NoteID

CNET Editors' review

by: CNET staff on August 28, 2009

NoteID provides users with a simple tool for learning notes and keyboard positions for budding pianists. With a simple layout and nice testing software, there are only a few dull spots on this mostly excellent program.

The program's interface allows for quick learning, regardless of piano experience. A full keyboard layout and the well-planned controls guide users through the process. However, a Help file is available for added security. Users begin by playing a game that teaches specific notes on the screen's piano keyboard. Users are shown their scores after they click a button to ask for more questions and tasks. Tasks are usually specific to notes (such as, play scale steps of C Major) and certainly require some previous piano knowledge to complete. In addition to the testing, users can play the piano with all notes shown on a scale on the screen, which we thought would help users learn to read music. Our only gripe with this program was there was no way to input note name (or a sequence of notes) and see them laid out on the keyboard, which we have seen in similar programs. However, the program is still an adequate teaching tool. NoteID's best feature is its MIDI compatibility, which allows users to plug in an external keyboard and get an actual feel for playing.

While it didn't offer all the functionality we expected, what this freeware program did provide was a great step toward learning how to play the piano.