You've got questions. Here's a few answers to frequently asked questions about Piano Wizard.

What exactly is the Piano Wizard Academy?

It’s a complete piano learning system designed to simply and intuitively teach you and your children how to play the piano. It requires no previous experience and it makes the process fun. At the core is an engaging computer game that slowly and naturally progresses toward basic and advanced piano learning concepts. You also get unique tools to help you become your child’s music coach … even if you’re not particularly musical yourself.

What do I get in this package?

You get a complete system that lets you teach your children how to play the piano. The Piano Wizard Academy exclusive package includes:

1. Professional USB Keyboard with USB cable (plugs right into your computer)
2. Award-Winning Piano Wizard software (a revolutionary 4-step game to get your kids playing and reading music naturally)
3. Piano Wizard Academy quickstart DVD (to help you get setup and started)
4. 200 ready-to-play songs loaded into your software with the ability to easily add any of your favorite songs and load them into the software as well
5. 50 video lessons in 10 DVDs that: Guide you through every phase; Are geared toward parents, non-musical educators and piano teachers; Teach you to be your children’s “music coach”
6. Contain the equivalent of a full year of college curriculum (but are created for kids and adults of all ages)
7. 50 songs in sheet music (5 books of 10 each) that coordinate with the software and video lessons
8. 50 additional self-taught lessons
9. Star stickers to help you celebrate every time your children learn a new song!
10. Stickers (washable and removable) to color-coordinate the keys of your keyboard with the computer game

I already have a digital MIDI keyboard

No problem – you can buy Piano Wizard Academy bundle with or without a keyboard. If you use your own keyboard you will a cable to connect it to your computer. If you already have such a cable you are all set. If not, then you will need to purchase an appropriate cable, usually MIDI-to-USB. See our SHOP area for catalog.

What separates Piano Wizard from the other software out there?

Piano Wizard is a video game. As such, it makes learning fun. By playing the game the user experiences a hidden agenda of practicing. And practice is the key in learning. The game incorporates sensory learning with the use of visuals and sounds.

When combined with the Academy, it becomes much more than a video game – it is a complete music learning system.

How old should my child be to use the system?

We recommmend age 3 and older. However, we have seen children as young as 2 using it. That will depend on how well the child knows their colors and how intelligent and disciplined they are. But on average, age 3 and older.

Is this just for kids?

Not all. People of all ages have enjoyed Piano Wizard – from kids to seniors. The “background themes” may give the game the look of a child’s game, but they can be changed to suit your taste.

Can I use Piano Wizard Academy for homeschooling music?

Yes! And many parents do just that.

Is there a guarantee?

Yes, the Piano Wizard Academy comes with a solid money-back guarantee. Once you open and register your product, take up to 30 days to try it out with your family. If you don’t like it for any reason, simply return it. Music Wizard Group will refund your entire purchase price (all you’ll have to pay for is shipping). As Chris (the founder) from Music Wizard Group says; “you’d be hard pressed to find a piano teacher with that kind of guarantee.”

Please note that this policy does not apply to digital download products as once order is received, no refunds can be granted. There are no digital downloads associated with Piano Wizard Academy though.

Will I (or my child) really learn to play piano?

We get that question a lot, because it just seems too good to be true. But in fact, the game was designed primarily to teach people to easily play and read music, not just to entertain, but using play and interactive feedback as a guide and motivator. That being said, once the game came out we saw that the kids tended to stay within the game if not invited to the piano, but that when they did get invited to play on a real piano, they loved picking out the songs they had learned.

Our whole Academy is designed specifically to systematically bring the kids off the game onto the piano, playing real music they learned in the game, but it requires a facilitator such as a parent, a non-music educator or piano teacher to reinforce that behavior, habit and goal. That outside facilitator and coach could get incredible results if they just knew how to walk their students or children through the sequence. Kids want to please, and want to be rewarded, and they want attention and interaction with their parents. That is the food they seek, and by structuring our Academy to be a great musical facilitator of that precious time spent together, we found this had a natural and wonderful bonding effect and motivating force on both parents and children that led naturally to showing off at the piano…really quickly.

The visual, aural and kinesthetic feedback and interaction cross train the mind to master the little universe that is the song in amazing ways. Once a song is mastered, the music notation is merely a reminder and guide of a path well traveled. Then they can explore the pedal, the phrasing, the nuance that makes music so personal and so special. Endless variations and little experiments in sound ensue, both in and out of the game.

