Best piano teachers for Acoustic: Top 1-on-1 Acoustic piano teachers, costs & how to choose

Learning on an acoustic piano offers an unmatched connection to the instrument.

The weight of the keys and resonance of the strings create a unique playing experience that no digital piano can replicate. This physical and sonic bond is essential in serious piano study.

Acoustic piano teaches sensitivity to touch and tone that applies to all styles. Small changes in finger pressure or pedal timing can dramatically affect the sound, helping you listen and play with greater nuance.

Training on an acoustic piano builds real technique. It strengthens fingers, improves ear training, and develops control over dynamics, touch, and pedaling, forming a solid foundation for lifelong playing.

Beyond technique, acoustic piano study enhances your musical ear, appreciation of tone, and performance skills. It provides a tactile understanding of the instrument that digital pianos can’t match.

Whether you have a grand or upright piano, a specialized teacher can help you develop the skills to play beautifully.

Discover the best acoustic piano teachers, how acoustic piano lessons actually work, how to find your perfect teacher, and what lessons cost – all in one comprehensive guide.

5 best piano teachers for acoustic

• Horacio Fernandez holds a Master’s degree graduate of The Juilliard School
• Eugene Paul Talusan with 25+ years of experience
• Eric Zhang with a Bachelor’s degree from the Los Angeles College of Music
• Evan Kibiloski with a BA and MFA from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts
• Dino Sordilla with two Bachelor’s degrees in Music and Business

Top-rated acoustic piano teachers

Wiingy has built a strong network of 350+ expert piano teachers, each carefully vetted for skill and teaching experience. The platform makes it easy to find skilled acoustic piano teachers – available for online or in-person lessons worldwide.

Whether you’re a complete beginner sitting down at an acoustic piano for the first time or an experienced player looking to deepen your technique and musical understanding, Wiingy has a teacher for every level and goal.

Here are five top-rated acoustic piano teachers at Wiingy:

1. Horacio Fernandez – Acoustic piano teacher and Juilliard graduate

Horacio Fernández Vázquez is a former Steinway-affiliated educator, Horacio brings a warm, patient, and highly personalized approach to every lesson – helping students from age 5 to 70 build genuine musical skill and a lifelong love for the instrument.

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Experience:

• Teaching Experience: 6+ years
• Professional Background: Master’s degree from The Juilliard School
• Rating: 4.8/5

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Pricing:

• Hourly Rate: $37/hr
• Trial Lesson: Yes, a free trial lesson is available

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Specialties:

• Player Piano
• Digital Piano
• Upright Piano
• Jazz Piano
• Classical Piano
• Electric Keyboard
• Acoustic Piano

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Age & Skill Suitability:

• Age Groups: Kids to adults (ages 5-70)
• Skill Levels: Beginners to advanced

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Teaching Style

• Approach: Horacio uses PDF Sheet Music Libraries, DAWs, and Metronome Apps to create rich, structured lessons. His lessons break complex ideas into simple, understandable steps – always with clear weekly goals, healthy technique emphasis, and a nurturing environment that builds confidence and genuine artistic expression.

2. Eugene Paul Talusan – Acoustic piano teacher with 25+ years of experience

Eugene Paul Talusan is a versatile and knowledgeable piano teacher. He brings both depth and warmth to his lessons, making them comprehensive, enjoyable, and genuinely educational at every level.

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Experience:

• Teaching Experience: 25+ years of teaching experience
• Professional Background: Bachelor’s degree from University of the Philippines Los Baños
• Rating: 4.8/5

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Pricing:

• Hourly Rate: $30/hr
• Trial Lesson: Yes, a free trial lesson is available

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Specialties:

• Grand Piano
• Player Piano
• Digital Piano
• Upright Piano
• Classical Piano
• Electric Keyboard
• Acoustic Piano

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Age & Skill Suitability:

• Age Groups: Kids to adults
• Skill Levels: Beginners to intermediate

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Teaching Style

• Approach: Eugene Paul uses PDF Sheet Music Libraries, Metronome Apps, Ear Training Software, Virtual Piano Apps, and Chord & Scale Reference Apps to deliver interactive, well-rounded lessons.

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Wiingy provides a more budget-friendly solution for acoustic piano coaching with prices starting at just $15/hr. Get started today, try a lesson, and boost your learning without breaking the bank.

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3. Eric Zhang – Acoustic piano teacher with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Production from the Los Angeles College of Music

Eric Zhang brings real-world studio and stage experience into every lesson. Having collaborated with Grammy-winning songwriters, producers, and engineers, Eric teaches students not just how to play – but how to understand the “why” behind the music.

