Turn your iPad into a mini-keyboard with ION's Piano Apprentice

ION recently announced a new piano accessory for the iPad that will let you play and learn piano on a mini-keyboard. While piano-playing apps on the iPad are fun, they are not useful for instruction as the 9.7-inch display of the iPad is too small for a reasonably sized keyboard. ION solved that problem with its new Piano Apprentice, a dock for an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch that includes a 25-note lighted keyboard with touch-sensitive keys.

The keyboard dock includes an iOS app that teaches you how to play piano with the help of instructor Scott Houston. You can follow his hands on the screen while you play on the keyboard. The keys on the dock will even light up while you practice your tune. The Piano Apprentice will arrive this fall for US$100.

[Via Engadget]

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ION Intros Portable Keyboard with Lighted Keys & Piano Learning Software for iPad, iPhone & iPad
PIANO APPRENTICE turns a portable keyboard into a traveling music teacher with an intelligent piano learning software app.

Cumberland, R.I. (July 19, 2011) – ION, a leader in consumer audio and entertainment technology, announces PIANO APPRENTICE, a portable lighted-key piano learning system for iPad, iPhone or iPod. ION will showcase PIANO APPRENTICE at Booth #400 at the 2011 Summer NAMM show from July 21st- 23rd in Nashville, TN.

PIANO APPRENTICE portable piano transforms iPad, iPhone or iPod into a personal piano instructor. The PIANO APPRENTICE App – a free download from the App Store – is piano learning software designed and built by ION to work seamlessly with PIANO APPRENTICE and creates a comprehensive music-learning experience. Piano players follow along as Emmy award-winning piano instructor, Scott Houston (aka "The Piano Guy"), appears on the screen demonstrating how to play while the PIANO APPRENTICE keys light up in time with the music. In addition, Scott's hands are right above the PIANO APPRENTICE keyboard, showing the user where to place their hands, teaching them how to play.

Other modes will teach aspiring pianists how to read sheet music or allow them to simply play the piano at any octave they choose. The portable keyboard itself is touch sensitive, responding to soft or hard playing accordingly for expressive music creation. PIANO APPRENTICE is lightweight, battery powered, and has built-in speakers for learning and playing anywhere. A headphone jack is included for quiet practice at anytime.

"PIANO APPRENTICE enables people everywhere to bring out their inner musician using their iPad, iPhone or iPod, even if they've never played an instrument before," said Wendy Mittelstadt, Product Manager, ION. "This is a incredibly easy-to-use and portable system for learning and music creation."

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Source: http://www.ionaudio.com/products/details/piano-apprentice

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ION recently announced a new piano accessory for the iPad that will let you play and learn piano on a mini-keyboard. While...

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J.D.

You can also hook up a midi keyboard to the iPad through the camera connection kit and record and play inside of Garageband. I have an M-Audio KeyStudio and it works great. I bought a Belkin powered hub to make it all happen. I can even use my Blue Yeti Microphone.

The keyboard can be bought for around 40-60 bucks if you shop around, the hub for 15, and the connection kit can be purchased for usually between 20-30. So you might spend a little over $100 but you will get a much better experience if you are simply looking for some hardware. But if you are going to learn piano I suppose this will do. You'll soon want something more substantial though.

July 28 2011 at 4:45 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply