Skoove review: A solid choice for beginners (2025 revisit)

Online piano lesson platforms remain one of the most convenient and accessible ways to start learning piano, and Skoove continues to be among the most recognized names in this space.

In this updated review, I revisit Skoove to see how it has evolved since my last experience. I’ll take a close look at everything the platform offers, from setup and lesson structure to real-time feedback and progression, and assess how well it serves beginners, intermediates, and advanced players.

Most importantly, I’ll discuss whether Skoove now provides a truly comprehensive path from your first notes to confident, independent playing.

Final verdict 4.2

I like Skoove, and I want to be clear that, when pointing out anything I consider to be a flaw, I do so because I see great potential.

Skoove is very good and shows considerable improvement since my first experience, but it could be much better if not for some odd structural choices and feedback issues. However, I don’t see any problems that can’t be fixed.

I wouldn’t recommend Skoove to experienced students, but it’s a fantastic app for beginners.

Why you should trust this review

Contents

Use these jump links to navigate to the desired section of the review.

• Free trial 3.0
• Getting started 4.0
• Interface 4.5
• Teaching 4.0
• Content 4.0
• Progression 4.0
• Value 4.5
• Comparisons

Free lessons 3.0

Unfortunately, the free membership is an area where I was previously disappointed, and the offering hasn’t improved.

The upside is that you can take a 7-day free trial of Skoove Premium, which gives you access to all lessons, courses, and songs. The downside is that you’ll need to provide payment details (credit card) to initiate your free trial.

Technically, it’s not a big problem, because you can cancel before the trial ends, and Skoove won’t charge you a penny. However, it does turn away some potential students because many people prefer not to share payment details until they are making a definite purchase, and I can understand that.

It’s not exclusive to Skoove; most subscription services require payment details before starting a free trial. One of the reasons it puts people off is that they sometimes decide not to continue with a paid subscription but forget to cancel it (or say, ‘I’ll do it later’), and they accidentally pay for something they don’t want.

If people genuinely love a service, they will add payment details after a trial and continue happily, so I wish more trials were available without credit card details. Some people may not mind, but it’s worth noting.

If you opt for a free membership instead of the Skoove Premium trial, you’ll only have access to three lessons. I understand the concept of providing a tempting taste of the premium subscription, and, in fact, Skoove does that.

However, I’d still like to see Skoove offer a free course for each level (Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced). It doesn’t need to be an in-depth course for each level – a short course that allows the user to experience some genuine progression would suffice.

Again, Skoove isn’t alone in this issue; I’d like to see all platforms offer a little more for free, and I think it would benefit them in the long term.

Pricing

You have the option to pay for your Skoove Premium subscription on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis. If you choose to pay annually, you will save the most money.

• 1-month subscription at €29.99 / $29.99 / £24.99 per month (charged monthly).
• 3-month subscription at €19.99 / $19.99 / £16.66 per month (€59.99 / $59.99 / £49.99 charged every 3 months).
• 1-year subscription at €12.49 / $12.49 / £10.41 per month (€149.99 / $149.99 / £124.99 charged every 12 months).

In addition to more than 500 piano lessons, Skoove Premium gives you access to monthly updated lessons/songs, one-on-one support from instructors, and structured step-by-step courses (none of which are available on a free account).

Getting started 4.0

I’ve loved how easy it is to get started with Skoove from day one. Creating an account is quick and easy, and Skoove asks all the right questions to ensure you get the most out of your piano journey. You’ll add details like your age, piano experience, preferred genres, and expected practice schedule.

More importantly, Skoove guides you through the setup in a way that’s simple enough for young students to follow. Additionally, you have the option to set up an account as a parent/family member.

Keyboard settings

You have the option to use an acoustic piano, an electronic keyboard with built-in speakers, or a MIDI keyboard controller. You can connect via Bluetooth, USB, or microphone.

