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Piano Wizard - Six Steps To a Real Piano Experience

  by Flash  , Saturday 2 February 2008 à 10:41, Categories: News, Music, For Musicians

CYBERMIDI.com is the official distributor of music for Piano Wizard. Many people have asked exactly how the game translates into a real life learning experience. This article will attempt to explain the process.

While Piano Wizard boasts a revolutionary patented 4 step method, there are actually 6 steps that take you from 0 - 60 on the piano. Here is how the process works.

A. The Game

Step 1: Chris Salter, the creator of Piano Wizard came up with the concept when he was learning how to type with a typing game. The connection was obvious: a piano keyboard is basically a series of "buttons" like a typewriter or computer keyboard. So why not teach people how to play piano by showing them how to hit certain "buttons"?

The game starts out sort of like the old Space Invaders game. Objects scroll from the bottom to top and the users hits the keys by simply matching colors when the objects reach strike zone. This is so simple, a 3 year old can do it.

Step 2: Very similar to step one, but the difference here is that objects go from right to left. This is the first transition into understanding how to read. Musicians will immediately recognize the vertical "piano roll" on the left hand side of the screen.

Step 3: Similar to step two, but now a staff appears and those cute little objects now have turned into colored notes. The user adjusts quickly and begins to realize there is no real difference between the previous game objects and real music notes.

Step 4: Same as step three, but now the colors are gone and the user is reading traditional music notation.

If you stop and think about it, the process is pure genius. But we're not done yet. While Piano Wizard has the 4 built-in steps, we can add 2 more steps to create a full blown educational process.

The Academy

Step 5: The Piano Wizard Academy was created by Don and Delayna Beattie. The program is run at Southern Illinois University. The Beatties have added features a game just cannot provide, such as having a real live teacher sitting next to you. The best part here is that you don't need to travel to Illinois to experience the Academy. Allegro Multimedia has created a series of videos and sheet music, all matching the lessons in Piano Wizard. So now, not only do you have the game, but also you have a roadmap to follow.

WizardTunes

Step 6: The next step is for the user to start playing music that they like. That's where WizardTunes.com comes in. WizardTunes are specially designed MIDI files for use with Piano Wizard. Gamers can download these into their game and learn how to play them. (Note: adding songs can only be done with the premier version).

So there you have it. Four steps that show you how to play, a fifth step to put it all together, and the 6th step to enhance the experience, and make the game infinitely expandable.

Allegro Multimedia is currently developing GUITAR WIZARD.
All the same concepts and steps, except designed for guitar.

In our view, even if Piano Wizard didn’t offer all of this, it’s a great "family game", a wonderful alternative to all the violent games on the market today, and just plain fun.

What more can you ask for in a software game?
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Thanks to our partnership with Allego, you can save 10% on Piano Wizard products. Just use discount code CYBERMIDI. This offer may end at any time. Visit PIANO WIZARD to pick up yours today.

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