What began in a Cedar Mill living room has evolved into a global movement that few could have predicted. When Joseph Hoffman started teaching piano to neighborhood kids to help pay for college, he noticed that traditional piano methods often left students feeling disconnected from the actual joy of making music.

“I wanted my students to love playing piano as much as I did,” says Hoffman, who began developing a unique approach. Drawing from educational research and early childhood development theory, he created a comprehensive method built on the principle of “experience before explanation.” His warm, engaging style has earned him the nickname “the Mr. Rogers of piano,” resonating deeply with students and parents alike.

After establishing his piano academy in Cedar Mill in 2007, inspired by the remarkable progress of his in-person students, Hoffman began filming lessons in his living room and posting them online, hoping to share his innovative method with a broader audience. The response exceeded expectations: the videos captivated students far beyond Portland’s suburbs. By 2016, the growing support enabled over 1,200 people to contribute to a Kickstarter campaign, raising more than $318,000 to hire a team of designers and software engineers to develop a comprehensive online learning platform.

Today, Hoffman Academy reaches students in over 115 countries through HoffmanAcademy.com, and a YouTube channel with more than 240,000 subscribers. The core program—hundreds of high-quality video lessons, along with select printable materials and informative blog posts—remains free, embodying the motto “music education for everyone.” The method weaves together multiple aspects of musicianship: students learn to play by ear, understand music theory, sight-read, improvise, and even compose their own pieces. Through a multi-sensory approach that engages natural curiosity and creativity, students begin making music from their very first lesson.

In his video lessons, Mr. Hoffman uses everything from finger puppets to games to make learning engaging, particularly for young students. For a low monthly or annual fee, premium members gain access to an array of additional learning tools: play-along practice tracks help students master timing and rhythm, guided practice sessions keep them focused and motivated, and educational games like Mystery Melodies, Rhythm Shredder, and Staff Crawler reinforce musical concepts in playful ways. Premium membership also includes access to a comprehensive sheet music library and progress tracking tools.

Hoffman Academy has fostered a vibrant online community through its Parents & Students Facebook group, where families from across the world share performances, exchange tips, and build connections through their shared love of music. This virtual gathering space helps bridge the distance between students from different countries and cultures, all learning through the same method.

The impact of this comprehensive approach reaches across continents. One international teacher who has worked in Korea, Japan, and Rwanda uses the method to bring piano education to communities where traditional lessons would be prohibitive. “I recommend Hoffman Academy to homeschool families and anyone who wants to learn piano but can’t afford lessons,” she reports.

While the online platform continues to expand, the academy maintains strong ties to Cedar Mill, with Mr. Hoffman teaching weekly group classes at the local studio. The in-person program thrives under teachers trained in the Hoffman Method. Furthermore, Hoffman Academy has fostered significant community partnerships, including collaborations with Be Wildly Kind, a nonprofit dedicated to spreading kindness throughout Portland.

One of the most promising recent developments is a pilot program with the Lang Lang International Music Foundation’s “Keys of Inspiration” program, exploring how this Cedar Mill-developed approach can support group piano instruction in Title 1 schools. This partnership has the potential to bring piano education to students who might otherwise never have access to music lessons.

Hoffman also shares his teaching approaches at national music education conferences, metro area school districts, and through quarterly webinars attended by music teachers worldwide, helping to disseminate effective teaching methods beyond his direct reach.

Today, Hoffman Academy reaches far beyond its Cedar Mill origins, with new projects on the horizon. An online game called ‘Sea Turtle Shuffle,’ which helps students practice quickly identifying notes on the staff, is slated for release in the coming months, and students can look forward to a special digital advent calendar this December. What started as piano lessons in a local living room has grown into a program that brings music education to students worldwide.

The Cedar Mill location is at 12660 NW Cornell Rd. Learn more on the website at hoffmanacademy.com.