Major Project Introduction: Learning Piano Through Online Resources

For my major digital project, I have chosen Option B: the learning project. Over the next twelve-ish weeks, I will be focusing on learning to play the piano. While my end goal is to be able to perform a recognizable piece of music, the true purpose of this project is to explore how online platforms, communities, and professional development networks can support the process of learning a new skill.

Why Piano?

Although I am starting as a beginner, I do have some past musical experiences that shape how I approach this project. I played the trumpet in my Grade 6 band, took a few guitar lessons about twenty years ago, and more recently I’ve observed my son’s piano lessons. Watching him learn has inspired me to try piano myself, and it also gives me a useful comparison point between formal, in-person lessons and informal, self-directed online learning.

Learning Goals

This project has both personal and professional learning goals:

• Personal skills: develop piano basics such as scales, chords, rhythm, and finger placement.

• Learning strategies: document how online resources (tutorials, apps, AI, and open educational resources) support skill development.

• Educational lens: reflect on what this experience reveals about teaching, learning, and motivation in digital spaces.

• Professional development: begin building an interactive support network, a professional learning community where I can share my progress, learn from others, and contribute resources. This will not only support my piano journey but also model how professional development networks can enhance teaching and learning.

Process & Documentation

The focus of this project will be the learning process rather than the final product. Each week, I will document my experiences through blog posts that combine reflections, videos, images, and links to the resources I’ve explored. These posts will serve two purposes:

1. Personal reflection : tracking my progress, challenges, and successes.

2. Community contribution : sharing resources, insights, and questions with my peers so that we can learn from each other and begin building a professional development network together.

Final Outcome

By the end of twelve weeks, my aim is to perform a short but recognizable piece on the piano, one that I hope readers will recognize when I play it. More importantly, I want to demonstrate how online learning can be supported through diverse resources and communities, and how building a professional development network can extend beyond this project into my future teaching practice.

What’s Coming Next

In the weeks ahead, I’ll be exploring a wide range of online learning supports,  from YouTube tutorials and open educational resources, to AI tutors, learning apps, and community forums. Each week I’ll reflect on both my musical progress and on what these tools reveal about online learning, motivation, and teaching.

To make this process more interactive, I’ll also be experimenting with ways to involve others. For example:

• Polls and surveys to gather feedback (e.g., which online learning tools do you use in your own practice?).

• Shared resources (posting links or guides that I find helpful).

• Questions for discussion (inviting peers to reflect on their own experiences with self-directed learning and professional development networks).

Let’s Start With a Poll

Since this course is about online learning and professional development, I’d like to begin by asking:

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