If you’re using an acoustic piano or electronic instrument with speakers, you’re relying on your device’s microphone for accurate note detection. I prefer using a USB/MIDI keyboard, and the setup is straightforward.

Once you connect your device, Skoove will ask you to play the lowest and highest notes on your keyboard, and you’re good to go.

My only problem with the connection process stems from the fact that Skoove is no longer available for desktop devices. Previously, Skoove offered lessons via the app or your web browser. The downside is that the user experience wasn’t identical on both platforms, but I’d like to see a desktop app to replace the old web browser model.

I used the iOS app on an Apple iPad Pro with a MIDI controller keyboard. My issue is that the iPad has only one USB-C input, which sometimes meant I had to stop practicing to plug in the charger when the battery got low. You can purchase a USB hub to provide additional inputs, but that’s an extra cost for the student.

While it won’t be an issue for all students, a desktop app would be welcomed by many. For example, aspiring music producers with a small production setup (MIDI keyboard, laptop, and audio interface) who are somewhat experienced in beatmaking but want to improve their piano skills would find it much easier to open Skoove in their existing setup.

Interface 4.5

The upside of no longer having a web browser version of Skoove is that all users have a consistent experience, which is great. It also removes previous browser and pop-up issues.

The Skoove interface is fantastic because you can get anywhere you need to go in one click.

The app has five sections: Home, Courses, Songs, Profile, and 1-1 Class. You can access these sections via the buttons stacked in a column down the left side of your screen.

When you enter the Courses section of Skoove, you can see every course laid out in order, from Beginner to Advanced (and color-coded).

The song library is well-arranged, and you can search by skill level or category. Available categories include New to Skoove, Classical, Pop, Christmas, Reggae, by the decade, and more.

Your Skoove profile is where you can find/edit your account details, access device settings, contact support, and browse frequently asked questions.

1-1 Class is where you can book a personal lesson with direct feedback from one of Skoove’s expert instructors.

I couldn’t fault the interface layout and functionality last time, and I can’t fault it this time (I just wish they’d introduce a desktop app).

Lesson interface

The lesson interface is fantastic; it’s simple, easy to use, and that’s all it should be.

Lessons begin by displaying the notation on the top half of the screen and a piano keyboard on the bottom half. When the music starts, you’ll see an instructor’s hands performing the correct notes on the piano keyboard, which gives you a chance to watch and practice along without feedback.

When you’re ready for feedback, you can tackle the lesson with only the notation.

You can pause any lesson to adjust the tempo or loop any problem areas. Looping a difficult bar or two is a great way to get past sticky areas without repeating the sections you’ve already nailed.

Teaching method 4.0

The Skoove teaching method has three main steps:

• Get to Know the Song
• Learn the Keys
• Play in Time

The Get to Know the Song step is your introduction to the song and a chance to relax and listen.

The Learn the Keys is the step where you first get to grips with the notes of the song. You’ll receive feedback during this step, but you can proceed at your own pace, and you don’t have to worry about maintaining rhythm or dynamics.

The real-time feedback shows a green dot above every correct note and a red dot above incorrect notes. At the end of each lesson, you’ll receive overall feedback, telling you how many notes the lesson contains and how many you played correctly.

Once you reach the Play in Time step, you can practice playing along with the instructor without receiving feedback. When you’re ready for feedback, you can tackle the music at a comfortable tempo and work your way up to 100%.

One of the things I like most about Skoove’s teaching method is that it breaks everything down into manageable chunks. You’ll focus on a small section of a song, and work through the Learn the Keys and Play in Time steps for each hand independently before putting both hands together.

There are some secondary elements of the teaching method that you won’t see in every lesson, but they are very helpful.

Often, when tackling a new concept for the first time, like the major scale, you’ll have an explainer video to watch.

You also often see the Finger Gym, which allows you to practice new concepts before tackling the song properly. For example, when a song has rhythmical chord patterns for the first time, you’ll get to practice the technique in the Finger Gym.

