Is something like Keyboardmania a good way to learn the keyboard? And can I convert mp3's to midi to to play with a Keyboardmania-esque software?
September 25, 2005 2:19 PM Subscribe
Is something like Keyboardmania a good way to learn the keyboard? And can I convert mp3's to midi to to play with a Keyboardmania-esque software?
Im sorry I cant seem to find out how to hyperlink. Keyboardmania is a rhythm game where the bars representing the notes scroll down the screen over the keys that you have to press to play them, and when they get to the bottom you hit the key. Yamaha has these 'EZ Learning' instruments like keyboards and guitars where the keys and frets light up when you are supposed to play them. This seems like it could be useful.
I dont have the time to invest to learn an instrument unless its in a passive, take a break and play some Keyboardmania, edutainment kind of way. But of course Id like to be able to play the songs I like, so Im wondering if there is software to separate the tracks into vocals, drums, etc, and then select which track you want to play with the Keyboardmania game.
Or maybe there is good interactive software to learn music theory, combined with one of these 'smart' instruments. Im thinking there has to be some kind of possibility here...
Im sorry I cant seem to find out how to hyperlink. Keyboardmania is a rhythm game where the bars representing the notes scroll down the screen over the keys that you have to press to play them, and when they get to the bottom you hit the key. Yamaha has these 'EZ Learning' instruments like keyboards and guitars where the keys and frets light up when you are supposed to play them. This seems like it could be useful.
I dont have the time to invest to learn an instrument unless its in a passive, take a break and play some Keyboardmania, edutainment kind of way. But of course Id like to be able to play the songs I like, so Im wondering if there is software to separate the tracks into vocals, drums, etc, and then select which track you want to play with the Keyboardmania game.
Or maybe there is good interactive software to learn music theory, combined with one of these 'smart' instruments. Im thinking there has to be some kind of possibility here...
Response by poster: Keyboardmania is meant to be played on an actual keyboard. It is originally an arcade game but there is supposed to be a Keyboardmania Yamaha edition for PC. Im not too familiar with this stuff though.
posted by dino terror at 2:56 PM on September 25, 2005
posted by dino terror at 2:56 PM on September 25, 2005
IIRC Keyboardmania isn't based on any kind of musical principals. The control interface could be a set of buttons of any kind - it just happens to be laid out as a piano style keyboard.
So, I guess I'd answer no.
posted by coach_mcguirk at 3:07 PM on September 25, 2005
So, I guess I'd answer no.
posted by coach_mcguirk at 3:07 PM on September 25, 2005
Response by poster: But the technology seems to be there, hence 'something like keyboardmania'!
posted by dino terror at 3:13 PM on September 25, 2005
posted by dino terror at 3:13 PM on September 25, 2005
Well, the technology would appear to be :
1. a keyboard
2. a computer / games console
So, in theory, yes.
It just depends on how useful these kind of excercises would be, and what kind of techniques you are hoping to teach. I guess it could conceivably aid with manual dexterity, which has got to be a positive when playing the keyboard.
posted by coach_mcguirk at 5:39 PM on September 25, 2005
1. a keyboard
2. a computer / games console
So, in theory, yes.
It just depends on how useful these kind of excercises would be, and what kind of techniques you are hoping to teach. I guess it could conceivably aid with manual dexterity, which has got to be a positive when playing the keyboard.
posted by coach_mcguirk at 5:39 PM on September 25, 2005
Is something like Keyboardmania a good way to learn the keyboard?
I think coach_mcquirk has it - it appears to me that helping dexterity is about the only way it would be useful. Think of it like this - would playing Dance Dance Revolution help teach you to become a ballerina?
And can I convert mp3's to midi to to play with a Keyboardmania-esque software?
No, not really. It is very, very, very difficult for software to convert an mp3 (full of bass, drums, vocals, many instruments, all going at the same time) to a midi file, which is a description of the actual notes. It is possible, if often inaccurate, if the mp3 is of a single note melody line. As soon as you get chords, or multiple instruments, it's not possible.
posted by Jimbob at 6:03 PM on September 25, 2005
I think coach_mcquirk has it - it appears to me that helping dexterity is about the only way it would be useful. Think of it like this - would playing Dance Dance Revolution help teach you to become a ballerina?
And can I convert mp3's to midi to to play with a Keyboardmania-esque software?
No, not really. It is very, very, very difficult for software to convert an mp3 (full of bass, drums, vocals, many instruments, all going at the same time) to a midi file, which is a description of the actual notes. It is possible, if often inaccurate, if the mp3 is of a single note melody line. As soon as you get chords, or multiple instruments, it's not possible.
posted by Jimbob at 6:03 PM on September 25, 2005
*puts on Bemani nerd hat*
There is indeed a Konami-sanctioned version of Keyboardmania that Yamaha has offered in the past; it's apparently only bundled with the EX-250i, which is not the easiest thing in the world to find, but can potentially be imported.
From what I recall, you can feed it just about any MIDI and it'll let you play it KBM-style, so if that floats your boat, by all means, go for it.
As far as playing KBM to get better at playing the piano: It will help you only slightly. Having played piano for the better part of my childhood and played Keyboardmania off and on for the last three years, I can say that while it will give you some very basic understanding of playing the piano, it will completely screw with one key ability for piano playing: reading sheet music.
Also, needless to say, most songs don't rely on you spinning the pitch wheel one way or another.
On a final aside, GuitarFreaks and DrumMania are getting revived from the dead for a Japanese PS2 release next year; you can find preliminary details here. I've always found GF and DM to be a little more accurate to playing the respective instruments than KBM is.
posted by Remy at 8:51 PM on September 25, 2005
There is indeed a Konami-sanctioned version of Keyboardmania that Yamaha has offered in the past; it's apparently only bundled with the EX-250i, which is not the easiest thing in the world to find, but can potentially be imported.
From what I recall, you can feed it just about any MIDI and it'll let you play it KBM-style, so if that floats your boat, by all means, go for it.
As far as playing KBM to get better at playing the piano: It will help you only slightly. Having played piano for the better part of my childhood and played Keyboardmania off and on for the last three years, I can say that while it will give you some very basic understanding of playing the piano, it will completely screw with one key ability for piano playing: reading sheet music.
Also, needless to say, most songs don't rely on you spinning the pitch wheel one way or another.
On a final aside, GuitarFreaks and DrumMania are getting revived from the dead for a Japanese PS2 release next year; you can find preliminary details here. I've always found GF and DM to be a little more accurate to playing the respective instruments than KBM is.
posted by Remy at 8:51 PM on September 25, 2005
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Rhythmic ability is an important musical skill, but I don't know how much you this game actually develops that skill. There are lots of good exercises one can do to do to improve rhythmic fluency, though.
But from your description, I don't know if it's anything like playing music on a real instrument, and if it's not I don't see how it could help you much to actually learn that instrument.
I can, however, point you to some good (Flash-based) music theory lessons at musictheory.net.
posted by ludwig_van at 2:50 PM on September 25, 2005