Conference napalm::commusic_v1

    
    Paul, you picked the right conference.  Very shortly, one of our
    courteous moderators will enter a reply with pointers to note threads
    about all of the subjects you mentioned.
    
    There are a couple of neat packages for learning keyboards.  The one
    everyone knows about (it was even advertised on TV) is called the
    Miracle.  It is a toy keyboard that comes in Nintendo, PC, and some
    other flavor.  The PC version goes for about $350.  The other packages
    I know about are for the PC platform.
    
    Fast Fingers has a four volume package that includes Major Studies,
    Minor Studies, Jazz Modes, and Jazz Chords.  List is $50 for each
    volume, they typically sell for around $35 each.  Temporal Acuity
    Products (their claim to fame is a high-end package that prints music
    called Musicprinter Plus) has the Piano Works package, which follows
    the Alfred series of books (which I understand are included).
    
    Standby for a reply from the Mac camp...
    

    
    Both the Fast Fingers and Piano Works packages allow you to use your
    own MIDI keyboard, so you don't have to waste money on a toy...
    

Hi,Paul!

I'm beginner for music(and writing in Engrish ;-) ),too.
I bought "Practica Musica" software package for Macintosh.
It got "MacUser" Magagine's "Best Educational Software" award few years ago,
I heard.
It includes Textbook ("Windows on Music",very kind) and Exercise Software,
Teaching/Training Writing/Reading Scores,hearing Melody/Rhythm/Chord, and
Basic Chord Progression(if you don't know what is "chord progression",don't
warry),and many other fandamentals of music. 
at training,you can use MIDI Keyboard for input.
it's reasonable price(in Japan,Retail 14,000 yen at inport software shop,
Maybe 100$ or less at U.S.A ).and useful,Check it!

Let's study and enjoy music together.

Hidemi

A few months back Consumer Reports had a review of the Miracle system. I didn't
scan it very carefully, but it seems to me that a *lot* of it would apply equally
well to any similar system- i.e., usefulness as compared to a "human" teacher,
etcetera.

I have a four-year-old at the moment, and I occasionally consider such a setup
for him, so I inquired about Mircale's availability without the keyboard- as
mentioned in -1, no go. I was also told that the software would *only* work with
the Miracle board, implying that its MIDI interface is proprietary.

Bob

    I played a bit with the Miracle system last week and was 
    VERY impressed!!!
    
    1) The keyboard is small, but the keys are normal size and do NOT
       have that cheap feel that almost any other keyboard in the $300
       price range would have.
    
    2) The sounds are quite good, even coming thru the builtin speakers.
       There seemed to be a way to plug it into a stereo and/or amp and
       I would've loved to have heard it thru my keyboard amp.
    
       I'm always concerned about running instruments directly thru a
       stereo - it tends to clip a lot, and it's too easy to blow speakers
       even playing at what seems like very reasonable volume.
    
       Someone once explained what it was not a good idea to play an
       instrument thru a stereo (dyanmics are larger) - I'm not sure
       if Miracle recommends it for their stuff or not, or if they have
       some sort of builtin limiter.
    
       But (getting back on track) the sounds alone almost justify the
       price.   Probably the best piano sound available for $300.
    
    3) I've been playing keys for a long time so I may not be the best 
       judge at how effective the teaching software might be, but I was
       really (favorably) struck by the presentation of it and I would
       think anyone would be able to learn just as rapidly as the
       promotional literature claims.
    
       And what's more, my limited teaching experience tells me that the
       main thing in teaching younger students is to keep their interest.
    
       This system is FUN. 
    
       For example, they start out by teaching you how to read three notes
       (middle C, middle D and middle E) on the staff.  Then you play a
       game where the music using (only) these notes scrolls across the
       screen.  The notes have little ducks instead of ovals at the bottom
       and whenever you press a key a gunshot appears on the staff for
       the note you pressed.  If you pressed the note on the screen
       you "shoot" the duck - otherwise it's a missed.
    
       Some kids at the store saw me doing this and started collecting
       behind me watching over my shoulder.  I thought it would be more
       interesting to see them use it than to demo it myself and they
       just flew thru the material and it was clear that they had learned
       because they did really well in the games (which are really
       "tests").
    
    So I think this product is everything it claims to be and is being
    offered at a very good price.

    Hi,
    
    We purchased a Miracle system for my wife (age 35, if it matters) about
    six months ago. She has always wanted to learn piano, and we thought
    this would allow her to learn at her own pace, in addtion, we have two
    children and thought they might use it also. 
    
    At that time only one version of Miracle was available, for the 
    nintendo system. I thought it was pretty well thought out, with
    36 lessons, each focused on a different topic and built on the previous
    one. You could also select child or adult mode, with child using more
    graphics etc. The system was interactive, looking at what and how
    (timing and velocity) and adjusting the lesson accordingly, for
    instance, if you have trouble with a piece from a time aspect, it will
    tell you to go back and try again, while slowing the metronome down.
    Trouble with fingering, (notes) it routes you back to fingering
    exercises for a while. All in all not to bad.
    
    
    While the keyboard was midi'able, the interface was thru a seperate
    connector on the keyboard and into the controller ports of the game.
    The keyboad was multitimbral, allowing the system to play along 
    with you. You could also direct it to play either the left or right
    hand parts, you play the other.
    
    My wife used it quite a bit in the beginning, and was learning, but
    (there's always a but..) after a while always seemed to be "to busy"
    to take the lesson or practice. We ended up returning it (I love TOYS
    R US) and my wife signed up with a private teacher. She is making
    excellent progress and claims she needs the personel interaction and
    the feeling that she needs to have completed her lesson by the next
    lesson.
    
    I received formal lessons as a child so really can't comment from
    personel experience. I susspect if the student is really self motivated
    or your willing to provide the motivation, a home learning system would
    be fine.
    
    Anyway good luck, oh by the way....I few weeks ago Chick Corea was
    sitting in with the band on the Arseno Hall show. He had the new
    version of the miracle (IBM PC based) and put in quite a plug for
    it. He was playing the keyboard, but the sound was pure high teck
    stuff.
    
    Gary, who now fights for keyboard time with his wife....
    

    The educational software for the Nintendo/Miracle keyboard was written
    by L.A.'s Anne Graham, famous for being the principal software designer
    slash coder for the Oberheim Xpander.
    
    You heard it here first.
    
    She's good-looking, too.
    
    karl

    Could someone post a source for FastFingers and PianoWorks?