Another element that I really love, especially for beginners/kids, is that you sometimes get a chance to play along with the band. Playing with other instruments (even if virtual) and listening to what they are doing is an excellent way to enhance musicianship.

My only complaint is that the play-along sequence includes the melody, which is quite loud and masks what the student is playing. While it’s still good fun, I’d like to see an option to remove the melody, so the student can be sure they are playing correctly.

Courses and content 4.0

There are over 500 lessons in total, so there’s plenty to work through. Here’s a complete list of Skoove courses:

Kids

• First Notes Adventure
• Hot Cross Beats
• Monkey Beat Safari

Beginner

• Beginner 1
• Reading Sheet Music
• Playing Technique 1
• Beginner 2
• Playing Technique 2
• Reading Bass Clef
• Pop Piano 2
• Chords and Chord Progressions 2
• Beginner 3
• Playing Technique 3
• Chords and Chord Progressions 3
• Pop Piano 3
• Blues and Boogie Woogie 3

Intermediate

• Intermediate 1
• Playing Technique 1
• Chords and Scales 1
• Intermediate 2
• Playing Technique 2
• Chords and Scales 2
• Intermediate 3
• Playing Technique 3
• Blues and Boogie Woogie 3

Advanced

• Advanced Classic
• Playing Technique 1
• Classical Revival
• Advanced Pop
• Playing Technique 2
• Keyboard for Producers

Let’s take a closer look at a lesson from each level.

Beginner Level

Skoove has always been a fantastic platform for beginners because it sets a reasonable pace that’s always fun and provides a real sense of achievement.

One of the lessons I like is Tainted Love 3 from the Beginner 3 course. I like this lesson because it uses a fantastic song as a vehicle to highlight several essential elements of music. The lesson deals with melody, rhythm, and harmony simultaneously.

The aspect I like most about this lesson is that it utilizes a simple left-hand bassline to teach students about rhythm. It does so by separating the notes of a simple C major triad and adding a staccato articulation.

While the harmony is simple, I love that the lesson helps students get comfortable with both hands being busy at the same time. Almost all beginners struggle with playing more than basic root notes with their left hand, and despite not being too technically challenging, this lesson is exactly what’s needed to overcome that struggle.

For me, the beginner period is what Skoove does best. Skoove’s beginner courses are a perfect blend of fun and fundamentals. Anyone who works through all of Skoove’s beginner material should develop excellent basic skills and enthusiasm for more!

Intermediate Level

Skoove has some excellent intermediate content. I’ve picked out a lesson that I really enjoyed: In the Hall of the Mountain King 3 from the Intermediate 1 course.

I chose this lesson because it’s a fun tune that everyone knows, even if they don’t realize they know it, and it covers musical concepts like accidentals, rhythmic basslines, and modulation.

Early intermediate players are becoming accustomed to various key signatures, and introducing a piece with some accidentals is a good way to test their concentration.

Transposing, even if just up a step, can seem more daunting than it actually is, especially with a lively melody like this song has. So, I love the little step up with the melody.

Another thing I like about this melody is that the articulation switches between short staccato quavers and longer crotchets. It’s essential to consider articulation and phrasing at this level; once you’ve progressed past the beginner stage, you need to do more than just play the correct notes.

While I like the content, I wish the app provided more accurate feedback. The note detection is virtually perfect, and it’s not a significant issue for beginners. However, intermediate players need to focus more on phrasing and note length, and the feedback doesn’t adequately represent these elements.

If a hypothetical song is made up entirely of whole notes lasting for four beats each, as long as I play the correct notes on time, I could release each of them early and still earn a perfect score.

I understand that achieving perfect feedback might be challenging when dealing with dynamics and subtle articulations, but it could be improved for note lengths.

Advanced Level

When I first tried Skoove, I felt the advanced section was the weakest of the bunch, and I hoped to see some significant changes during this revisit. It’s not that I thought the content was poor; I just felt much of it didn’t truly reflect an advanced level.

