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Your trusted resource for piano inspiration, education, and reviews.
At Pianist's Compass, we're here to guide pianists of all levels - from beginners taking their first steps to experienced musicians seeking fresh insights.

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Latest articles and reviews

The 12 best classical solo piano pieces of all time

Piano pieces from the Baroque era’s complexities, Viennese Classicism’s elegance, and the Romantic era’s intensity represent some of the best, most beautiful, and famous classical solo piano works ever written. As a pianist and composer of over 20 years, I’m certain the pieces below deserve their...

Yamaha P-225 vs Roland FP-30X: Close call or easy win?

In this article, I’m comparing two of the most popular beginner-friendly stage pianos on the market: the Yamaha P-225 and Roland’s FP-30X. These two instruments are priced similarly and target the same type of buyers, so I’m putting them head-to-head to see which one comes out on top.

How to play piano by ear in 4 achievable steps

Have you ever wondered how the pros can play along with any song they hear? Well, it takes some practice, but you might be surprised to hear that you don’t need to be a prodigy, a virtuoso, or have perfect pitch.

How to teach yourself to play piano following 11 key principles

Learning how to play piano is an extremely rewarding endeavor, but it can be challenging to fit lessons around your schedule and budget. If you can’t commit to regular piano lessons, it doesn’t mean you should give up; it means you have to find another way to learn.

Kawai CA501 review: True Concert Artist piano under $4000?

Kawai’s CA501 digital piano is a step above the entry-level of the flagship Concert Artist series. At almost $1000 more than the cheaper CA401, it’s an expensive step. In this review, I’ll determine if the CA501 lives up to the Concert Artist name and is worth the extra investment.

The 12 greatest and most famous piano concertos ever written

The piano concerto is arguably the most powerful orchestral form because it covers so much ground; it’s percussive, rhythmic, harmonic, and melodic. While some concertos are among the hardest pieces a pianist can tackle, others are deceptively easy, but all showcase the piano’s ability to lead an...

The 16 jazz standards and solo pieces every pianist should know

There are jazz standards that every pianist should know for various reasons. In addition to being fantastic tunes, they each help you explore and understand different elements of music, such as rhythm, harmony, and melody. These tunes will teach you more than any theory book and provide enough...