Conference napalm::commusic_v1

    My 2 cents:
    
    I would still get a teacher or if you have had lessons, make sure
    she is using proper technique. I played guitar, bass and steel pan
    for years and I tried to teach myself piano while I had no problems
    working out the chords and melody to song I just could not get it together
    smoothly. I got a teacher and voila she straighten out my fingering and
    hand position now I can get up and down the keyboard without my fingers
    getting tangled up.
    
    Improper technique can make the learning experience frustrating even
    for a seasoned musician.  You need a coach to keep your technique in
    check In some cases. (your milage may vary)
    
    Errol
    

    Anne Graham, the software designer/engineer for the Oberheim Xpander,
    designed the Nintendo music ed software.  Probably is well done.  I'm
    usuccessfully fighting the urge to point out if a MIDI piano had been
    purchased she could practice on the same unit she takes Nintendo
    lessons on.
    
    But I agree to an extent about a teacher helping one's hand technique.
    But on the other hand, I would miss feeling guilty about not preparing
    for my lesson, by taking lessons from a machine.  Teacher as guilt 
    imparter ?
    
    karl

  Ever see the first Karate Kid movie?
  "You learn Karate from book?..."  
  Look what he accomplished with a real teacher!

  Karl makes a good point.  How seriously does she want to learn?
  Having a real teacher with scheduled times would keep her 'honest'.
  Otherwise what would make her practice all the exercises, are you going
  to drill her every week?  (Don't touch that one guys!)
  I felt bad when I didn't have my lesson down in time for my teacher.

  This is not saying that the Nintendo system wouldn't 'work', it may
  work wonders for all I know.  In fact, I bet I would have purchased it
  myself if it was available back when I took lessons.  I didn't like going
  to lessons, so I quit after two years and took it upon myself... 
  I've always regretted that.   FWIW.

-Tom

I saw  the Nintendo base teaching system in Toys R Us the other night and it
seemed  pretty  interesting. I wasn't sure if the keyboard that came with it
was  a  midi  keyboard,  or some special interface that they came up with to
talk  to  the Ninetendo. I don't know about it replacing a live teacher, but
it  certainly seemed like it might be a nice practice tool to augment a live
teacher.

I'm basically  in the same boat, but I have decided to go the formal lessons
route.  I  just ordered a Yamaha Clavinova digital piano, and my question is
has  anyone seen or heard of a computer based teaching tool that I could use
with  my  Clavinova  and  an  IBM  PC.  I'm looking for something that could
display  a  few  random notes (act like computerized flash cards) and verify
that  the  notes  are  played  correctly  through  the midi port. My line of
thinking  is that regular music lessons, combined with some sort of computer
based instruction might be a pretty ideal solution.

Wayne

    What's the Nintendo tutor called?  How much?
    
    Mike

    Hi again,
    
    The system is called "Miracle" it's localy (in the ny area) at Sam
    Ash and Toy's R Us. They sell for 299 and i haven't been able to find
    a sale to date. 
    
    During Christmas, Sam ASh had a huge pile of these in the store, I
    remember thinking, these things will never sell and in Jan or Feb, I'll
    pick one up for 1/2 price. no such luck.
    
    We haven't decided on the system or live teacher yet, if the unit is
    returnable we'll proably give it a try. Toys R Us usually takes back
    anything but they have some funny rules on exchanging software. I need
    to check out their policy on it. Sam Ash only gives store credit on
    returns, not acceptable in this situation.
    
    Thaks for all your input, i'll keep you posted....
    
    
    Gary
    

RE .4

In France there is a software called BIG BOSS that does exactly what you want.
In fact, it is a tutorial system with a set of methods (Jazz, piano blues ...)
It works on Atari and IBM PC.
I used it on Atari and the performances are very good.
I don't know if it's available in the States.

For what it's worth, here's another approach.

Last September I signed up for a grade 10 music class at a local high school.
It's through the Board of Education Adult Education program, so tuition is
free. It cost me $10.00 to register - and I get thirty 3 hour lessons (yup,
about 11 cents an hour).  The course that I selected runs Saturday 
mornings from 9 to 12. 

When I took music in high school, there was the standard collection of
band and orchestra equipment. Now they offer "Keyboarding" - in a lab setting
with about 25 Yamaha electronic keyboards. Everyone has headphones, including
the teacher, who can listen to anyone from his console at the front. Each class
consists of warm-up time, lecture, practice, and individual attention. There's
no guilt, and no pressure. You just do what you can, and move along at your
own pace.

The teacher was a real surprise. He's got something like 6 degrees (including
M.A.'s in composition and film scoring) and used to teach at a University; he
was also a professional guitar and keyboard player on the West Coast.

I've found it to be a great way to get started. Everyone in the class is having
a good time and learning lots. When the course is over, I will probably sign
up for a grade 11 course (I might just do this one again because the teacher
is so good).

It's a cheap way of getting introduced to piano, and it's the best deal in
town.

Regards,

Ken

    re > .7
    Hi Denis,
    
    could you please give some more details about BIG BOSS, i.e. how
    much is it, is it in English, HW prerequisites for the Atari,
    distrubutor, etc...
    I'm (obviously) quite interested and have never heard anything about
    it in Atariland (Germany, that is).
    
    Thanx 
    
    Uli 

My borrother got the Nintendo system for XMAS and I played it a bit.  It
seemed pretty good for learning some basics of musics, and then thru drills
learning to palay (play) the builtin songs.

I would however if you are serious about it, go for a real teacher.  I also
took a class at the community college for adults as an introduction, and then
signed up with a private teacher for $10/week/half hour.,

FWIW, Jim

RE > .9

Uli,

For what I know, it is in french, and works on an Atari ST 1040.

It has been developed by a small company based in Grenoble.

I think they have plans to distribute it outside France, but I don't know when.

I will write them to ask, and will let you know the answer.

If you could provide me with some german market figures , it may help ;>

Denis