Having spent some time with the updated content, I have a similar opinion; some of the content is great, but it doesn’t belong under the advanced banner.

For example, we have Beethoven’s Für Elise and Pachelbel’s Canon in D in the Advanced Classic course. Both of those compositions are pieces that all students should learn, but they aren’t advanced, technically or conceptually.

Before I get to a lesson I loved, there’s one more thing I didn’t like about the Advanced section. Some lessons/songs are quite physically demanding, but lack any advanced musical concepts.

For example, we have John Lennon’s “Imagine” in the Advanced Pop course. “Imagine” is an iconic song, and like many iconic songs, its beauty lies in its simplicity. Skoove’s arrangements of “Imagine” succeed in making the song more difficult to play, but, for me, they don’t make sense musically.

It may work as a technical exercise, but it doesn’t provide real-world transferable skills because I wouldn’t expect to see advanced students arrange in that way. It seems like the song has been forced into the Advanced Pop course by adding notes that don’t really need to be there, just to make it fit.

A lesson that I loved playing through is the Das Model section of the Keyboard for Producers course.

As you can see from the score above, it gives you quite a finger workout. More importantly, it transitions between contrasting rhythms, and playing it smoothly at full tempo can be a challenge.

It helps students get used to locking in the groove with rhythmic basslines and melodies. It’s repetitive with subtle variations at times, and that’s a good test of concentration. What I like most about this lesson is that it provides students with tools they can use to arrange rhythmic pop songs for solo piano.

I love the Keyboard for Producers course, and I wish more platforms would follow Skoove’s lead in this area.

Progression path 4.0

At the start of your Skoove journey, the platform will ask about your level of piano experience. If we refer to those descriptions of the varied experience levels, the progression path looks pretty good.

If you work through the Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced courses, you will absolutely master the above descriptions. So, in fairness to Skoove, the platform delivers as promised.

My issue is that the descriptions above are quite flimsy compared to real-world musicianship, and I’d rather see most of the Advanced content moved into the Intermediate level.

The structure has improved, but there are still a few lessons in odd places. For example, The Playing Technique 3 intermediate course begins with a lesson on tucking your thumb under while playing a C major scale.

It’s an invaluable technique, but one you learn with your very first scale as a beginner, and I don’t understand why it needs to be taught or recapped at a serious intermediate level.

Overall, it’s improved, but still requires some adjustments.

Value for money 4.5

Skoove is excellent value for money if you have realistic expectations. If you’re starting from scratch, Skoove is one of the best platforms you can choose. Similarly, if you have some basic skills, Skoove is a solid choice.

If you’re an experienced intermediate player (not just entering the intermediate level), you might not get the same longevity from Skoove lessons.

Skoove is very generous with discounts and promos; you’ll often see Skoove memberships free with the purchase of certain keyboard instruments. If you’re a free member, you may occasionally receive significant upgrade discounts sent to your email inbox.

Compared to others

Skoove is great for piano beginners, but it won’t take everyone as far as they want. Check out these alternatives.

Skoove vs Simply Piano

Simply Piano has its issues, but it has more potential to go further than Skoove. Either one is a fairly safe choice for a beginner. Read the full review

Skoove vs Flowkey

Skoove won’t take you as far as Flowkey, and if you plan to go beyond the intermediate level, Flowkey is the sensible option. If you are happy having fun with beginner content, go with Skoove. Read the full review

Skoove vs Playground Sessions

Playground Sessions is miles ahead of Skoove in most areas. Skoove is only a better option if you’re a complete beginner and get an awesome deal on the price. Read the full review

Skoove vs Yousician

If you focus purely on absolute beginner content, it’s probably about even. But, Yousician offers more value in other areas. Read the full review

Who does Skoove suit most?

Skoove is excellent for beginners and early intermediate students.