To get off to a good start, let's get to know the app. It is divided into three sections. From the bottom up: first, the color-coded keyboard. Then, the navigation section. And finally, on top, the composition module.
All interactions are done by playing the keyboard, pressing buttons, and interacting with the composition module.
Pressing piano keys randomly is noise. Pressing them in a color-coded pattern is where real music starts.
The pattern uses three red keys and three white keys. Look at the image and note that the red keys are named C, E, and G. Below, the white key names are B, D, F, and G. The G key is special and a member of both the red and the white group.
When composing, it is not important to press the right key, but it is very important to press a key that belongs to a certain color group. In Step 4, we will expand on this concept.
In Step 4, as well as in Modules 2 and 3, we will learn about those two color groups in great detail. For now, just understand this: we never simply play any key. We always play keys that belong together.
Above the keyboard is a simple control panel with six buttons. The buttons on the left help you jump to the information you need to read or listen to. The buttons on the right let you compose and listen to the compositions you make.
If you need to look up some information, just press one of the STEP 1, 2, 3, or 4 buttons. When you are ready to compose, press the COMPOSE button. After that, you see the composition module. Now, when you play a key, the composition module remembers which key you played and even writes the note for you.
The Little Composers Piano is made for composing music. If you rather just play, it is better to use the prePiano Two app, which is similar but does not have the composition module built in.
The SHOW ME button can play every composition you make. When you are done with a composition, press SHOW ME and listen to it. Because every composer must be able to play their own compositions, take a moment to practice so that you can play it for others.
If you are working on a composition, do not leave this page. If you do, you will lose your melody.
The heart of the Little Composers Piano is the composition module. Unlike prePiano Two, which composes music for you, this app lets you do the composing. To help you, we have color-coded the notes and grouped them into four groups.
In the next module, you will learn about the composition module in depth. For now, remember this: we divide notes into groups of four. The last group has only three, and that is by design. Every melody you compose will follow this pattern: four groups of four notes, with the final group holding just three.