eMedia Piano + Keyboard Method v 2.0
Product Description
Piano + Keyboard Method 2.0
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #561 in Software
- Brand: Avanquest Software
- Model: EK08071
- Released on: 2009-08-03
- Platforms: Windows Vista, Windows NT, Mac, Windows 7, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows XP
- Format: CD-ROM
- Dimensions: .0" h x .0" w x .0" l, .10 pounds
Customer Reviews
Online book
The installation of this software includes Quicktime version 6.5, which is quite an old version. I already had a later version on my PC (v 7.3.0.7) but I had to uninstall this before I could install the eMedia package. Not a major problem, but annoying and I am now stuck with an out of date version of Quicktime on my PC.
When I run this, from time to time I get an error message appearing in a pop-up window. When I click "OK" the package seems to continue running OK, but this is another annoyance and gives the impression that the software is not 100% right. Maybe it's not fully compatible with Windows Vista, which I am running (I notice other reviewers have had serious problems installing on Vista).
When I started to work through this package I was presented with a long series of screens with lots of text and some diagrams and pictures on them. This is no better than working through a decent instructional book, and I would rather use a book for this type of content; I spend too much time at a PC as it is, so I prefer not to have to use a PC for something I could just as effectively get from a book. I have also had to print off a number of these pages so I can refer back to them when I am in later parts of the course.
When you get onto the actual playing exercises you can play various parts of the piece you are learning and play along with it, which is quite useful, and definitely something that a PC package can offer more effectively than other media, such as a CD accompanying a book.
If your keyboard has a midi interface you can connect it to your PC and the package can check your playing, highlighting any mistakes. But my keyboard does not have midi, so I have not been able to use this feature and I can't really comment on how good it is.
Another irritation is that you have to insert the installation CD into your PC to run many of the features. You can't fully install it and just run it from your hard drive.
A logistical matter to bear in mind (and forgive me if this is stating the obvious) is that you need to be able to use your PC while you are playing your keyboard, so you can work through the course, play along to the tunes on the package and maybe connect them via a midi link.
The insistence on an old version of Quicktime, the issues with Windows Vista and the need to have the installation disk in the PC to run much of the package suggest that this was written for an older PC environment and has not been updated for newer environments. It has a dated feel to it.
To summarise, none of the issues I have encountered are show-stoppers and some are just down to my personal preferences. I just think that a PC package could be more innovative than this and not just like an online version of a book with page after page of reading. Personally I would prefer to work though a book, but that's my preference and we are all different.
Good product, but incompatible with newer software
This a good package for piano tuition - the lessons are clearly laid out and simple to follow. However, we didn't get too far with them, due to the software involved. This package requires an earlier version of Quicktime than I had on my computer, so I had to uninstall that and let the Piano program install its own version. This was fine for about five minutes then my computer informed me that iTunes would no longer work because it needs the new version of Quicktime. It also affected the running of another couple of programs, so that after less than a week I got fed up, re-installed my iTunes and haven't touched this program since, which is a shame since it does look like a good learning package.
It works but needs updating to make it enjoyable
Installation on XP was straightforward. But like others have said, it has a dated feel about it. My piano has nowhere to rest a laptop on top so I had to get a midi-keyboard in order to use this software. I should have anticipated the midi but still... shame the picture on the box shows a full-size piano...
I think this type of learning is going to appeal to a certain type of person. At first I was engaged. There's a lot of text that comes up that reads as if it's important information for the lessons, but it could be presented and delivered in chunks & timings that are more appropriate. As we're going through the lessons, I found it hard to keep remembering things I had been "told" so there is a lot of flicking back and forth. One way around this of course is to practice practice practice and master an exercise before moving on to the next one!
It works, the information is there and I know more about the chords etc than I did when I started. However, it's been a cumbersome journey. Daily practice means that you've got to put the CD back in etc and afterwards you have to readjust the display on your computer because the software messes it up. Little things like this can sap motivation so you have to have the willpower or some incentive to do it every day.
This software was useful in getting me to a stage where I know the keys and can knock out a simple tune. However, it's a bit tedious and I'm going to get a few sessions with a tutor to correct any bad habits and help me get to the next stage using a real piano rather than the midi keyboard. It's just a lot quicker!
