FLOWKEY
Flowkey is an app for computers and iOS/
Android devices. It’s fully interactive, gives you live feedback, allows you to slow down/speed up sections for practice and is
endorsed by teachers and pianists.
Free (with in-app purchases), flowkey.com
genius, not just physically but visually too; it’s very easy to visualise how chords and scales are built and how everything relates. Once you’ve learnt how to play one octave then you’ve learnt all the octaves: they are all the same spatially but just at different pitches.
What’s more, the piano keyboard (whether in an acoustic piano, electric piano, keyboard or piano app) has become a ubiquitous ‘industry standard’ interface because of its clear visual feedback and ease of use. Many of our homes will have some sort of keyboard and most commercial or home studios will have a synth-action unweighted keyboard or a weighted piano-like keyboard, either with its own sounds built in or to use as a MIDI controller connected (via USB, Bluetooth or a MIDI cable) to a computer running music software.
KEY CONSIDERATIONS
When starting out, most of us often don’t have the $5k+ budget to buy a decent acoustic piano. So for your first approaches at learning piano you’ll likely want to start off with a good quality keyboard or digital piano.
However, whilst unweighted keyboards are good for learning the notes and theory, and often have tons of sounds and features, for learning piano you need to build technique, so full-size weighted keys are ideal. It’s imperative that finger strength and dexterity is taken seriously (even for younger players) as the more exercise you give your fingers, the fitter they will become and the more capable they will be for every musical task in the future. Whilst the smaller or unweighted synth action keys found on most keyboards are undoubtedly easier to push down, they don’t give your fingers the workout they need to build strength and accuracy and if you end up graduating to a real acoustic piano, you will likely struggle.
Now that we have established that the ideal instrument to learn on (if you can’t afford or don’t have room for an acoustic) is a weighted digital piano with full-size keys rather than a keyboard with lightweight or smaller keys, it’s important to work out what you really need feature-wise in order to make learning fun and engaging.
The first consideration is your budget. Expect to pay $400-$600 for a decent unweighted portable keyboard and upwards of $1,000 for a weighted digital piano.
Action-wise, keep in mind some like a heavier feeling keyboard whilst others prefer lighter-feeling keys. Again, it’s ideal if you can get to a store (after this present lockdown has ended) that has several of the leading brands on display so that you can make an informed choice. Be aware that buying sight unseen online for yourself – or for someone else – is risky, as the keyboard action may feel too heavy and end up impeding your/their learning. Thankfully, the leading brands in keyboards and digital home pianos, such as Korg, Yamaha, Casio, Roland and Kawai, generally have nicely balanced weighted actions that feel very piano-like, so if you have to buy sight unseen I would always try to go with a longestablished brand. Also, many of these bigger manufacturers have learning/support apps that work in sync with their digital
The best instrument to learn on is a digital piano with full-size weighted keys