This may be as close to playing a piano as it is possible to get without actually having a physical instrument in the class. Learn the names and sounds of keys, play a solo or a duet, and practice scales or any song you'd like–all for free!
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App Overview
Fitting an entire piano keyboard and it's pedals onto a tablet screen took a good bit of imagination and creativity, but the Virtuoso Piano does a nice job of it. Just tap the keys as you would any other keyboard to let the sweet music flow.
Navigating the Keyboard
- Use the Arrow icons or the Slidebar above the keys to move to different locations on the keyboard
- Extend the amount of visible keyboard by pressing the Keyboard icon, which switches the view from a single layer of keyboard to two layers of keyboard (think stacked, like organ keyboards are)
- Flip the second layer of keyboard around so that two people can play simultaneously by tapping the User icon (which looks like two heads)
- Make the keyboard bigger (less visible keys) or smaller (more visible keys) by clicking either the Plus or Minus icon on either side of the keyboard
More Keyboard Controls
- A variety of other Settings (accessed via the icon that looks like a gear) allow for control
- Volume: How loud does the keyboard sound?
- Sustain: How long do notes hold after they've been pressed?
- Soft: Can the keyboard be played softly to make the sound more soft?
- TrueVelocity: Press harder, the note is louder. Press softer, the note is quieter
- Key Labels: Should the name of each white key be displayed or not?
- Touch Glow: Does the key glow after it is pressed, or not?
Instrument Selection
The app includes two free instruments: a grand piano and a broken bar piano. Switch between the two by selecting the diamond-shaped Instrument icon at the far left of the keyboard.
These instruments are also available as $0.99 in-app purchase:
- Acoustic guitar
- Electric guitar
- Electric piano
- Clavinet
- Radio piano
Instructional Ideas
- Kick off a lesson in musicality for young learners by having the class note similarities or patterns they see on the keyboard
- Demonstrate basic musical concepts such as octaves and scales, or more advanced theory like the circle of fifths
- Challenge students to write (and perform!) a solo or duet on the app
Classroom Considerations
This app is meant to make some noise! Be sure that headphones are available for anyone wanting to play the ivory bones.
Pros
- Names of letters on keys make for good beginner tool
- Ability to press harder or lighter to make sound louder or softer
- Life-like sound and functionality
Cons
- The not-quite-real-life size of the keyboard makes practicing proper finger placement a bit difficult
- For songs that move between different registers, it's a bit challenging to play as only part of the keyboard can display at any one time
- This is a tool strictly for practice...or in other words, an instrument–there is no ability to monitor, track, or promote learning, and no way to record performances