Piano Discovery
and the Lost Chord

Review
by Rick Wise

(note: this article appeared in Film/Tape World, October 1997)

usic plays such a vital part in our lives, and certainly in our films.  Whether we direct or edit, we are constantly searching for the right music for our work.  We can drive our professional musician colleagues crazy with vague requests, and no matter how much we know in our hearts that somewhere there's just the right combination of notes and performance to truly meld our film creation, as long as we can only stammer about it, there's not too much we can do other than rely on those professionals to find a solution.

If only we could at least sketch out our idea on the piano.  Now there is some help at hand:  we can learn to play and sketch and our computers can be our loving, never-scolding music teacher.  Yes, for directors, editors and anyone else longing to play music, and for all those who now regret not listening to Mom when she said, "You'll be sorry you quit your lessons," there's a way to get back to those lessons.  You need a MIDI keyboard, some software and your computer.  Originally marketed as the Miracle Piano, the computer teacher has resurfaced as Piano Discovery.

Although I wish some of the features of Piano Discovery were different, it is a highly effective and entertaining method of teaching beginners and refreshing those who left off playing a long time ago. Aimed at future pianists 6-years-old and up, the course is on CD and costs about $50.  You can hook your computer to any MIDI keyboardd, or buy Jump Music's complete kit for around $220, which includes keyboard, connecting cable and software.

Jump Music has bought and considerably revised Miracle Piano.  Now a male and female voice guide you through each lesson, and from time to time a video shows you correct fingering.  Jump Music has also spruced up the graphics, though in some cases the originals were better.  The lesson plan is much improved. Effort has been made to make this learning fun.  As an adult, I find a lot of these improvements to be too cute but worth putting up with to get on with my lessons.   For a kid these little touches work well.

With the software you get a complete lesson plan which takes you through Year One, and leaves you off at the beginning of what Jump Music considers intermediate level.  Jump Music has released additional lessons: Year Two -- Intermediate Level and Year Three - Classical Collection ($50 each), followed by Gospel Collection ($25) and Christmas Collection ($20).

he main action takes place in the School House.   In Year One you are led through increasingly difficult lessons with a variety of classical, folk and ragtime music.  When you reach the end of each section you are sent to the Performance Hall where a synthesized orchestra accompanies you on your rendition of the piece you've just learned to play.  There's also a Practice Room which is a great place to work on any piece that you find difficult.  In both the Performance Hall and Practice Room are two or more extra songs/pieces to hone your skills.

Piano Discovery also includes a Recording Studio where you can create your own music on 16 tracks, and a Jam Stage which allows even the totally ignorant to jam along with a synthesized group; - fun for moments away from the lesson at hand.  One of the side benefits of Piano Discovery is that you can print out the music you're working on, though you cannot control the size of print and the default on some songs is very large.

Installation can be easy.  In my case, I could not get my demo software to work until I discovered that 1)I didn't have the right (Windows 95) drivers for my sound card and 2) I had not properly hooked up the MIDI cable.   You must hook the cable marked "in" to the "out" slot on the keyboard and the cable marked "out" to the "in" slot.  Jump Music's (free) tech support was helpful and patient but incorrect about my OptiPro sound card (it does work just fine) and didn't think to ask me if I was so slick that I didn't bother to read the directions about plugging the "in" cable to the "out" slot.  Jump Music admits that lots of people don't have the Windows 95 drivers, and without those drivers the software will not work.  Some sound cards support Internet update, which is the most painless way to cure this problem.  In my case I had to take my computer back to my retailer.

I find Piano Discovery to be a superb way to get back to playing if you gave it up long ago, and a wonderful entry if you've never played before.

Technical Stuff:

or Windows your computer must have at least 486/66 MHz, Windows 3.1 or Windows 95, 8 megabytes of RAM, double-speed CE-ROM, SVGA monitor, 100 percent SoundBlaster 16 compatible, 35 megabytes available on the hard drive.

For the Mac you need a Power PC processor, System 7.5.1 or higher, 16 megabytes of RAM, 25 megabytes of free hard disk space, 2x CD-ROM drive.  Mac versions lack upgrades already available to Windows users.

Jump Music maintains a web site (www.jumpmusic.com) where you can download updates (version 3.01 is now available) and free songs, direct questions to "accredited, professional music teachers' and contact tech support.  Piano Discovery is available directly from Jump Music at its internet site, at CompUSA, Fry's Electronics and the Guitar Center.  I found the best price ($200) at the Guitar Center, although every store I contacted was out of stock.  Let your fingers do your walking.