An app that's useful even without a piano! Introducing 10 options by purpose

Last updated:2017/12/20

piano--piano

Does practicing the piano require having a piano right in front of you?

When it comes to technique, it’s true that you can’t get anywhere without a piano.

Just thinking about it won’t make your fingers move, and you can’t “play a piece,” can you?

But there are many other things you should learn about performing the piano.

Have you ever thought about making use of apps on your smartphone or tablet?

Anything to learn besides technique?

piano What kinds of things are necessary to play the piano?

Please give it some thought as well.

Develop the ability to read music

Even just reading sheet music requires various kinds of study.

Can read notes on the staff

Can understand the rhythm and express it in sound.

Can understand types of harmony (chords) and their progressions

Can understand the terms that appear in musical scores (called musical terminology).

Develop a sense of rhythm

Even if you know the types of rhythms and can play them, without being able to ride the beat, the rhythm won’t have a sense of vitality.

This way, even when I'm playing the piano, I end up feeling like, 'Somehow, this is kind of boring....'

Cultivating imaginative power (imagination)

Even if you can read sheet music, you can’t deliver a performance that touches the heart if you can’t express it.

Without an image in mind for the performance, I don’t think even I could be satisfied with it.

If images could spread throughout my own world and I could express them through the sound of the piano, life would become so much more fun than it is now.

Finger training

This is something you develop while playing the piano, but the simulated experience and the training to strengthen your fingertips are exercises you can do even without a piano.

By having a simulated experience, you can grasp the sensations of your entire body.

Based on this feeling, actually trying it out on the piano tends to be more effective than you might expect.

Also, for those with weaker fingers, it can be beneficial to train away from the keyboard.

At that time, it would be good to analyze which parts are weak and for what reasons, and then devise effective training.

Effectively incorporate apps into piano practice

Nowadays, even children have smartphones.

There are many apps that can be effectively used for learning, including for the piano.

Learning with an app keeps children from getting bored, and because it doesn’t feel like they’re being made to practice, it can sometimes be surprisingly effective!

An app to develop the ability to read sheet music

Sheet music reading practice app

As the name suggests, this is an app to help you learn to read musical notation and the staff.

It’s designed so you can train across a wide pitch range (three octaves) all at once, making it very effective for developing the ability to read sheet music.

Piano sheet music sight-reading practice app
Category: Games, Free, iOS Universal, Rating: 3.93464
iPhone / iPad

Screenshot

Notes Quiz

This is an app you can use to match the notes written on the staff with their positions on the piano keyboard.

Notes Quiz
Category: Music Free iOS Universal Rating: 3.75
iPhone / iPad

Screenshot

Score Master Lite

This one is essentially the same in content, but since you have to press the keys while watching the notes flow across the screen, it’s nice that you can also practice “following” the score with your eyes.

It has some game-like elements, so I think it’s suitable for children.

Score Master Lite