Midi Files

[starstruck5]

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?

[j_menz]

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!!

Same goes, IMO, to practice with a metronome beyond what you need to get the timing right.

[starstruck5]

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.

[j_menz]

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.