By: Chris Vance, CEO of Playground Sessions
Learning to play the piano is one of the most personal, rewarding, and emotional experiences you can embark on—but it’s also one of the most powerful when shared with others. At Playground Sessions, we’ve learned that a supportive community can turn even the most frustrating practice sessions into fuel for growth. That’s why we believe building a community around your piano journey isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential.
Let’s face it: learning piano isn’t always easy. There are going to be moments where you feel stuck, when your hands won’t cooperate, when you question whether you’ll ever be able to play that one song you love. But when you’re surrounded by others who are on the same path—struggling, succeeding, showing up again the next day—it suddenly becomes easier to keep going. And not just easier, but a lot more fun.
Our mission at Playground Sessions has always been to make piano learning more approachable, musical, and joyful. And a huge part of that mission lives in our Facebook group—a global community with a small-town feel, where learners from all over the world come together to inspire each other, share their progress, and celebrate the wins (big and small) along the way.
A Global Community with a Small-Town Feel
Every day, people from all walks of life and from every corner of the globe join Playground Sessions to learn how to play the piano. Our official Facebook group has become a cherished part of that experience. It’s not just a place to scroll through posts—it’s where people connect, encourage each other, share breakthroughs, and get help when they’re stuck. In many ways, it feels like a virtual music studio where everyone is cheering each other on.
You’ll find posts like this:
“Just keep playing, just keep playing… Not at the right tempo yet. Small mistakes here and there. But I never thought I’d be able to play an Elton John song in my lifetime. Playground Sessions made it possible.”
Or this one:
“So 24 days in, I finally completed my first song—I Won’t Give Up (Rookie moderate). This coming from a guy who couldn’t play a kazoo. A testament to how effective PS is… and how inspiring all your posts are!”
It’s hard to overstate the impact of seeing people share their real journeys—warts and all. When someone posts a video of themselves playing, even if it’s not perfect, it sends a message to everyone else: it’s okay to be learning, it’s okay to be figuring it out. And most importantly, you’re not doing it alone.
Teachers Who Are With You Every Step of the Way
Another thing that makes the Playground Sessions community so unique is that our teachers are in the group too. They’re not off in some unreachable place—they’re right there in the comments offering tips, encouragement, and sometimes a healthy dose of humor. Whether you’re struggling with two-hand coordination or wondering how to tackle a rhythm challenge, you’ll find support not just from your peers, but from the very people who designed the lessons.
And let’s be honest—sometimes we all need a little boost to keep practicing. The Facebook group becomes that friendly reminder, that subtle push, that collective voice saying, “Just keep going. We’re right here with you.”
A Worldwide Moment of Connection
One of the most moving examples of our community coming together happened during the pandemic, when the world felt more isolated than ever. In partnership with Quincy Jones and Hal Leonard, we launched a global initiative designed to reconnect people through music. We offered a free 30-day online piano class teaching learners of all ages and skill levels how to play one song—“You Raise Me Up.”
Over 7,000 people from 52 countries participated.
Two months later, we premiered our “You Raise Me Up” Global Piano Recital—a powerful, moving video that brought all of these performances together into one virtual, global celebration. It featured special guest appearances from The Piano Guys, The Theorist, and Mike Garson, alongside thousands of new learners who came together not just to learn a song, but to connect with each other through music.
That project was a perfect reflection of everything we believe in: music has the power to inspire, to uplift, and to unite us—even when we’re miles apart.
Share, Learn, and Grow Together
In our Facebook group, you’ll find:
- Stories that inspire – Posts from people who just started learning and are already playing songs they never thought possible.
- Helpful advice – Whether it’s how to improve hand coordination or how to get past a mental block, the community always shows up with support and real-world tips.
- Score sharing – Members regularly post their performance scores from Playground, tracking their progress and encouraging others to do the same.
- Fun and encouragement – It’s not always serious! Members share memes, jokes, and relatable frustrations. It’s all part of feeling like you belong.
Here’s one of our favorite recent posts from a beginner:
“Anybody got any tips on how to get my brain to make both hands work better? I do great one hand at a time, but together and… my brain explodes! 😂”
You’ll be surprised how many people immediately chime in with encouragement and suggestions—because they’ve been there too.
The Power of Community in Piano Learning
Learning piano can be challenging, at least at times. What can keep a lof of people going isn’t just discipline or talent, it’s connection. It’s the feeling of belonging to something bigger than yourself. It’s the knowledge that someone else is rooting for you, walking the same path, or just one step ahead, showing you what’s possible.
That’s the power of community.
Our Facebook group, our “You Raise Me Up” global recital, and our day-to-day interactions across the platform have shown us that community isn’t just a nice feature—it’s the fuel. It inspires people to start, motivates them to keep going, and reminds them that their progress matters, not just to themselves but to others watching and cheering them on.
We’ve seen firsthand how powerful a global piano community can be. It helps hundreds of thousands of learners around the world build skills they never thought possible. It lifts people up when they’re stuck, celebrates them when they succeed, and shows them what they’re capable of—even on the days when they doubt it most.
And for anyone out there trying to build something meaningful—whether you’re teaching, creating, or learning—never underestimate the role a community can play. It can transform what might have been a lonely and unfinished journey into something lasting, joyful, and shared.
About Chris Vance:
Chris Vance is the Founder and CEO of Playground Sessions, the #1 rated piano learning app co-created with Quincy Jones. It offers an innovative approach to music education, delivering a fun and effective way to learn piano online. Chris is passionate about making music education accessible and empowering teachers with tools to keep their students engaged and practicing independently. When he’s not working on Playground Sessions, he enjoys spending time outdoors and playing the piano.
