Unlike online piano tutoring software the eMedia Piano and Keyboard Method does an excellent job teaching beginners how to play the piano as well as including vital theory and aural training concepts in the process.
The eMedia Piano and Keyboard Method software is designed to help any beginning pianist learn to play the instrument. Excellent videos and tutorials guide students through the process of learning the fundamentals of piano at an educationally appropriate pace. What sets this software apart from other products that attempt to teach a person how to play the piano is that this one is based on authentic music notation and terminology. There are no scrolling bars or Piano Wizard style color coded keys. Instead a learner is guided step by step through the acclimation process exactly as one might expect from a live piano teacher.
Intelligent Design and Instruction Features:
The Piano and Keyboard Method software is built in chapters, each one building on the previous chapter and adding skills at appropriate times. In addition to basic playing skills students are also instructed in basic music theory and aural training skills to help them not only be able to play the music but also to better understand what it is and how it works. Not only is standard notation covered, but other concepts such as tempo and the terminology associated with tempo is also examined and tested on.
Interactive and Useful Performance Feedback:
In terms of the actual piano instruction, each lesson is accompanied by video clips to help the student understand and get through difficult sections. The software is also designed to intelligently assess the student's playing ability during each lesson if the computer is hooked up to a MIDI keyboard. While the feedback given by the software is hepful it could definately be improved upon. A percentage score is given following each run through and balloons highlight problem areas with general messages such as "Held Too Short," or "You Missed This Note." While the assessment system is not perfect, it is more than adequate to help any beginning pianist see their mistakes and learn from them.
If a user is in the market for a Learn To Play Piano system, the eMedia Piano and Keyboard Method is definately one to consider. The software can be used with or without a MIDI keyboard, and in fact works very well when ran on a laptop computer sitting atop the family Steinway. For those without a piano package deals are available through retailers such as Amazon that include MIDI keyboards and cables in concert with the software. Overall and excellent educational product that far surpasses the offerings of many other manufacturers. Highly recommended.