Not your mother's piano lessons!
Technology is seeping into every industry in amazing ways...piano lessons are no different!
At Melodia Music Studio, we use a Roland F-140R piano in conjunction with iPad programs and an online platform to streamline and enhance the learning and running of the studio. Everyone has an electronic device - or three - these days. Why not harness that incredible potential to improve musical skill? Find more information in each section below.
Roland Digital Piano
The studio features a Roland F-140R model digital piano. The piano is equipped with Bluetooth technology which allows it to connect to digital devices such as cell phones and tablets. Roland has created a free app which allows students to record practice sessions, practice note reading, and play scores with orchestral backing that follows your tempo.
The piano is also able to:
The piano is also able to:
- change instrument sound (some Mozart pieces sound better on the harpsichord they were composed for - remember that the piano was popularized during his lifetime!)
- transpose (to save you the headache)
- split the keyboard into two middle Cs for optimal duet playing
iPad Learning
The Roland company itself has developed a free app that can be used with both digital and acoustic pianos to improve piano practice and performance. It features:
- flashcards for note and ear training
- songs with backing tracks including other instruments for solo ensemble practice (sounds like an oxymoron but is beautifully possible!)
- rhythms to improv over
- and much more!
The Faber series comes with a free app that features the scores for each of its method and supplemental books of each level. While all major series have long come with supplemental CDs of backing tracks, these never lent themselves to effective studio use as there was no way to control the tempo. It played at a full tempo that young learners struggle to follow. The app backing tracks are able to mirror the speed of the student - speeding up or slowing down as they do. They can also be set to follow the student - stop when they stop and start again when they do. They can also be adjusted to include or exclude either the right or left hand or the accompaniment. This is game-changing technology!
Piano Maestro
The main curriculum that I use, Alfred Premier, comes with a companion app with many other songs from all genres and styles as well as exercises likes scales and arpeggios. It usually carries a subscription cost of $10 a month, but I have am able to gift students a free subscription with my studio account.
Piano Maestro allows me to link to students' home accounts to assign songs and view their progress. It gives students real-time feedback about whether they are playing the correct notes and their rhythm. Students can earn stars and ranks as they master their songs.
It can listen to any piano, digital or acoustic, no connection needed!
Piano Maestro allows me to link to students' home accounts to assign songs and view their progress. It gives students real-time feedback about whether they are playing the correct notes and their rhythm. Students can earn stars and ranks as they master their songs.
It can listen to any piano, digital or acoustic, no connection needed!
Bonus...
The many supplementary apps we use for note reading, rhythm work, ear training, and more that can also be downloaded at home and used in the car, home, or anywhere - no piano necessary!
The many supplementary apps we use for note reading, rhythm work, ear training, and more that can also be downloaded at home and used in the car, home, or anywhere - no piano necessary!
My Music Staff
Gone are the days of students continually forgetting or misplacing notebooks and practice sheets! Through the online student portal, accessible from any device, students and parents can:
- view current and past song assignments
- read lesson notes
- log practice
- view and reschedule lessons
- pay tuition (with AutoPay even if you prefer!)
- view studio announcements