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Piano apps: Which ones are there and what can they do?
The piano is one of the most popular instruments. Many musicians start learning this beloved and yet rather complex instrument as children, though it is still worth starting to play the piano as an adult. But how exactly do digital aids work, and what can piano apps contribute to your success? In this article we take a look at different providers and show you how piano apps can accompany your introduction to the piano.
The piano as a versatile and demanding instrument
Hardly any instrument is as treacherous for beginners as the piano. While the first songs and pieces are quick and easy to learn and sound good, progress often falls by the wayside. As a child, I experienced it myself how the same pieces lay before me month after month without any real recognizable learning progress happening. This is exactly what piano apps want to change in order to offer all hobby musicians the opportunity to devote themselves to the piano with a sense of achievement.
The piano is particularly popular as an accompaniment or for playing impressive baroque and classical pieces, or pieces from the film industry. Even today, many children (but also teens and adults) decide to learn the instrument for this reason. Not everyone can afford their own piano, let alone attend music school regularly. This is exactly what these practical piano apps are made for. In this way, the first steps are no problem.
Why does an app help with learning instruments?
While a classic sheet music book does not specify more than the beat, the notes, the tempo and the style, digital solutions are much more advanced. In a piano app, you can also simply have the song played to you to get an impression of the music. Together with further tips and hints for each song and a large selection in the app, learning the instrument will not be boring. Where the sheet music ends, the app is just beginning.
Some piano apps also offer practical simplifications such as video courses, lessons, and many other details. There are also recording functions, automatic evaluations or coupling with your own keyboard or e-piano to get direct feedback. When it comes to learning instruments like the piano, apps can make it much easier to get started.
The best-known piano apps in a performance comparison
In order to provide you with as much detailed information as possible about the available piano apps, we have selected four of the best-known examples for you. In addition, there are of course many other piano apps and programs that can help you learn the instrument. First, however, let's take a look at the following offers and show you who they are suitable for:
Skoove
Skoove offers an exciting and easy-to-understand solution for PCs, smartphones and tablets. It is very helpful here that theoretical and practical knowledge of both the piano and the keyboard has been integrated. So Skoove is not only suitable for beginners, but also grows with your personal progress. In terms of price, you have the choice between just under 20 euros per month or around 120 euros for a whole year.
Piano For You
If you have already had some experience with the piano, Piano For You should be exciting for you. The app lets you devote yourself step-by-step to well-known classics by Mozart and Bach, for which you have a complete keyboard at your disposal. You can also connect to your MIDI keyboard so you can play in real life and have what you play evaluated in the program. In direct comparison, Piano For You is quite cheap and can even be used free of charge. The premium version is available for an extra charge.
Flowkey
If you're looking for a gigantic selection of songs at any level, the flowkey piano app is for you. The app integrates not only self-playing features, but also the first basics such as reading music. There are also prepared and exciting video courses that playfully connect you to the piano. In terms of price, you have the choice between around 20 euros per month or around 96 euros for a whole year.
Simply Piano
An exciting piano app especially for kids is Simply Piano. Even if the app is dedicated to the function of a classical piano, it has very little to do with the actual instrument. However, the combination of PC program and app is interesting for children. The playful presentation makes it exciting, especially for beginners, to rely on variety and learn their first songs. Only the steep cost of about 120 euros per year for a children's app is a bit deterrent.
Something to keep in mind when buying a piano app
Of course, a piano app does not automatically help you to internalize new pieces and play them in the perfect style. For this reason, make sure that the respective app accommodates your current skill level, and that there are enough songs available. Even without apps, there are numerous templates, sheet music, fingerings, and help on the Internet.
For this reason, many piano apps let you test their functions in advance. If you are convinced, it is usually worth buying an annual version. The piano cannot be perfected in a few weeks, so a little time and a lot of patience are very important. In this way you can skilfully combine theoretical impulses with practical units in order to get closer to the piano step by step. This allows you to increase your level of play in the long term.
Why the music school is still the best
It is clear that no piano app can replace personal lessons with a teacher. However, for practice parallel to music school, a piano app can make a difference and increase the motivation to learn in your free time. Even if individual apps already work with feedback by recording your pieces, human feedback is always more precise and goes into more detail about your individual skills. Therefore, if you can, doing personal lessons in a music school is the best way to see weekly progress.
Additional tips for learning to play the piano
Even the best piano app cannot protect you from practical mistakes in the long run. Especially in the early years, many musicians devote more time to their instrument, but the fun can quickly be lost. Especially when getting started, it is not about quick success, but about the motivating and constantly increasing skill. The following mistakes should therefore always be avoided, especially when learning an instrument such as the piano:
- Anyone who gets used to an incorrect hand position over time will not get rid of it so quickly. Keep an eye on the position of your hands, especially at the beginning. Pay special attention to a loose wrist and the position of your fingers on the keys.
- You can also practice too much with instruments. If the combination of notes simply cannot be brought to the keyboard, a short break is often the best solution before you lose interest.
- Especially beginners often look at their fingers. With the piano, however, you should always look at the notes. The position of the hands should come about automatically at some point and the keyboard should be internalized in front of the inner eye. The sooner you practice this, the better.
- With a real piano or digital piano, location is very important. If the piano is too remote, you will find it very difficult to devote yourself to your daily practice sessions. Present your instrument in your field of vision and in a place where you like to be.
The right motivation plays a crucial role in learning the piano. In our article on learning the piano for beginners, we have already summarized the first tips and hints for you to get started. Piano apps can also help you with the basics to turn playing the piano from a chore into a hobby. In this way, over time, you create a good routine that includes the piano as part of everyday life and allows you to get better at it.
Now you can benefit from digital tools yourself!
A modern piano app helps you to understand theoretical content and to be able to use it practically on the piano. If you also prefer to connect with other pianists and exchange experiences, you have exactly the right environment here at mukken.
Originally published on January 29, 2022, updated on January 29, 2022
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