Piano Wizard is a music learning video game that intends to painlessly teach anyone how to play the piano.  With Piano Wizard, you instantly see which note to hit (pitch) and when to hit it (rhythm).  Once you do, you receive immediate positive feedback.  The game aims to help users quickly understand the underlying musical logic in color through its animated interface.  Users transition naturally through the levels, seeing how musical notation represents the song.  The game contains a "play first-then read" four-step approach which emulates the way people naturally absorb language:  first by speaking, then by learning to read the words we already know.

 

The Piano Wizard is recommended for all ages, three and up.  A computer is required in order to play and is compatible with both Mac operating systems and Windows.  The game is built on a universal music technology called MIDI - with the Premier Plus version, thousands of MIDI files can be downloaded online and then imported directly into the game. 

INDIVIDUAL CATEGORY RATINGS

EASE OF USE This is awesome!  Piano Wizard is a combination learning tool that includes software (easy to install and use) and a professional keyboard that hooks to your computer through a USB cable.  Plug it in, run the software and in minutes you are up and running.  Our review team was absolutely amazed at how easy it was to start learning to play music.  Look, you aren't going to be Mozart overnight - but Piano Wizard is a super easy, super fun way to start chasing your piano playing dreams!

DURABILITY Piano Wizard is targeted for children ages 3 and up.  Uh-oh - says the review team.  Without supervision, you can forget about this lasting.  But on an upside, the keyboard itself is really made well (Suzuki) with actual size piano keys - this isn't just a flimsy computer attachment - it feels like the real deal!  So...older children and adults, no durability concerns, but for the youngsters out there, you'll want to keep a close eye on them to make this last.

VISUAL APPEAL Top notch!  Both the keyboard and the software had our review team so impressed!  From a strictly visual point of view, it looks like you are really playing the piano as you learn, and the software is remarkable!  The review team loved how the learning and games flowed in a visually exciting and interesting manner as you move from level to level.  Fantastic design!

FUNCTIONALITY According to our review team this was their biggest concern and their biggest pleasure!  With Piano Wizard you'll be learning, playing and progressing virtually immediately!  The software is designed in a way to make learning fun, and scientific.  As you progress through each level you'll advance your learning all the way up to being able to read sheet music and play a real piano.  It doesn't happen overnight - but it happens a lot quicker than you expect.  Piano Wizard is designed for kids of all ages, adults, even piano teachers - and it shows in the functionality!  Great job!

COST EFFICIENCY Let's just put it this way, Piano Wizard Premier Plus is not an inexpensive item.  Priced at more than $200 our review team all felt that it was a bit expensive, and certainly not the type of product that could be purchased to "find out" if your young child has any musical interest.  With that said, for children that do show some legitimate interest in learning an instrument, the review team did feel Piano Wizard Premier would be a great way to start the learning process without the heavy cost of a piano and lessons.

ORIGINALITY There are a few different packages out there to teach you how to play piano on the computer, so the review team couldn't outright call it an original.  But...with a keyboard that hooks up to your computer, awesome software, and a training system that is loaded with fun and disguises the learning, it's hard to get much better.  And, this original idea in teaching is what puts Piano Wizard at the top of the rating scale for originality!

OVERALL RATING

Wow!  Amazing!  So much fun!  When you hear comments like that from the review team, you know exactly where this is going!  Piano Wizard is easy to use, fun, visually pleasing, fun, full of function, fun, and a true original, and fun!  It plays like Guitar Hero, but you're actually learning an instrument as you go!  If you are looking for a fun and exciting way to start learning piano, it's hard to find a better option than Piano Wizard!