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