How music technology can boost student skills


Jones’s software, Playground Sessions, helps students learn to play the piano using popular songs. Playground Sessions also has hours of interactive video tutorials starring pianist David Sides teaching songs and music theory, explains the Playground Sessions website.

Playground Sessions’ platform includes a music store for sheet music, video lessons, and a MIDI keyboard setup for learning to play through popular music.

The software offers two subscription plans–annual subscriptions for $9.99 per month/$119.88 a year; quarterly subscriptions are $44.97 for 3 months. Membership includes a boot camp curriculum with lessons on basic keyboard skills, notation, ear training, and rhythm. Students will also get discounts on video tutorials and sheet music.

The software platform works on both PC and Apple.

Overview of Playground Sessions

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Other technology for students interested in music includes a just-released video game app that teaches kids how to play the piano.

The video game, Piano Wizard, has already taught thousands of students how to play an instrument “within minutes,” according to a press release from Piano Wizard Academy.

“Piano Wizard’s move to mobile devices helps share accessible music education without the need for costly equipment, lessons, or dreaded practice time,” the company said in a statement.

According to the company, the free iOS app uses a “unique five-step system [that] emphasizes sensory learning, which mimics the way you learn native language, first by doing, then gradually showing how to read the musical notes you have already learned to play.”

Piano Wizard became available for pre-order on Aug. 12 through Kickstarter.  The app is free, though additional songs start at $.99.

Overview of Piano Wizard

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MakeMusic, Inc. also recently announced the release of its free SmartMusic iPad app, which is now available in the Apple App Store. The interactive music education app delivers functionality used in the desktop version of SmartMusic, including practice tools, assessment, and accompaniment features—all for use on the iPad.

Along with a SmartMusic annual subscription, the app gives unlimited access to SmartMusic’s library, including more than 50 method books, nearly 50,000 skill building exercises, and a combined 22,000+ solo and ensemble titles by major publisherss.

Watch an overview of SmartMusic: http://bcove.me/sl727p7o.

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Meris Stansbury

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