and pattern-based approaches to strengthen learning and memory.
From Information to Musical Decisions
What You Understand Changes How You Play
Recognising a harmonic direction, understanding a stylistic convention or noticing how a phrase is constructed can influence everything from fingering and practising to phrasing, articulation and interpretation.
Greater musical awareness opens up more possibilities at the piano and helps you make decisions with greater nuance and confidence.
Explore Related Topics
Go Directly to the Area You Want to Explore
Theory & MusicianshipBuild practical knowledge of the language and structure of music.
Sight-ReadingDevelop greater fluency in understanding music at first sight.
RepertoireExplore individual works in greater musical and interpretative depth.
Style & InterpretationInvestigate the context, language and choices that shape performance.
“Understanding harmony is so important for decoding a new piece, and by extension for sight-reading. Your website is a treasure trove!”Lyudmila Kan
Discover More in the Music You Play
Deepen your musical understanding with ongoing access to the Online Academy's resources, courses and expert perspectives.