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eMedia Piano And Keyboard Method: Intermediate Volume 2 Review
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Editor's Verdict: The second volume of this eMedia Piano and Keyboard Method follows on from the first volume. Whereas Volume 1 is designed for beginner pianists, Volume 2 maintains the basic techniques whilst building on them with more advanced skills. The principles of the program are the same as the first volume, although the weighting of the different features is slightly different - there are fewer lessons, fewer video demonstrations and considerably fewer pieces. However, you will be introduced to new concepts and techniques as you progress with your new teacher for the second part of the course: Vadim Ghin. Perhaps the greatest weakness with the software is the relatively small sample of music it allows you to play. If you include the 100+ songs from Volume 1, which must be purchased separately, then it is a reasonably sized library. However, if you are buying this because you are already at an intermediate stage or because you have already exhausted the features of Volume 1, the selection of pieces is unlikely to satisfy you, especially when you consider that some may not be in a style in which you feel comfortable playing or some you may simply dislike. The library contains only 65 individual pieces, but several of these are simply different movements from the same works, and so in reality the number is fewer still. Also, the representation of different genres and styles of pieces is not as good as with many if its competitors - the vast majority of pieces are from the classical repertoire or are well-known folk and blues tunes. If you are looking for a broad library of pieces to last you months or years, or to discover something new or unusual, this is not the product for you. However, what the course lacks in terms of the number of pieces of music in its library, it makes up for in where it can take you technically and musically. In the later stages it focuses specifically on Blues, introducing you to the principles of this epic genre of music and equipping you with the information and skills you will need if you are going to explore improvisation. This is an area that few programs go into in great detail, largely because they cater for people who want immediate results. Blues, conversely, can take a great deal of experimentation, and grants the player more freedom than many feel comfortable with. You will never know if Blues improvisation is for you unless you try it, and eMedia Piano and Keyboard Method Intermediate gives as comprehensive an introduction to the topic as anything of its kind. The video demonstrations and other features of the lessons are all good, although these are fairly standard in software of this kind. The animated keyboard and ability to play pieces at different speeds will be useful for many users and, although many products offer something similar, eMedia does them particularly well. But one particular advantage of this software over other programs that allow you to input your MIDI keyboard is that it also works well without one. Obviously, some of the features (such as assessment of your playing and recording) are lacking, but because the lessons are good as stand-alone piano lessons and there are good video demonstrations, it is not totally dependent on a keyboard. This means that you can buy it and try it for a while before you make the commitment of spending more money. If you decide not to continue, at least you have not paid for a keyboard that you are not going to use. We would recommend this product particularly for those who already have a reasonable amount of pianistic experience, but who have so far only played exercises and simple pieces. Opening yourself up to the possibilities of improvisation and greater musicality and dexterity will give you impressive results if you have the perseverance to continue with them. If you are a complete beginner, however, try Volume 1 first or opt for a more comprehensive software product with a greater number of pieces and a focus on developing basic skills. Click the button below to check out eMedia
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