5/5
The Modern Piano Masterclass
Master Piano Fundamentals in under 30 days so write your own songs & play songs you love
What do all the most successful songwriters and producers have in common?
Avicii. Dr. Dre. Drake. Billy Joel. Kygo. Selena Gomez. The Weeknd. Ariana Grande. Queen (Freddie Mercury). Ryan Tedder.
You guessed it — they all play piano
"I always start with the melody, so I'll sit by the piano and play the chords with the melody."
Tim Bergling
Avicii
KSHMR, Armin Van Buuren & Alan Walker are catching up
"I had my piano lessons this morning and brought my kids to daycare, so everything is good"
Armin van Buuren
"I've actually been learning piano. I started learning the melodies on piano"
Alan Walker
Why is everyone learning piano all of a sudden?
Here's the thing...
If you're like most producers, you'll fall into one of these three categories:
- "This is AMAZING. I'm learning so much and having a blast."
- "Okay, there's a lot to learn. That's fine though. I'm enjoying myself!"
- "Agh, why is this so hard. I can't come up with any good ideas. My music sounds nothing like I want it to."
If you're not in category 3 yet, chances are you will be. It happens to almost every producer.
And the worst thing you can do when you're in category 3 is to keep pushing and doing the same thing over and over.
That's what most producers do. And it doesn't work.
You need a different approach: piano.
Why modern producers need to learn piano
Hi, I'm Niko.
I'm a professional concert pianist and electronic music producer with over 50 million global streams across platforms like Spotify, YouTube and Apple Music.
And I've got a question for you...
When you started producing music, did you think this is where you'd end up?
Session after session you sit down and start something new.
You pull in some samples from Splice.
Write a basic chord progression on the piano roll.
Try to come up with a catchy melody but get only halfway there.
Once the inevitable frustration hits, you lean back in your chair, put your feet up, and start scrolling on your phone.
- Your friend has just put out a new song and it sounds phenomenal. He's getting tons of positive feedback.
- Another artist you know has put out a semi-viral video of him turning a basic melody he came up with on the piano into a full production.
- Someone else is announcing their new tour dates.
You return to your project feeling even more demotivated. But you tell yourself to push through and finish the track.
Except nothing really changes. You find yourself stuck in this cycle.
You feel like there's something missing.
This is the eternal challenge that plagues producers. It's the gap between what's in their head, and what comes out in their music.
"I have all these great ideas in my head, but they never sound as good as I think they will."
"I just can't figure out how to translate what I'm hearing in my head into my DAW. I don't know where to start."
"I truly think I have a creative and musical mind, but I fall short when it comes to taking that creativity and turning it into something real."
Some producers manage to grind their way out of this rut. Most end up quitting.
Fortunately, there's another option...
Piano.
And here's why:
Creativity is best expressed dynamically through action.
Your best ideas come from the moments where you're in the zone, enjoying yourself, and feeling completely absorbed in the music.
Take a moment to think about it.
Would you feel more creative staring at a blank screen trying to figure out which notes to plot in your piano roll?
Or would you feel more creative getting lost while playing piano and enjoying the sound of what's coming out?
The answer is obvious. Playing an instrument, especially piano, is a more natural way to express your musical ideas.
Learning piano is the key to getting the musical ideas out of your head and into your DAW....
...and I'm here to help you do just that.
Why the "Production First" approach fails
There are two main approaches to music production: Production First, and Composition First.
Most producers fall into the former camp. They focus on production first. They get caught up in all the technical stuff—sound design, mixing, mastering—and neglect the actual songwriting.
When they start a project, they focus on finding the right samples, manipulating sounds (sound design), and getting the mix to sound right.
They spend hours and hours doing this, and then realize that their actual song isn't even that good.
The "Production First" approach is like trying to build a house without a foundation. It's trying to make something sound great before you've even figured out what the song is.
The Composition First approach is much better. You're focusing on generating and refining your core musical ideas before you worry about production.
