Multimediapiano.com evaluates piano training and composition software. We review the programs page by page, feature by feature. It is our hope that consumers and developers will find our comments helpful. We provide editorial comments followed by a categorical opinion rating ranging from 1 to 10, (10 being perfect). The products are rated in the following categories:
Creates and sustains interest
Pedagogical soundness
Thoroughness of content
Use of multimedia tools and effects
Ease of use
Product support
Value for the money
Rocket Piano by Ruth Searle
Available as instant download or hard copy. Some of training books contain interesting and informative introductions from an historical perspective. The beginner training book initially focuses on the "position playing" approach but seems to attempt to ween learners from it. To begin with, the beginner book strongly emphasizes correct fingering of musical selections. Toward the end of book one, the author suggests "abandoning" the finger system. Intervals, scales, triad inversions, chord progressions, and one octave scales and arpeggios are introduced in book one. The intermediate book adds more scales, seventh chords, 2 octave scales/arpeggios, and pedal practice. The advanced book contains instruction regarding bass lines, phrasing, new time signatures, more interval work, triplets, and transposition. Many familiar practice tunes or jingles are reprinted in the ebooks used in the program. According to Ms. Searle, she has composed many of the practice pieces on her own. The pieces are often unpredictable. However, the fact is that such tunes will cause students to learn to read instead of merely guess what the next note is or should be. This learning kit includes a book on finger exercises that is very useful for those who can already read. The jazz book is a rather short introduction to the world of jazz (26 instructional pages). As far as multimedia interactivity goes, I've been informed that the developer intends to have the audio and video components integrated into the ebooks soon. Currently, it is slightly inconvenient to have to download audio and video files individually. The mp3 audio files are accurate with regards to the sheet music and appropriately short. A few of the video files have limited value from a pedagogical point of view. On the other hand, the chord recognition and sight reading "games" tend to test what students have learned in these areas with a view towards increasing recognition speed. The perfect pitch game is challenging and aurally instructive. The virtual metronome introduces correct speeds but doesn't always seem reliable for a consistent beat. Good value for the price. I would recommend the product for the motivated teen through adult beginner to early advanced students interested in classical music. However, access to a private teacher would beneficial as well since the training books do not always provide the correct fingering for scales.
Interest 8
Soundness 9
Thoroughness 8
Multimedia 7
Ease 8
Support 9
Value 10
Piano is Fun by Anthony Fernando
Available as instant download. This software was developed to teach children how to read music. The program helps children learn note names, their respective positions on the staff and keyboard, and promotes a sense of pitch in relation to note placement. The program does not require midi keyboard input. Students operate by clicking the computer mouse. The program tracks student progress and teachers can print out impressive looking awards when various levels are mastered. Learning takes place in a colorful video game like environment. One way the program could be improved would be to add a control that would variably increase the speed at which notes must be recognized. As it stands, the program is best suited for beginners.
Interest 8
Soundness 9
Thoroughness 9
Multimedia 10
Ease 10
Support 10
Value 10
Music Goals by Dr. Greg Giese
Ear and Eye training and Rhythm training are offered. These programs are comprehensive mastery programs which aim at helping students to develop all of the individual skills necessary for competent musicianship on keyboard and/or stringed instruments. The program can be operated in conjunction with computer keyboard or midi keyboard (the latter being recommended for piano students). The approach is mastery of skills through practice of drills instead of learning (or memorizing) an endless number of songs to gain skills. Once skills are mastered, students will find that they are able to learn musical pieces faster. Ear and Eye focuses on learning the instrument, staff reading, scales, naming intervals, playing intervals, chords, melody, and solfeggio or distinguishing pitches. Rhythm focuses on note duration and rhythmic patterns through the activities of playing along with another instrument and a beat, playing after the pattern is heard, reading and playing at sight, dictation, and transcription. Both programs grade and track student performance and progress. Students or teachers can also select to follow a pre-programmed path of instruction or select individual objectives at will. Interest is sustained by frequent varying of drill type and appearance. The programs are customizable on a number of levels and provide the most in-depth training we've seen to date. If you decide to purchase these, do yourself a favor and learn how to use the programs by viewing the tutorials before you begin. It will be time well spent. In fact, the programs offer so much material that we are still trying to fully evaluate them after several weeks. But, one thing is certain, for those serious about becoming a musician, Dr. Giese's Ear and Eye and Rhythm training programs are hard to beat.
Interest 10
Soundness 10
Thoroughness 10
Multimedia 10
Ease 8
Support 10
Value 10
eMedia Piano and Keyboard Method
Programs available are Beginner and Intermediate level students. A number of features make these programs unique and highly effective. First of all, students can hear the pieces they are working on as many times as the want while watching a virtual keyboard being played which displays correct fingerings. The programs include video instruction, instructor comments, ear training sections, basic theory, and technique development. An excellent virtual metronome is included. Students can record their themselves by connecting a midi capable keyboard to the computer. The beginner program will also actually grade student performances. The instruction is quite sound overall. The
only real issue with the software has to do with the fact after using
it each time, my computer has to be restarted in order for other midi
programs to function properly. Over all, well worth the money for self-motivated learners.
Interest 8
Soundness 10
Thoroughness 10
Multimedia 10+
Ease 9
Support -
Value 10
Learn and Master Piano with Will Barrow
The strength of this DVD series is that program concentrates on individual techniques used in various styles of music. Rich in sound and video presentation, the author breaks down the various processes into manageable portions for study. The approach is unusual. First, a demonstration and instruction portion is presented which is followed by a "workshop". However, it seems the the workshop rarely contains anything new... it is simply rehashing what has already been presented. The program seems mostly designed for beginners and aims at teaching an overview of various styles by using short popular pieces that are easily mastered. The author has included useful information for more experienced players in the form of modern chord progressions. The accompanying book is fairly short but surprising filled with "nuggets" for your learning pleasure. Definitely geared towards the adult. A little pricely, though.
Interest 9
Soundness 9
Thoroughness 9
Multimedia 8
Ease 10
Support 10
Value 8