Experience:

• Teaching Experience: 5+ years
• Professional Background: Bachelor’s degree in Music Production from the Los Angeles College of Music
• Rating: 4.8/5

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Pricing:

• Hourly Rate: $34/hr
• Trial Lesson: Yes, a free trial lesson is available

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Specialties:

• Grand Piano
• Player Piano
• Digital Piano
• Upright Piano
• Jazz Piano
• Classical Piano
• Electric Keyboard
• Acoustic Piano

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Age & Skill Suitability:

• Age Groups: School students to adult professionals and college students
• Skill Levels: All levels

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Teaching Style

• Approach: Eric uses Chord & Scale Reference Apps, Metronome Apps, and DAWs to create interactive, production-informed lessons. Eric’s goal is to inspire creativity, foster musical growth, and help every student find their own voice through music.

4. Evan Kibiloski – Classical piano teacher with 15+ years of experience

Evan Kibiloski believes that understanding music’s fundamentals and theory should ultimately serve one purpose: creative and emotional fulfillment at the instrument.

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Experience:

• Teaching Experience: 15+ years
• Professional Background: BA and MFA in Music Theory and Composition – University of North Carolina School of the Arts
• Rating: 4.8/5

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Pricing:

• Hourly Rate: $34/hr
• Trial Lesson: Yes, a free trial lesson is available

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Specialties:

• Digital Piano
• Jazz Piano
• Classical Piano
• Electric Keyboard
• Acoustic Piano

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Age & Skill Suitability:

• Age Groups: Kids to adults (including ADHD learners)
• Skill Levels: Beginners to intermediate

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Teaching Style

• Approach: Evan uses Ear Training Software, DAWs, PDF Sheet Music Libraries, Metronome Apps, and Virtual Piano Apps to create rich, multi-layered lessons. He firmly rejects the one-size-fits-all approach, taking time to understand each student as a person before deciding how best to teach them.

5. Dino Sordilla – Acoustic piano teacher with two Bachelor’s degrees in Music and Business

Dino Sordilla is a versatile, classically trained pianist and educator with decades of performance and teaching experience. Since 2001 he has offered engaging, laid-back piano lessons to students of all ages and proficiency levels.

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Experience:

• Teaching Experience: 20+ years
• Professional Background: Two Bachelor’s degrees in Music and Business
• Rating: 4.8/5

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Pricing:

• Hourly Rate: $34/hr
• Trial Lesson: Yes, a free trial lesson is available

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Specialties:

• Grand Piano
• Player Piano
• Upright Piano
• Electric Keyboard
• Acoustic Piano

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Age & Skill Suitability:

• Age Groups: Kids to adults
• Skill Levels: Beginners to advanced

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Teaching Style

• Approach: Dino uses Metronome Apps alongside time-tested piano methods like Alfred and Piano Pronto to create structured, engaging lessons. His lessons also weave in music history and recording industry context, giving students a broader appreciation of the musical world they are stepping into.

Inside a 1-on-1 Acoustic Piano Lesson: 2 Real Student Stories

Wondering what learning on an acoustic piano actually looks like in practice? These stories show the kind of transformation that happens when you work with the right teacher.

– “From timing struggles to steady rhythm” – Taylor’s piano rhythm transformation

Taylor struggled with rhythm inconsistencies, especially in upbeat pieces like “Dino, My Pet Dinosaur.” With Bardiya’s guidance, she learned to use a metronome effectively, isolate difficult measures, and strengthen her fingers with scale routines.

Practicing singing along with familiar tunes like “Old MacDonald” boosted her timing and musical confidence.

What you’ll learn: Improving rhythm using a metronome, Isolating tricky bars for faster mastery, Strengthening fingers with scales and arpeggios, Singing with piano to lock in timing.

– “From awkward left-hand chords to confident coordination” – Emily’s piano breakthrough

Emily, a dedicated professional with a packed schedule, found left-hand chord transitions frustrating and often lost rhythm. With Stephan’s help, she focused on muscle memory, smart fingering, and interpreting musical structure.

Despite limited time, short and targeted practice sessions helped her play with more ease and confidence.

What you’ll learn: Building left-hand coordination through repetition, Mastering tricky transitions with deliberate fingering, Using short focused practice to progress even with a busy schedule.

Acoustic piano lesson costs

Acoustic piano lessons can vary in cost based on experience, format, and goals. Here’s a breakdown to help you plan your budget:

Option	Price Range	Format	Best For
Budget-friendly acoustic piano teachers from Wiingy	$15-$40/hr	Online	Beginners, casual players, upright piano owners
Mid-level acoustic piano teachers	$50-$150/hr	In-person or online	Intermediate students, recital and exam prep
High-end acoustic piano teachers	$150-$300+/hr	In-person or online	Advanced players, conservatory and competition prep

Looking for an experienced yet affordable acoustic piano teacher? Wiingy offers a free trial lesson, no long-term contracts, and flexible scheduling – all while providing access to affordable tutors starting at just $15/hr.

