| Rocket Piano is a very professionally done | | | | Musica that is really wonderful. When you |
| piano lesson package. It includes a number of | | | | start up the game, notes move past you on the |
| ebooks, audio tracks, and video tracks to | | | | screen from right to left and your job is to |
| support the instructional material. In | | | | identify them before they scroll off the |
| addition, there's a ton of extras, all | | | | left-hand side of the display. You can click |
| extremely well-done, and described below. The | | | | on the name of the note with your mouse, hit |
| product is simple to download, and is | | | | the letter on your keyboard that corresponds |
| perfectly paced for the introductory piano | | | | to the note(s) displayed, or type the number |
| student. It runs on Windows and Macs, so it | | | | that you'll see associated with each note. |
| doesn't matter what kind of computer you | | | | The game has an Options menu that lets you |
| have. In a word, if you want to learn to | | | | control the level of difficulty (basically |
| play, you'd be nuts to pass on this. I highly | | | | the speed at which the notes move), and |
| recommend it. | | | | there's even a high score screen that records |
| | | | your name once you start to excel. Kids love |
| Read on for the details.Chapter One - Piano | | | | this stuff. This kind of game makes learning |
| Facts and HistoryDon't skip this chapter. | | | | to read notes so painless, that there just |
| It's full of really interesting facts about | | | | isn't any excuse anymoreAnd it gets |
| the piano and includes a bit of history, a | | | | better...the second extra is another game |
| lot of physical facts about the instrument | | | | called Keycelerator which helps you learn |
| that the beginning piano lesson student | | | | chord nomenclature and keyboard patterns. The |
| should know, and some great diagrams that | | | | game consists of a display of a chord pattern |
| show the mechanics of how a piano produces | | | | on the left of the display, and four choices |
| sound. There's also a nice section about the | | | | on the right - a multiple choice test...the |
| pedals, which you don't find in most courses, | | | | choices are shown as keyboard segments with |
| that actually explains what the pedals are | | | | different notes depressed. So if you can read |
| for and how they work. All in all, a great | | | | the notes of the chord, you then pick the |
| introduction.Chapter Two - The BasicsChapter | | | | notes that represent the chord from the set |
| Two provides all the basic information you'll | | | | of four choices; much more fun than studying |
| need to get started in the right direction. | | | | a chord manual. The game keeps score and has |
| It has the most complete description of how | | | | a number of options you can control. (I'm not |
| to sit at the piano that I've come across so | | | | bragging, but I got a perfect score on my |
| far. You get the idea very easily from the | | | | first test :)The next extra is called |
| included diagram that shows the proper | | | | Chordinator , which is designed to improve |
| position for your head, back, arms, and legs. | | | | your chord recognition abilities. Structured |
| Pay attention students There's nothing worse | | | | much like Keycelerator , but the answer |
| than seeing a beginning player struggling | | | | choices are in the form of chord names, not |
| because of a slouch or being too high or too | | | | notes on the keyboard. Okay, I missed one on |
| low in relation to the keyboard. Chapter Two | | | | this game, but it was only because my finger |
| continues with an explanation of proper hand | | | | slipped off the mouse and hit the wrong |
| position, and dispels the popular myth that | | | | choice :) ...99/100 isn't bad though, |
| you need very long fingers to play well. The | | | | right?The next extra is really addictive |
| author correctly points out that finger | | | | It's called Perfect Your Pitch - it's an |
| strength and agility are far more important | | | | ear-training tool to help you home your pitch |
| characteristics than finger length. The | | | | recognition skills. It plays a series of four |
| standard and necessary assignment of numbers | | | | notes and you have to pick the right choice |
| to each finger is included too, accompanied | | | | from a set of four answers. It really is a |
| by a very good diagram. No confusion possible | | | | lot fun. My score wasn't perfect on this one, |
| here. The layout of the keyboard is explained | | | | and I had to force myself to stop ....like |
| next, again with very clear graphics, and | | | | eating ice cream As you ear gets sharper |
| then the connection between the finger | | | | it gets much easier to play songs by ear , |
| numbering system and the keyboard is | | | | and you'll start to recognize note |
| introduced with some very simple exercises - | | | | combinations in common melodies and songs on |
| so after only sixteen pages of background, | | | | the radio...just like learning a new |
| the new student is actually using the | | | | language. This one is highly recommended. But |
| keyboard. Note reading is introduced next | | | | don't ignore the other parts of the course |
| with a very clear and simple approach that | | | | while you try to perfect you pitch |
| starts with the definition of a note, and | | | | recognition abilities.There's yet another |
| then introduces the concept of rhythm. The | | | | bonus included called Advanced Learning |
| notation for whole notes, half notes, quarter | | | | Techniques for the Piano , but I think the |
| notes, eighth notes, and sixteenth notes is | | | | little book is misnamed I think you should |
| illustrated, and the standard duration of | | | | read this first when you get the package, and |
| each is explained. What follows is a series | | | | I also think this little gem is worth the |
| of easy exercises to reinforce the basic | | | | cost of the package all by itself. What it |
| concepts of note type and duration. Audio | | | | tells you is how to practice - a topic that |
| clips are available for each exercise to | | | | is completely ignored by most teaching |
| assure the student that they are proceeding | | | | packages - even by a lot of teachers I think |
| correctly.Chapter Three - The Musical | | | | it's one of the most important aspects of |
| AlphabetChapter Three starts with a graphic | | | | learning to play any instrument. Read it as |
| of the keyboard with all the notes labeled | | | | soon as you get Rocket Piano. If you're just |
| and then shows you the middle C hand | | | | starting out, the insights you'll pick up |
| position, followed by a short exercise that | | | | here will save you a lot of frustration.The |
| gets both hands going to familiarize the | | | | Metronome program (another bonus) is really |
| student with middle C and the surrounding | | | | well-done. Just turn up the volume and save |
| notes. Chapter Three also introduces time | | | | yourself the cost of a physical metronome. |
| signatures, the other component of rhythm. | | | | The graphics are marvelous.If you like jazz, |
| Good examples follow the explanation, and | | | | after you've gone through the basic Rocket |
| there are a few practice exercises, again | | | | Piano book, take a look at the add-on called |
| with sample audio tracks. | | | | Introduction to Jazz Piano . It has eight |
| | | | informative chapters that cover everything |
| The rest of the chapters in the book are | | | | from jazz rhythms to chord progressions to |
| just as good and cover such topics as:* the | | | | syncopation. If you're not familiar with |
| musical staff | | | | those terms, don't worry Start with the |
| | | | basic Rocket Piano book and then dive into |
| * intervals | | | | the more advanced Jazz book.So, my advice to |
| | | | you is to start your own personal countdown, |
| * sharps and flats | | | | and then blast your musical knowledge and |
| | | | your playing skills to new heights with this |
| * playing scales | | | | piano lesson package. Think about it...you |
| | | | get all the stuff described above for less |
| * rhythm | | | | than the cost of one or two private |
| | | | lessons.Peter Cullen is the Webmaster at |
| * arpeggios, and more.Okay...if I review any | | | | |
| more Chapters, you won't need the package, | | | | and an avid amateur pianist. The site |
| But I do want to tell you about the extras | | | | reviews piano lesson offerings on the Web and |
| that come with Rocket Piano. First of all, | | | | offers many other piano-related resources. |
| there's a Music Theory Game called Jayde | | | | |