Comments on: Violin Hero? http://classicalconvert.com/2008/04/slightly-more-practical-than-guitar-hero/ A beginners guide to classical music, by someone who switched at 23 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:34:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Ben http://classicalconvert.com/2008/04/slightly-more-practical-than-guitar-hero/comment-page-1/#comment-3241 Ben Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:32:19 +0000 http://classicalconvert.com/2008/04/slightly-more-practical-than-guitar-hero/#comment-3241 Yvonne: I love how that piano "teaches" you to play by wiggling the key you are supposed to hit next, it's a perfect blend of awesome and creepy as hell. Michael + Jon: So it seems like something similar does exist (and has for a while, if their version numbering system is logical and not just copying OSX). It's definitely not a teacher replacement, and I doubt that'll ever really happen as there are way too many subtleties involved (exactly like translating, as you point out) but it seems perfect to ease the pain of repetitive lonesome practice. To totally kick arse and entice everyone in it really needs to be cast as a competitive game and not a practice aid, but I don't know how practical that would be, as it would probably involve "just playing the notes" as opposed to learning technique. Although, that might not be a terrible approach, especially for people like me who wouldn't have been playing otherwise anyway. Yvonne: I love how that piano “teaches” you to play by wiggling the key you are supposed to hit next, it’s a perfect blend of awesome and creepy as hell.

Michael + Jon: So it seems like something similar does exist (and has for a while, if their version numbering system is logical and not just copying OSX). It’s definitely not a teacher replacement, and I doubt that’ll ever really happen as there are way too many subtleties involved (exactly like translating, as you point out) but it seems perfect to ease the pain of repetitive lonesome practice.

To totally kick arse and entice everyone in it really needs to be cast as a competitive game and not a practice aid, but I don’t know how practical that would be, as it would probably involve “just playing the notes” as opposed to learning technique. Although, that might not be a terrible approach, especially for people like me who wouldn’t have been playing otherwise anyway.

]]> By: JonJ http://classicalconvert.com/2008/04/slightly-more-practical-than-guitar-hero/comment-page-1/#comment-3240 JonJ Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:30:51 +0000 http://classicalconvert.com/2008/04/slightly-more-practical-than-guitar-hero/#comment-3240 Helping students hit the right notes might be helpful for very beginning students, but of course performing music is about a whole lot more than just hitting the right notes, so I don't think that this kind of software will be putting music teachers out of business any time soon. Just as "computer-aided translation" software is not putting translators out of business. Helping students hit the right notes might be helpful for very beginning students, but of course performing music is about a whole lot more than just hitting the right notes, so I don’t think that this kind of software will be putting music teachers out of business any time soon. Just as “computer-aided translation” software is not putting translators out of business.

]]> By: Yvonne http://classicalconvert.com/2008/04/slightly-more-practical-than-guitar-hero/comment-page-1/#comment-3234 Yvonne Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:49:42 +0000 http://classicalconvert.com/2008/04/slightly-more-practical-than-guitar-hero/#comment-3234 There is this on the piano front (but it's pricey): http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/technology/personaltech/17pogue.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin There is this on the piano front (but it’s pricey):
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/technology/personaltech/17pogue.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

]]> By: Michael Monroe http://classicalconvert.com/2008/04/slightly-more-practical-than-guitar-hero/comment-page-1/#comment-3231 Michael Monroe Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:43:39 +0000 http://classicalconvert.com/2008/04/slightly-more-practical-than-guitar-hero/#comment-3231 I've never used <a href="http://www.smartmusic.com/" rel="nofollow">SmartMusic</a>, but it definitely purports to do what you're suggesting. My understanding is that lots of school music programs already use this to help their kids practice at home, and I've heard good things from some parents. Speaking as a totally biased professional collaborative pianist, it's also kind of depressing to know that software is out there accompanying, following tempi, correcting wrong notes, etc. Oh well. I’ve never used SmartMusic, but it definitely purports to do what you’re suggesting. My understanding is that lots of school music programs already use this to help their kids practice at home, and I’ve heard good things from some parents. Speaking as a totally biased professional collaborative pianist, it’s also kind of depressing to know that software is out there accompanying, following tempi, correcting wrong notes, etc. Oh well.

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