Budding pianists who lack a keyboard, synthesiser or baby grand of their own have been told to look to web-based programming language Java as an alternative.
Music education organisation Tritone has launched Javakeys, a program which simulates a music keyboard on a device that is more widely available – the computer keyboard.
The company explains that it believes every student should be able not only to practise the keyboard in educational institutions, but also at home.
By mapping the musical notes on to alphanumeric keys on the computer, Javakeys provides people who do not own a synthesiser of their own with the next best thing – a web-based equivalent.
While the system was initially developed to provide students with access to a music keyboard equivalent, budding musicians of any age could find Javakeys to be beneficial to their art.
Tritone explains that three real-time analysis tools are included in the program, helping to alert users to any timing problems, “expressional errors” or bum notes that they hit.
Subscriptions to the service are aimed at schools and districts, but an individual licence can be purchased for music teachers keen to offer the program to their pupils, with discounted renewal following the first year.