Do we think the Piano Wizard Academy is the only program or instruction you will ever need? We hope not, there are wonderful teachers out there ready to take you into the next levels of technique, phrasing, interpretation, improvisation and the deeper arts of music, but this game can take you surprisingly far, mainly because it lets you practice almost any song or passage, and master that, and then go to the next level. The real gift and secret is that this is a joyful way to practice, and the music making just comes.

I am not musically oriented – how can I help my child with the program?

We call the Piano Wizard method “learning for the rest of us”. You don’t need to be musically inclined or educated to learn to play, or to help your children learn to play. Simply watch the DVDs and follow the steps.

When it comes to any educational program, it’ up to the parents to “guide” the child through. Kids are easily able to adapt to a schedule, so we recommend you set a routine of 1 to 2 lessons per weeks and stick to it. If the parent loses interest or suddenly finds he or she no longer has the time for it, the child may lose interest too.

How soon can it take it to the sheet music?

At trade shows we regularly can take an absolute novice from zero to playing a simple song with both hands from levels 1 to 5 (reading the sheet music) in 10 to 20 minutes, depending on their inhibitions. (Some people have so much musical trauma from past bad experiences, half the battle is getting them to stop criticizing themselves and talking themselves down, and actually try. Those are the most amazed, because they didn’t start at zero, they started at negative 50 in their minds.) Afterwards they are stunned at how much they learned, and the sheet music they just read. The mind is an incredible sponge, you just can’t fill it up with an eyedropper, you need to immerse it in action and interplay, then it absorbs.

The short answer is YES. So fast you won’t believe it, even after you did it. And because it is open source converting any MIDI into a new game, any new song can be imported at will, there is no upper limit what you can do. It is really a self-contained music learning system for life. Enjoy.

I was just looking to purchase the software and can’t find it on your site

We’ve asked customers this question: “Would you rather spend $100-$200 on a video game, or would you be willing to pay more to get a complete music learning system?” Most choose the latter. While the software alone is fun, engaging a quite effective, it provides no feedback, no discussion of technique, and no direction. With the Academy package, you get your own personal teachers (The Beatties) who lead you every step of the way. There is simply no comparison with the results you will achieve with the entire system v. the software alone.

I’d like to try it first to see if it’s right for us

You have 30 days to try it in your home as it is covered by our no-risk money back guarantee

I like this bit doesn’t it seem a bit pricey?

Some may intially think that it seems expensive, but if you consider the fact that piano lessons can run into the thousands of dollars (per child!), Piano Wizard Academy is in fact an excellent value. If you break down the price, one can determine the cost is less than $6.00 per lesson. (and you get a keyboard too!)

Plus, we’ve made it simple for families to try it without risk in their own homes for 30 days. If you find it’s not for you, simply return it for a full refund. It’s been proven to be equivalent to 1-2 years of piano lessons with a hands on instructor!

What's the difference between Piano Wizard 2.0 and 1.x (Premier)?

2.0 (Next Gen) is our new game engine which features enhanced graphics and sound. Our Premier software sound output used the MIDI sounds on your computer - and in many cases, didn't sound too good. Next Gen uses Soundfont technology - digital samples of real instruments. Now the game sounds exactly the same on any computer system. Next Gen doesn't introduce new features to the game - yet. But the new engine will allow for ease of future development as we plan to implement new features in future upgrades.

The first product containing the new engine was our Holiday Starter Version. A few months later, we released Cymphonique Piano Wizard. The 2.0 game engine has now been implemented in our Next Gen software (replacing Premier), and currently available with Piano Wizard Academy.

If you are looking for a low cost and affordable way to see if Piano Wizard is right for you, feel free to try our Cymphonique Piano Wizard Starter Version. But if you are serious in learning or teaching your child piano now, Piano Wizard Academy is the way to go.

Is Piano Wizard compatible with Windows 7?

Our Next Gen SOFTWARE (2.0) is FULLY compatible with Windows 7 32 and 64 bit systems.

In regard to our discontinued Premier Software, there is an issue with Vista upgraded to 7, a non-fresh install can cause issues but has been resolved by using Windows XP Compatibility Mode when running the Piano Wizard Premier software. The M-Audio KeyRig 49’s native software (LiveLite?) is NOT compatible with Windows 7. This has no effect on usage with our game. The M-Audio KeyRig 49 also has issues with plug-and-play in some instances of Windows 7, however, that issue can be EASILY remedied by following a few simple steps on the M-Audio website.

Still have questions? Please contact us.