The Composition First approach forces you to not skip the hard stuff. Writing a good song is hard. And it's the most important part of the process.
Unfortunately, while the Composition First approach is ideal, it's extremely difficult for most producers because:
- They don't know enough music theory to make it work. Even if they do, they still can't practically apply it.
- They can't get themselves in a creative mood or zone
- They're still working "in the box" and revert back to doing what they've always done instead of pushing themselves
And that's where the Hybrid Producer comes in...
The Hybrid Producer (Piano-First) approach
The Hybrid Producer is someone who can proficiently play piano and produce music.
This person takes the Composition First approach a step further.
He comes up with his ideas on the fly, instead of pointing and clicking in the DAW (only to end up with something mediocre).
He can sit down at the piano for 30 mins or less (sometimes in just a few minutes) and come up with the core musical idea for a song.
Instead of wasting hours designing sounds that never get used, he's focused on playing and recording his ideas into the DAW.
The Hybrid Producer sees piano and production as one holistic process, rather than something completely separate.
5 differences between Piano-First producers and ordinary producers
Hybrid, Piano-First producers are, on average, far more creative and focused than ordinary producers. Which approach do you want to take?
Ordinary Producers:
"My music just sounds boring. I know how to EQ, compress, use Serum, and put together a basic arrangement, but it still doesn't sound like something I'd listen to."
Piano-First Producers:
"I used to think that writing good music was all about how good you were in your DAW. Now I realize that the foundation of a great song starts with the chords and melody—and those come from the piano."
Ordinary Producers:
"Every time I sit down to work on a new project I just get stuck. Nothing comes to me. I've sat there for hours staring at a blank screen."
Piano-First Producers:
"I know that if I sit down and start playing piano, eventually something will come. If I'm really stuck, I just improvise for 10-15 minutes and ideas start flowing."
Ordinary Producers:
"In almost all of my projects I get to a point where I'm stuck. My song sounds okay sonically, but the actual musical content is lacking."
Piano-First Producers:
"As soon as I come up with a solid musical idea and arrangement on piano, the rest of the process is so much smoother. The production just wraps around the composition."
Ordinary Producers:
"Honestly, I'm scared to collaborate with other producers because I'm worried that I'll just blank out and not be able to contribute anything."
Piano-First Producers:
"Piano makes it easy for me to collaborate with others. Instead of worrying about blanking out and getting stuck, I can just sit down at the keys and play ideas."
Ordinary Producers:
"I'm worried that I'll never be able to really develop myself as an artist if I can't fix these problems."
Piano-First Producers:
"I'm confident that given enough time, I'll be able to turn music production into a full-time endeavor because I have a creative foundation that I can always lean on."
7 ways playing piano helps you produce better music
Create memorable melodies
In the Spotify age, the way to have your song stand out in playlists is for it to have a great hook. Piano helps you develop that instinct.
Write emotional chord progressions
Melody by itself is bland. Knowing how to use and manipulate chords to create interesting, engaging harmonic foundations is what separates good music from great music.
Closes the "Mind to DAW" link
When you know how to play piano, it's much easier to translate the ideas in your head into real music.
Faster workflow
It's quicker to record in a melody or progression than point & click inside your DAW. You don't even need to look at your screen.
Easier and more creative collaboration
Ever been in the studio with someone where you're trying to explain a musical idea but words don't suffice? Piano solves this.
Learning and applying music theory
Learning music theory by book can be incredibly mind-numbing. Learning it as you learn piano is more natural, practical, and enjoyable.
Confidence & Higher Status
Knowing how to play piano gives you creative confidence. You know that you're not going to struggle to come up with ideas.
Introducing...
The Modern Piano Masterclass
Unlock Your Full Creative Potential by Mastering Piano Fundamentals in 90 Days
If you're ready to make the transition from "ordinary" producer to piano-proficient creative genius, then the Modern Piano Masterclass is for you.
