In today’s digital age, many individuals turn to the internet and various applications for learning new skills, including playing the piano.
Among the numerous competitors in this space, Flowkey and Simply Piano stand out, each promising to guide users from novice to proficient pianists.
These platforms offer similar approaches to teaching, yet they differ in certain aspects.
In summary, Flowkey emerges as the preferred choice for beginners seeking comprehensive online piano lessons due to its extensive song library and structured learning pace.
Conversely, Simply Piano caters slightly better to younger learners, making it a viable option for children exploring the world of piano.
Flowkey
Flowkey is like a friendly tutor for learning piano, available on different devices like computers and phones. It’s easy to use and lets you learn at your own pace, without strict rules.
This flexibility is great for beginners who want to learn in a relaxed way or for those who lost interest before.
You don’t have to start from the very beginning if you don’t want to, and it covers basics like reading music and understanding rhythms.
However, it’s not guaranteed to teach you perfectly. It offers a wide range of songs, from classics to more unusual genres like jazz or even Christmas tunes.
Pros & Cons Of Flowkey
Flowkey has its advantages and drawbacks.
Let’s break it down.
Pros
- Free Option: You can use Flowkey for free with limited access for as long as you want. This is great for trying it out or if you’re on a tight budget.
- Practice Mode: Flowkey has a practice mode where the lesson waits for you to play each note before moving on. This can be really helpful for learning at your own pace.
- Song Variety: The library contains over 1500 songs covering different levels and genres. So, you have a wide selection to choose from and can pick something that matches your taste and skill level.
- Posture and Technique Lessons: Flowkey offers more lessons on posture and technique compared to many other online piano platforms. This means you can focus not just on playing songs but also on improving your overall piano skills.
Cons
- No built-in metronome, which can be frustrating for some users who rely on it for timing and rhythm practice.
- Using your device’s microphone with an acoustic piano may lead to issues, as Flowkey works best with a MIDI keyboard.
These drawbacks can impact the user experience, especially for those who value precise timing and rely on acoustic pianos.
Simply Piano
Simply Piano is a popular app made by JoyTunes for learning piano. It’s won awards like the Parents’ Choice and Apple’s Editor Choice. You can use it on iPhones and Android devices.
Compared to Flowkey, some people think Simply Piano has better teaching design, but it’s a bit slower. This can be good if you’re short on time or prefer learning at your own speed.
The app is like a game, making it fun and motivating, especially for beginners and younger learners. But if you’re more experienced, it might feel a bit repetitive.
Simply Piano also feels more social. You can set goals and personalize your profile, which adds to the interactive feel.
Pros & Cons Of Simply Piano
Simply Piano has its advantages and drawbacks.
Let’s break it down.
Pros
- Popular App: Simply Piano is widely recognized and has even won awards from Google Play, like the Best App award. This shows that many people enjoy using it.
- Free Trial: You can try Simply Piano for a week without paying. This gives you a chance to see if it suits your learning style and needs before committing.
- Instant Feedback: When you play the keys, they light up in different colors based on your performance. This immediate feedback helps you understand if you’re playing correctly or need improvement.
- Diverse Song Library: Whether you’re into popular hits or classic piano pieces, Simply Piano’s song library has a wide range of options to keep you engaged.
Cons
- Limited Practice Modes: The app lacks flexibility in practice modes, as users can’t set their own tempo or practice one hand at a time.
- Inconsistent Mic Detection: While the app can listen to an acoustic piano for feedback, it may occasionally miss notes played by the user, leading to frustration during practice sessions.
Flowkey vs Simply Piano: Features
Imagine you’re learning to play the piano and you want to use an app to help you. Two popular choices are Flowkey and Simply Piano. They’re both great for beginners, but they have some differences.
Flowkey is like a big library of piano lessons. It has stuff for beginners and also for more advanced players. Simply Piano, on the other hand, focuses mainly on beginner lessons.
Both apps are smart enough to hear the sounds you make on your piano.
Flowkey can listen through your phone’s microphone, while Simply Piano can connect to your piano using special cables.
Now, why are they different? Well, it’s because people have different tastes! Some might like Flowkey because it’s like having a whole music school in your pocket. Others might prefer Simply Piano because it’s straightforward and perfect for starting out.
Layout, Lesson Format, and Design
In the realm of piano learning apps, Flowkey and Simply Piano have carved out their respective niches, each boasting user-friendly layouts and leveraging either device microphones or MIDI-USB connections to track your playing progress.
However, a notable distinction arises when it comes to reliability, with MIDI-USB proving superior, especially for Simply Piano, which can encounter hiccups with microphone usage.
