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Simply Piano Teaches You Piano

Friday, November 9, 2018 by Mary O'Connor | iPad

Simply-Piano

 

iOS: Learning to play the piano can be difficult, and even moreso if you don’t have someone there to help you fix your errors and learn good tempo. Simply Piano can do both of those things, and all it takes is your iPhone or iPad. Best of all, it’s free.

Like many “piano-learning” apps, Simply Piano teaches you various pieces of music by essentially displaying sheet music in front of you to play, guiding you to the right keys on your piano or keyboard, and showing you the right order in which to press them and when — that’s all great, and not terribly unique, even if it works well. Where the app shines however is its listening feature. Simply put the phone down near the keyboard, and Simply Piano will “listen” to you play.

As you play, the app identifies what you’re playing and gives you feedback on how to improve. Maybe you need to pick up the tempo, or maybe you missed a few notes here or there — whatever it is, the app can give you a few tips, and encourages you to try again, all while it listens and tries to help.

Simply Piano is free, and available now. It comes bundled with a ton of songs to learn (including classical and pop songs you’ll probably recognise ), and is geared to all skill levels — and keyboard types, so you don’t need a fancy piano just to use the app, any keyboard will do. Hit the link below to try it out.

Simply Piano (Free) [iTunes App Store via JoyTunes]

From http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2015/10/simply-piano-teaches-you-piano-listens-and-corrects-your-mistakes/

 



You Think Playing the Piano is Hard?

Friday, November 9, 2018 by Mary O'Connor | OCMS

Try to find an American Fotoplayer!

fotoplayer

The American Fotoplayer is a type of photoplayer developed by the American Fotoplayer Company between the years of 1912 and 1925. The Fotoplayer is a type of player piano specifically developed to provide music and sound effects for silent movies.

...

The appeal of the Fotoplayer to theatre owners was the fact that it took no musical skill to operate. The Fotoplayer would play the piano and pipe organ mechanically using an electric motor, an air pump, and piano rolls while the user of the Fotoplayer would follow the onscreen action while pulling cords, pushing buttons, and pressing pedals to produce relatable sounds to what was occurring onscreen. These actions could create sounds such as a steamboat whistle, a bird chirp, wind, thunder, a telephone bell, as well as many others. On Fotoplayers specifically, most effects were created using leather cords with wooden handles on the ends which the effects were directly connected to. For example, the steamboat whistle sound effect was created using a household bellows with a whistle at the end. Pulling the cord compressed the bellows, delivering a gust of air into the whistle. Creating a drum roll on the other hand was a bit more complicated. A clockwork device was needed to time the strikes of the drum which required constant winding.

Adapted from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_American_Fotoplayer

 







Piano Sale

Thursday, November 8, 2018 by Mary O'Connor | piano

Yamaha pianos used throughout the past year at Merriweather Post Pavillion for both events and visiting artists, as well as pianos used by students throughout Howard County piano teaching studios will be available at substantial savings during a once-a-year event.

The selection includes baby grand, upright, 

digital & hybrid pianos, including 

Yamaha AvantGrand, Disklavier, Clavinova & More

* Each piano has been professionally maintained 

and is in very good to excellent condition

* Each piano features a new factory warranty

* No holds or layaways.  Delivery & financing available on-site.

* Each instrument is first-come, first-served in the order of appointments received.

Yamaha product specialists will be on hand to assist.

Appointments are strongly recommended for the best selection, and are required for event access prior to Sunday.  Register here:

Info & Appointments

10475 Little Patuxent Parkway
Columbia, MD 21044
Event Appointment Line:
(844) 711-3010