Today, Piano learning has significantly changed compared to the past. Gone are the days of the classic scene of the student sitting to a big piano while the teacher is standing behind. Well, in the digital age we are living, you do not need a physical teacher. Technology has grown the teacher and even the tool to some extent. With piano learning apps, all you need is to install the app on a computer, laptop, smartphone, etc. and start your new learning journey without delay. You can start using the computer keyboard; however, to dive deeper into the learning process, you need a keyboard or piano.
Statistics have shown that 50% of the people asked would like to learn an instrument. Apparently, many tend to use piano apps in their learning process, for the app piano learning market has been growing rapidly. Besides, piano teaching apps have reached new customers, as statistics again show that 50% of the users are newbies to playing the piano. Following, Topteny online magazine presents a review of one of the best piano learning apps out there, Skoove.
About Skoove
Skoove is a piano learning application that provides both free and premium learning programs. It works with PC, Mac, iPad, and iPhone. The app is specifically well-tested on Mac and Windows using Chrome. For iPhones and iPads, it supports the devices run by the latest iOS and iPadOS versions. Skoove might also work with older versions; the good thing is that you can install the app for free and find out if it works with your device and operating system or not.
Skoove is a professional piano teaching app that adopts cutting-edge computer technology. Therefore, it is more suitable for adults and 12+ teenagers. It provides a wide range of piano courses and notes of different music genres. The app has grown quite popular; 1 million downloads of the app have been recorded, along with 100K monthly active users. Skoove has been selected as the top third piano app worldwide, and it was featured by Apple with a 4.4 average rating and 12K reviews. The app has other strong partnerships with Amazon and Thomann; they both bundle Skoove worldwide, Amazon does it with all keyboards and Thomann with the keyboards in DACH. Plus, the application has a cross-promote with Sheet Music Direct, another efficient piano teaching app; Sheet Music Direct features Skoove to their learners, and Skoove does the same, featuring Sheet Music to their users.
Now, to make things clearer, let us break them into ups and downs.
Pros
1 Easy connection
You can easily connect your keyboard with either a USB or MIDI cable. Keyboards usually come with one of these two options. All you need is to check your keyboard to know which of the two ports it has. Use the proper cable to connect the board to the PC or Mac where you have Skoove installed, and you are done. The keyboard should show up in the app when you achieve the connection. One more thing, if the keyboard includes both USB and MIDI ports, it is usually easier to work with USB. For the iPhone and iPad devices, the connection is made via a USB camera adapter or iRig MIDI 2.
2 Over 400 piano lessons
Skoove provides rich educational content that you can count on, whether you are a beginner or an advanced piano player. With these lessons, you can learn to play your favorite songs of The Beatles, John Legend, Adele, Coldplay, and more. Timeless classics of Beethoven, Mozart, etc. are available too. Besides, if you are a fan of improvising, the app teaches you to compose your own melodies. There are also hand videos to show the right positions and techniques. And with the play by ear lessons, you can even reach a level that allows you to play tunes by listening.
3 Old keyboards can be used
Most old and second-hand keyboards can be connected to Scoove with no problems. So, you do not have to buy a new, expensive keyboard if you already have a good one. Go ahead and give it a shot.
4 One-on-one support is available
This impressive option is limited to premium users. You can benefit from the help of piano instructors who answer the user’s questions and help them to learn. It personalizes the e-learning process to a very good extent.
5 Affordable
The app’s premium plans are affordable and matchable with the provided features, services, and benefits. The paid plans allow you access to more than 400 piano lessons with monthly updated lessons and songs, special courses, and one-on-one support. The one-month plan costs nearly $20, the three-month $14, and the twelve-month $10. The free plan offers unlimited time and access to 25 lessons. The free features are limited, yet being able to download the app for free makes finding out whether it is compatible with your operating system or not easier.
6 Money-back guarantee
You can get a refund within 14 days from your paid registration date. So you do not have to worry that your money will be lost if you could not benefit from the courses or did not like the provided services.
7 Reliable testimonials
The app has reliable testimonials from Forbes, the Guardian, and Berklee University. Christian Le, a piano instructor at the university, states that “Skoove presents jazz and popular music concepts in a clear, practical, and enjoyable way. It serves as a surrogate teacher, guiding my students through their week of practicing.” On Forbes, it is stated that the app’s virtual guide “takes the learner through each lesson, and provides real-time feedback that listens to the player as they practice.”
8 Available in eight languages
A genuinely universal project seeks to reach out to different people in their own mother languages. Such localization of the provided service makes it way more efficient and easily reachable for different tongues. Then, all these people are taught to speak one language, music. The available local languages include French, Dutch, Spanish, Japanese, and Korean.
Cons
1 Demands relevantly expensive keyboards
Using a cutting-edge technology that makes it a professional piano app, Skoove works more properly with equally professional, branded keyboards whose prices start nearly at $165 and could reach up to more than $3500. Low cost, non-professional keyboards tend to lose the MIDI connection frequently.
2 Not children-friendly
Kids under 12 may find it challenging to deal with Skoove due to the cutting-edge technology it uses and the professional courses it provides to learn the piano. However, children can benefit from the app too, if they have the assistance of adults for guidance and to achieve the maximum benefit.
Conclusion
Learning new things is always wonderful; it is what keeps us truly alive. And if this new thing is playing music, how could anyone resist that? Learning to play the piano is pure joy that technology has facilitated for us. With piano teaching apps like Skoove, rest assured that you are in good hands of an efficient virtual teacher.
