Piano Forum

Piano Board => Student's Corner => Topic started by: starstruck5 on February 05, 2012, 08:32:13 PM

Title: Midi Files
Post by: starstruck5 on February 05, 2012, 08:32:13 PM
Has anyone had any experience of playing along with midi files?  It occurs to me that while of course a sequenced version of any piece will always lack artistry and be robotic -I prefer playing along with actual notes rather than a mindless click.  It is wonderful that technology allows us to playback a piece at any desired tempo. (you will need software like Audacity or Logic)  Also there are a few sites offering already sequenced versions of many famous pieces -so you don't have to laboriously programme them yourself.

I found that playing along to the Appassionata -(mvt 3) at  Quarter Note =70  meant my practice session was a lot more focused and fun -It is also easy to loop any problem bars or groups of bars -play hands seperately or together -

If this technology exists I feel we should explore it.  

Does anyone think it could actually be a bad thing?

Title: Re: Midi Files
Post by: j_menz on February 05, 2012, 11:16:43 PM
I'll stick my head up as thinking it migh be bad.  You may well learn to play the piece just like the midi version. Bleah!! :P

Same goes, IMO, to practice with a metronome beyond what you need to get the timing right.
Title: Re: Midi Files
Post by: starstruck5 on February 05, 2012, 11:35:00 PM
There is no danger of me ever being able to play like a machine - I think it is just in the early stages, when I need the discipline of slow practice - because I just want to fly too fast -

There is no danger of me ever trying or being able to play like a machine either - I feel too deeply for that.
Title: Re: Midi Files
Post by: j_menz on February 06, 2012, 02:35:44 AM
Then using the MIDI idea is probably great for you. And certainly more fun than a metronome (shudder).

Any one else considering it should, however, think about whether my little word of caution may apply to them.