This post is brought to you by KnowNote.
I’ve mentioned many times how much we enjoy music in my house. Not only do we listen to it, some of us play it. Hubby can play bass and drums. My oldest can also play drums and guitar. My oldest has always been musicallg inclined. Back when he was younger, before he had a guitar, he played all of the music video games like Rock Band, Guitar Hero. And he kicked butt at it. Once we were in a big box store and he was playing the newest vrsion of one of the music games. He was playing on expert (as he always does) and actually drew a crowd. Later that summer he won a local tournament. It is so much fun to watch him play. Wanting to get in on the fun he was having I tried to play. I didn’t do very well at it, but I did have a ball.
Recently an app came out that not only makes it fun to play music, but it also helps you learn how to make music. The app is called KnowNote, and it lets users learn to play music through an “instrument” that they already know: the computer keyboard.. The KnowNote app runs on the iPad and desktop computer systems. It does not run on the iPhone.
Players log in to KnowNote and choose the songs they want to play along to. You can browse the song selection, or you can choose from songs that you’ve previously played, which are displayed as most played, most recently played, and highest scored.
Now you might wonder what kind of songs are available in an app like this. I’m happy to say you’ve probably heard them before. The songs are all published and popular licensed songs from Universal Music Group, or UMG. You know UMG, their labels include A&M Records, Angel, Astralwerks, Blue Note Records, Capitol Christian Music Group, Capitol Records, Capitol Records Nashville, Caroline, Decca, Def Jam Recordings, Deutsche Grammophon, Disa, Emarcy, EMI Records Nashville, Fonovisa, Geffen Records, Harvest, Interscope Records, Island Records, Machete Music, Manhattan, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Motown Records, Polydor Records, Republic Records, Universal Music Latino, Verve Music Group, Virgin Records, Virgin EMI Records, as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. That’s a lot of labels isn’t it! It’s no wonder that the Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalogue of music in the industry!
Once you select a song you select the instrument you’re going to play and begin. Instruments options include various guitars, piano and clarinet.
The game shows the user what notes to play and for how long, in real time. If notes are played correctly and for the right duration, the players score goes higher and higher. As you’re having fun playing the game your brain is learning about notes and how they behave.
After you’ve completed a song you see a screen with some stats, telling you how you did. (Or in my case, how well I didn’t do LOL.)
As you play you accrue credits. Players use their credits to acquire new instruments. These are kept in a garage (of course).
Along with playing licensed songs, players can also use the online studio to create their own music compositions.
Now don’t think that you’ll be having all of this fun by yourself. I mean, you can play solo if you want. But you can also play with others online as well. Prove your skills and you can even share results about the match on social media. Talk about rubbing it in!
Aside from the fun, the largest benefit I see is being able to learn something about music. Things like timing and progression are key in music.
“Music lessons can be tedious, and musical instruments and instructions cost a lot of money,” said Jason Cook, president of KnowNote. “But now, if you can type, you can play music. As you play, your brain actually learns which notes are higher and lower without ever studying sheet music.”
Here’s a trailer for the app.
Do you (or anyone in your family) play an instrument?
CONNECT
Download KnowNote for iPad in the App store. You can also play on the website.
KnowNote website – KnowNote on Facebook
That sounds like a fun app! My oldest son plays the drums!
I’m pretty NOT musically inclined- but that doesn’t mean I’m not interested in learning. I’m a very visual person so this looks like a great tool!
That looks like a really fun app. I have some musical friends who I think would really enjoy this!
That looks like such a fun app for the whole family!! It is amazing what you can do with apps now a days.
I don’t play anything, but I have a friend who plays everything. And I do mean EVERYTHING. Tuba, bass, guitar, drums…
To be honest, I can say no one in my household plays an instrument. My brother does play the bass.
This app looks like so much fun!!! I used to play the drums and the flute (and played the saxophone for a short time, too!) Unfortunately, I let all the go in high school. I miss playing an instrument!
This looks like such an awesome app! I think my musician hubby would love it!
This looks like a great app. We are a musical family. There is always someone listening to music in the house. My son plays drums.
I can see this game as a great way to help kids learn the computer keyboard a lot better. Cause they will need to be able to find the letters quickly and efficiently to get higher scores.
This is a neat app! I play piano and violin 🙂
What a fun app! We are always looking for fun new apps like this! I play the piano and violin!
This sounds like a lot of fun! I’m sure it can get pretty challenging and intense!
Very cool! I play the flute and I sing.
Wow, this is different. Yet, it looks like something my oldest would love! Thanks for the introduction!
Wow that is really neat. What a great way to learn music!
How fun! I love this idea as a fun way to introduce my kids to music. I’ll definitely be checking it out!
My own parents gave me voice lessons briefly. When I had my own kids, they had music lessons–my daughter then her brother the flute then the two youngest boys the electronic keyboard.
This sounds fun! Everyone in our house plays at least one instrument or more.
My son plays the guitar. he learned it from his dad. I have no musical talent.
This is something my family would enjoy. We like to listen to music and the kids like to learn instruments.
Nice! We are a very musical family! I’ll need to check this out.
our daughter started band this year, she also discovered a piano app of some kind on her phone, I’m guessing she’d like this one as well.
Awesome app! My Husband would love this. He is very musically inclined.
This looks like it’s fun, I played the flute in High School and now my daughter has started on the Oboe, so music runs in our family.