As interesting as it is, I don't really see a educational use for this. It's fun and all to tap along, but in the end it's nothing better than something like DDR or Rock Band. Nothing wrong with a fun app, but I doubt it's educational uses. (this coming from a lifelong pianist)
I guess I completely disagree, as another lifelong pianist. I think it's a great way to explore using tempo to express musicality. I just had a great experience watching how thrilled my wife (untrained in piano) was to actually "perform" something that sounded musical to her ears.
If looking to turn this into something more educational, there could be a view of the proper piano score. You would have to follow the rhythm as written, and for each rhythmic value you got wrong, there would be some form of repercussion. It would still be very similar to Rock Band, but I think there would be more merit to reading the rhythm of written notes rather than just dots on a screen.
Yeah, I know what you're saying. After a bit of thinking I tried to rename the title but I think the window has passed, because i'm not able to save the change.
That said, the control over the tempo is really interesting to me. I ruined the piece by tapping away too fast.. it really guides you to correct yourself in the second take, or third, etc.
Haha, so true! All my favorite classical performers are the ones who play more evenly, favoring subtle rubato over grandiose, momentum-killing swoops. For piano, that would be Kempff, O'Conor, Leif Ove Andsnes, Misha Dichter... It's such a challenge to find people who play that way -- please suggest any others that come to mind!
With this app, I would have to memorize all the little interpolations in order not to interrupt the flow. Playing through the third movement of the Waldstein Sonata was hilarious -- I was constantly skipping beat fractions where there were a few missing sixteenth notes in the middle of a run, and then there sections where I simply couldn't type fast enough and the tempo lagged. And even if I practiced, there is a little too much latency and occasional stop-the-world pausing to achieve the kind of rhythmic precision I'd hope for. But it was still thrilling to hear the correct notes and good dynamics!