Online vs in-person acoustic piano teachers

Format	Pros	Cons
Online	Flexible, affordable, access to world-class teachers globally, lessons at your own acoustic piano	Requires good audio setup to capture acoustic tone accurately
In-person	Teacher can directly assess touch, tone, and posture; access to a studio grand piano	Less scheduling flexibility, typically higher cost

One major advantage of acoustic piano lessons, whether online or in-person – is that you always practice and learn on the real instrument.

Why Work with an Acoustic Piano Teacher

The acoustic piano has been at the center of Western music for over three centuries — from Mozart’s fortepianos to the concert grands of Liszt and Chopin, to the upright parlor pianos that filled homes across the world, to the Steinway concert grands that headline today’s major concert halls. Learning to play it well is one of the most musically rewarding things a person can do.

Here’s how personalized acoustic piano coaching can support your journey:

Technique built for the real instrument — learning to produce beautiful tone through touch and weight rather than simply pressing buttons. Acoustic piano technique develops hand strength, finger independence, and arm weight usage that transfers directly to every musical context.

Real-time feedback on your actual sound — a skilled teacher can hear exactly how you are using the acoustic instrument: whether your tone is forced or natural, whether your pedaling is creating clarity or mud, and whether your phrasing is speaking to the listener.

Repertoire suited to the acoustic instrument — from Bach and Chopin to Debussy, ragtime, and contemporary pieces, the acoustic piano’s repertoire is vast and endlessly rewarding. A good teacher helps you find the right pieces for your level and taste.

Preparation for performance — whether you are playing at a family gathering, a local recital, a community concert, or a competitive audition, acoustic piano lessons prepare you for real performance in ways that digital practice alone cannot replicate.

A deep musical education — studying the acoustic piano naturally develops music theory understanding, harmonic awareness, stylistic knowledge, and listening skills that make you a more complete musician in every area of your musical life.

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How to Choose the Right Acoustic Piano Teacher

Instrument knowledge: Look for a teacher who understands and loves the acoustic piano specifically. They should be able to speak knowledgeably about touch, tone, acoustic resonance, and the practical differences between playing a grand versus an upright.

Repertoire and style fit: Acoustic piano spans classical, jazz, ragtime, contemporary, and beyond. Find a teacher whose musical background and interests align with the repertoire and styles you want to explore.

Experience with your instrument type: If you have an upright at home, a teacher experienced with uprights can help you understand its specific characteristics — action weight, tonal range, and pedal behavior — and get the most from it.

Lesson format: Online lessons work beautifully for acoustic piano as long as you have a reasonable audio setup — your teacher will be hearing your real acoustic sound. In-person lessons offer the added benefit of hands-on posture and touch correction.

Pro tip: Wiingy acoustic piano teachers are expert-vetted, offer free trials, and bring experience across a wide range of styles, instruments, and skill levels. Connect with a teacher now.

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How to Get Started with an Acoustic Piano Teacher on Wiingy

Ready to make the most of your acoustic piano? Getting started is simple:

1. Browse acoustic piano teachers on Wiingy
2. Book a free trial lesson
3. Start playing on your real instrument with a teacher who understands it

Interested in learning more than just acoustic piano?

Acoustic piano study opens doors to a rich broader musical world. Here are some areas many Wiingy students explore alongside their piano lessons:

• Music Theory gives you the analytical tools to understand what you are playing – why a particular chord progression creates tension, how a composer structures a piece, and how harmony and counterpoint interact. Understanding theory makes you a faster learner and a more expressive player.
• Classical Repertoire pairs beautifully with acoustic piano study – the literature written specifically for this instrument, from Baroque through to the 20th century, is among the richest in all of music and rewards a lifetime of exploration.
• Jazz and Improvisation offer a fascinating complement to more structured acoustic piano study – using the same tactile relationship with the keys to explore harmony and spontaneous expression in an entirely different musical language.
• Composition and Songwriting allow you to put your acoustic piano technique to creative use – writing your own pieces, exploring musical ideas, and developing an artistic voice that is entirely your own.

With Wiingy, you can explore music theory, classical repertoire, jazz, composition, and more, all with expert 1-on-1 tutors who tailor every lesson to your instrument and goals.

Conclusion

The acoustic piano is more than an instrument – it is a teacher in itself. Its natural resonance, weighted action, and rich tonal range demand and reward a level of musical sensitivity that shapes you as a musician in profound ways.

Whether you have just inherited an upright or have been playing a grand piano for years, working with the right acoustic piano teacher can help you hear it, feel it, and play it in ways you never thought possible.

Ready to find yours?

Start learning today with top-rated acoustic piano teachers on Wiingy, the go-to platform for flexible, personalized acoustic piano lessons worldwide.

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