The Modern Piano Masterclass is a comprehensive, 8-module program that teaches you how to master the fundamentals of piano so you can write your own songs and play songs you love.
Ready to EnrollHere's what you'll learn in The Modern Piano Masterclass:
- The Mental Framework that separates creative and driven piano players from the rest...
- How to build your internal "chord library" so you can quickly and play and record progressions on the fly fluently...
- Best practices for developing hand skills so you can expand your melody and chord playing abilities (and as a result: your composition skills).
- How to play and make catchy melodies like Avicii, Kygo, and Martin Garrix that get stuck in people's heads
- Advanced melody and chord writing techniques (so you can take your playing and production to the next level)
- How to break down popular songs and learn them step-by-step, regardless of how complicated they are.
- How to completely write & build your own original song on the piano, and then record it into your DAW and start producing.
- How to incorporate piano into your production process: everything from processing, layering, advanced MIDI editing, and more.
- Improvisation mastery: how to become a music making machine who can generate epic ideas in minutes (without having to look at a screen).
And here's what you'll learn in the bonus modules:
- How to make an official remix from start-to-finish (my breakdown of the official remix I did for Borgeous)
- Making music your life: how to develop a "front office" mindset and build your career in music
- How to build brand authority in the music industry
- Spotify Accelerator: How I went from 0 to 30MM streams by following this simple process and making over 100k in royalties.
- Getting paid: opportunities, sponsorships, streams, and more.
The Masterclass is focused on Four Core Areas
Chord Dominance
You will be able to create impactful chord progressions that await a beautiful melody to join its composition.
Melody Mastery
You will write melodies that will be stuck in your listener's head for days on end. Your melody will be the voice of the song.
Practice
You will take your chord dominance and melody mastery and combine them while playing live on the piano.
Improvisation
You will incorporate new creative elements when playing the piano to continue to push yourself creatively.
Composition Mastery Modules
If you are new to music, production or piano or even have years of experience, these two modules will help build a strong compositional foundation.
MODULE 1
Chord Dominance
If you are new to music, production or piano or even have years of experience, these first two modules will help build a strong compositional foundation.
- Unique chord discovery, construction and implementation in your music
- How the music families work to make your life easier and simplify music theory
- Practice techniques to make your music sound more organic & real vs. digital
- Chord arps to add dynamics and movement to your progressions
- The piano's secret reverb and how to use it
MODULE 2
Melody Mastery
This is the ultimate breakdown of melody. You will master melody creation, how to write melodies like the pros, and develop your own unique melodic voice.
- How to write melodies like Avicii, Kygo, Martin Garrix, and other top artists
- How to add rhythmic variation to your melodies so they sound real
- Melodic arps and how to use them in your music
- A secret method that a 3-year-old toddler could use to derive melodies from any song
- Melody starters and how to manipulate them to write melodies in minutes
Start-to-Finish Modules
After developing your composition skills, you will start playing through four pieces on the piano that incorporate everything you've learned.
MODULE 3
Composition #1 — "Relentless"
The first composition introduces key and rhythmic pattern changes. Once you play through this song, you'll have a solid understanding of how to apply theory in practice.
- Transposition and how to actually use the circle of 5ths
- How to make epic sounding music
- The frequency spectrum and how we use it to increase listener engagement
MODULE 4
Composition #2 — "Higher Desire"
The second composition that we will break down and play through together. The arrangement of this track is more complex.
- Improvisational tactics to make the music more interesting
- Arrangement and chord progression changes
- How to take the existing composition and use it in your music (without stealing it completely)
MODULE 5
Composition #3 — "Skywalking"
The third composition breaks down how suspense and melody work together.
- Improvisational tactics to make the music more interesting
- Arrangement and chord progression changes
- How to take the existing composition and use it in your music (without stealing it completely)
MODULE 6
Composition #4 — "Beautiful Together"
The fourth composition is the most challenging to play melodically. We will continue to add more tactics to add texture to your melodies and chords to "beautify" them.