Flowkey’s in-app functions exhibit a smoother, faster performance, while Simply Piano’s functions may appear swifter due to the ingenious integration of piano notes for navigating pop-ups, a handy feature when your hands are already positioned on the keys.
Conversely, Flowkey necessitates more frequent tapping on the screen to close pop-ups and navigate through information, which can potentially disrupt the learning flow.
Ultimately, while both apps excel in their own right, Flowkey emerges as the frontrunner in terms of speedier in-app functionality, whereas Simply Piano’s true strength lies in its seamless interaction, especially when your hands are already gracing the keys, minimizing distractions and enhancing the overall learning experience.
Delivery and Feedback
In terms of delivery and feedback, both Flowkey and Simply Piano offer ways to help you improve your playing.
Flowkey allows you to practice in sections or alongside the full piece, but it lacks real-time feedback on your performance. However, it does provide video demonstrations of songs being played, which can be helpful for visual learners.
Simply Piano stands out with its color-coded system, offering immediate feedback as you play. Correct notes turn blue, incorrect ones turn red, and if you’re unsure, it prompts you with yellow hints. Too many mistakes and it automatically takes you back to practice the section, adjusting tempo if needed.
So, while Flowkey offers visual aids, Simply Piano’s color-coded feedback system gives clearer guidance, making it easier to track and improve your progress as you play.
Course Content
When it comes to learning piano through apps, Flowkey and Simply Piano take slightly different paths. Simply Piano focuses more on teaching you songs, using those as supplements to their main lesson course. This approach lets more experienced players skip ahead to songs if they already know the required skills, or ensure they’ve learned the prerequisites first.
On the other hand, Flowkey covers a wider range of fundamentals like proper posture and reading sheet music in-depth through video lessons. While Simply Piano’s lessons follow a strict step-by-step order where you must complete each one before continuing, Flowkey gives you more flexibility.
In contrast, Flowkey’s structured beginner’s course walks you through the essential basics like easy single-hand songs, reading notation, and eventually combining both hands.
So while Simply Piano’s linear approach may suit absolute beginners, Flowkey takes a more comprehensive route with in-depth lessons and a flexible learning path – making it better for self-learners looking to develop broad piano skills at their own pace.
Songs
When it comes to songs, both Flowkey and Simply Piano offer unique approaches.
Simply Piano focuses more on teaching songs integral to lessons, with around 120 classical or pop selections.
On the other hand, Flowkey boasts a library of over 1,500 songs spanning 20 categories, emphasizing versatility and choice.
While Simply Piano breaks down songs into sections for learning, Flowkey provides options like Slow Mode and Fast Mode, allowing learners to adjust the speed and loop passages for practice.
Additionally, Flowkey allows practicing each hand independently, offering more flexibility in learning.
Simply Piano supplements its song learning with 5-minute workout modes aimed at reinforcing skills and establishing good practice habits. These workouts incorporate various teaching techniques and provide a fun way to strengthen existing skills.
Both platforms offer recaps at the beginning of each course, but Simply Piano’s workouts stand out for their engaging and diverse approach to skill reinforcement.
Pricing
When it comes to pricing, Flowkey offers multiple options. You can pay $19.99 per month, $38.97 for three months (which is about $12.99 per month), or $119.99 for a yearly subscription.
They also provide a lifetime subscription for $299.99, which might be beneficial for teachers or larger families in the long run.
On the other hand, Simply Piano has its own pricing structure. It costs $59.99 for three months (about $19.99 per month) or $89.99 for six months (around $14.99 per month). Interestingly, Simply Piano matches Flowkey’s yearly price at $119.99.
So, if you’re looking for a cheaper option, Flowkey is more affordable if you opt for the quarterly payment plan.
However, if you prefer a longer subscription, Simply Piano offers competitive pricing, especially for six-month intervals.
Ultimately, the lifetime subscription from Flowkey could be a significant investment for those who plan to use the app for an extended period, especially for teachers or larger families.
Conclusion
When deciding between Flowkey and Simply Piano for learning piano, it really comes down to your personal learning style and preferences.
If you’re an absolute beginner, especially a younger student, Simply Piano’s game-like approach with interactive feedback and focus on popular songs could be a more fun and engaging way to start your piano journey.
However, if you’re looking for a more comprehensive and flexible learning experience with a vast song library across different genres, Flowkey may be the better choice.
Its structured lessons allow you to learn at your own pace, covering important fundamentals like posture and reading sheet music in-depth.
While Flowkey is speedier with its in-app functions, Simply Piano shines with its seamless hands-on interaction.
At the end of the day, your decision depends on your specific learning goals, budget, and which platform’s features better align with how you like to learn and practice the piano.