From k2mojo@groovedaddies.com Mon Jul 11 09:04:14 2005
Subject:Re: Learning via MIDI vs. reading

For those who don't have a MIDI light bar for their keys, here's a *FREE* MIDI player that has a virtual keyboard that plays along.
It's actually kind of handy for checking out voicings (of which the accuracy is only as good as the original MIDI file).
http://www.vanbasco.com/
Some decent MIDI file links:
http://www.geocities.com/wld_bill2001/pg10.html
http://web.agria.hu/kepenu/
http://users1.ee.net/lstone/midi.htm
http://www.musicrobot.com/

Ed Fliege
k2mojo@groovedaddies.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "CT"
> Anyone care to post some MIDI tracks to the groups forum?
>
> Please let me explain:
> I've been an amateur player for a long time, and always relied more on ear and feel more
> than reading. I always felt a disconnect playing transcribed solos versus listening and
> "seeing" the spatial patterns and relationships of the keys/notes/pitches. I've taken
> lessons over the years but the time and cost were not effective for my schedule.
>
> Back around early 80's when MIDI came out, a friend and I built a MIDI lightbar which sat
> on top of a keybed, received MIDI data and converted the stream to LED lights over the
> notes. The idea came from another friend who had a business repairing player pianos and
> showed me a Fats Waller roll, from which I quickly learned some bass/lead riffs from
> watching the keys and listening.
>
> What we found back then was the light strip was good at showing relative positions, but
> one could not learn long phrases. So blinking lights are not the answer. For me reading
> was not the answer either. I've also used audio and video slow downers which can take a
> piece and slow it down in time, without affecting pitch, to transcribe solos. This too is time
> consuming. A recent example was transcribing a Brian Auger solo off his excellent DVD.
>
> Of course many of you are probably saying "Listening, practicing and hard work are the
> answer" but with those of us who are amateurs with limited practice time or perhaps are
> not musically proficient in transcribing solos, I've continued searching for an easier/
> quicker way to learn tunes and solos.
>
> My adhoc learning rig consists of a $100 Yamaha EZ-150 (lightup keys via MIDI) sitting on
> my piano's rack or above my electro, driven by a computer midi rig. A good approach to
> learning via MIDI can be found at www.adgproductions.com. By printing the score,
> watching (and slowing down) the MIDI notes, and listening to the feel of the piece
> (computer playing internal MIDI or driving the Yamaha) I've come across a great system
> that utilizes the best of all methods. I find this approach helps my reading, listening , and
> analytical/spatial/visualzation skills.
>
> The problem now is the lack of content, professionally created MIDI tracks of intermediate
> and advanced material in Blues, Rock and Jazz. Any suggestions/ideas
> for creating such tracks/courseware? Not sure of the marketing potential for selling
> these tracks online, but the distribution costs are neglible, ADG productions has the right
> approach.
>
> Thanks for your interest, please respond either on or off list. Constructive criticism of this
> learning approach is welcome for discussion as well.
>
> Chris Thomas
> cthomas@inversemedia.com