- New improvisational tactics and playing techniques
- How to write complex, yet simple-sounding melodies
- Rhythmic chord progressions, arpeggiations for basslines and improvisation techniques to skyrocket your creativity
MODULE 7
Piano Production
We return to our DAW and go into how to make your pianos sound beautiful. We will go into advanced MIDI editing, processing, and layering techniques.
- Secret processing techniques used by the best producers in the world
- Piano layering and group bus processing
- How to edit recorded MIDI in your DAW like a pro
...and over $1500 in extra bonuses
BONUS #1
The Ultimate MIDI Pack ($997 value)
This MIDI Pack includes 50 unique chord progressions with 100 variations. I recorded it personally on a real piano so they feel human.
- 50 chord progressions with 100 variations
- 1,000+ unique, catchy melodies to tweak and study
- Velocity-enhanced, recorded on a real piano
BONUS #2
Make Music Your Life Course ($497 value)
This program will show you exactly how to develop a "front office" mindset so you can build the foundation for a career in music.
- Develop your purpose as an artist and build a strong, business-focused mindset
- Finding your niche, marketing, and outsourcing the stuff you don't want to do
- How to raise money for your artist project (and whether you even should)
BONUS #3
Start-to-Finish Course: MING ($297 value)
Watch Grammy-nominated producer MING make a song from start-to-finish and gain insights into his workflow.
- Gain key insights into the workflow of a professional, Grammy-nominated producer
- Learn how to arrange with a vocal in mind (to create a catchy, memorable song)
- Develop better engineering and production skills by watching MING mix down his song
BONUS #4
Improvisation Mastery ($297 value)
This bonus course will take you from intermediate to semi-pro on the piano. You'll learn how to improvise freely and creatively.
- Learning chord improvisation (5+ hour masterclass)
- How to write melodies by improvisation (suspensions, texture & movement, and more)
- How to improvise and write epic song endings (so your music can leave a final mark on the listener)
I get results. So do my students.
Don't just take my word for it. Here's what our members have to say...
Matt W. — Sauniks
Music Producer with over one million streams and thousands of monthly listeners
"If you are a producer considering taking this course, I 110% recommend you take this course. The skills you gain and knowledge is absolutely priceless. Your songs will move up in a level like you never would have expected before."
Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Blake La Grange
Grammy-Winning Producer and Engineer for Kanye West, Skrillex, Lil Wayne & A$AP Rocky
"I have nothing but the highest regard for Niko and his course. This course is actually the real deal and it will show you exactly what you need to do to fast track your work as a producer to get results you need with the piano."
Location: New York, USA
Ryan H. — Hartstopper
Pop Producer
"This program has been huge for my growth. Knowing how to play the piano is crucial because we have to speak the same language as my songwriters and bounce around ideas. Niko's program has made me feel so much more confident in myself and my abilities. The lessons are super inspiring and Niko is a great teacher."
Location: Norway
Ready to get started?
Simple pricing. Instant access.
Complete Masterclass Edition
80% OFF
one payment
- Full, lifetime access to the Modern Piano Masterclass
- Access to private mastermind group
- BONUS: The Ultimate MIDI Pack ($997 value)
- BONUS: Make Music Your Life course ($497 value)
- BONUS: Ming Start-to-Finish course ($297 value)
- BONUS: Improvisation Mastery course ($297 value)
or 3 payments of $67
Piano + Songwriting Bundle
85% OFF
one payment
- Full, lifetime access to the Modern Piano Masterclass
- Access to private mastermind group
- Access to all bonuses
+ Full, lifetime access to our brand new Modern Songwriting Masterclass (sold separately for $997).
Enroll Nowor 4 payments of $97
Try Piano For Producers for a full 60-days, 100% risk-free
If you're a producer, I firmly believe this is the best option out there to turn you from a piano novice into a Hybrid Producer.
But I want to make sure that you think the same. So I'll give you 14 days to go through the course, practice, and decide for yourself.
You can try the entire course, and if you don't LOVE it, then I'll give you 100% of your money back.
No downside for you. Plenty of upside.
What's the REAL cost of Piano For Producers?
You might be wondering, "Why is this program so expensive?"
Well, it's not. Especially when you look at the other options available.
The Expensive Option: Hire a piano tutor
Piano lessons are notoriously expensive. They also aren't designed with producers in mind. You can easily spend $2,000-$5,000+ on private lessons over the course of a year.
Piano For Producers is a one-off payment that gives you lifetime access to the course, allowing you to learn at your own pace.
The Cheap/Free Option: Use an app
Mobile apps like FlowKey and Yousician have rapidly gained popularity, and for good reason—they help you learn popular songs quickly. But they're a tool, not a comprehensive program designed to make you a better producer.
The bottom line: Piano For Producers helps you become proficient for just $2.73 per day
That's what this program costs over the course of the year (of course, you get lifetime access so it gets cheaper every year).
And let's be honest: most producers spend more money on plugins and gear that doesn't help them make better music.
A better question to ask is...
What's the cost of spending the next 5 years of your music career feeling frustrated and unproductive?
Piano for Producers is for you if...
- You're sick and tired of making music that lacks feeling, progression and emotion... and want to instead record and write songs that connect with your listeners on a level that makes them press repeat.
- You want more enjoyment from the creative process. Pointing & clicking to write melodies and chord progressions just isn't doing it for you anymore.
- You've always wanted to play piano but haven't found a solid approach for learning it in a way that feels intuitive to you as a producer.
- You've tried dozens of other things to "fix" your production workflow, but keep getting stuck after realizing your ideas just aren't that good.
- You're focused on the long term impact that piano playing can have on your music, and potentially music career.
Got questions?
What if I produce [insert genre] type of music?
This program is for all types of music producers. Whether you produce electronic pop, trance, future bass, hip-hop, or any other genre—the fundamentals of piano and composition apply universally.
Does it matter which DAW I use?
Nope. This is a piano course! While the Piano & Production module in the course is taught in Ableton, the principles apply to any DAW.
Does it matter which type of piano I have?
Any 88-key piano, keyboard or MIDI keyboard will do the job. If you have a MIDI keyboard, you can start with that.
What if I don't have much time?
While we recommend taking this course in less than 90 days, Piano For Producers is a completely self-paced program. You also have lifetime access. You can enroll today and start 6 months from now if that suits you better.
I have another question
Great! Feel free to email us at niko@pianoforproducers.com and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
A last word (the two options you have)
You've made it this far, and if you're not ready to buy today—I understand. So let me leave you with this.
You have two options. Basically.
You can stay where you are. Stuck in a creative rut, finding it hard to start and finish music, and feeling like you're not reaching your potential.
Or you can choose to enter the world of Hybrid Music Production by mastering the fundamentals of piano.
If you choose the Hybrid Producer (piano-first producer) path, here's what you can expect:
- Increased confidence — you'll sit down to start a new song (at your piano rather than your DAW) knowing that eventually you will come up with something great.
- Increased creativity — You're not bound by the traditional DAW workflow anymore. Most of your core musical ideas are coming from the piano.
- Increased theory knowledge — It's practically impossible to learn piano effectively without learning theory at the same time. You'll develop a deeper understanding of music.
- Increased enjoyment — let's keep it real: it's simply more fun sitting down and jamming out on the piano than pointing and clicking first.
I am absolutely convinced that if you learn to play piano, your creative life will be transformed.
You'll look forward to sitting down and making music with confidence, as opposed to doubting yourself and dreading the blank screen.
You'll laugh at creative block, knowing that all you need to do is improvise on the keys for 30 minutes and ideas will come.
And you'll finally be able to start and finish the music you want to finish.