Frequently asked questions about Piano Wizard Academy

We offer an unconditional 30-day money-back guarantee if you are not delighted.

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:

• Award-Winning Piano Wizard software (a revolutionary 4-step game to get your kids playing and reading music naturally).
• Piano Wizard Academy QuickStart Videos (to help you get set up and started).
• 200 ready-to-play songs are loaded into your software, with the ability to easily add any of your favorite songs and load them into the software.
• 50 video lessons online that guide you through every phase; Are geared toward parents, non-musical educators/piano teachers; *teaches you to be your children’s “music coach.”
• Contains the equivalent of a full year of college curriculum (but is created for kids and adults of all ages).
• 50 songs in printable sheet music (5 books of 10 each) that coordinate with the software and video lessons.
• 50 additional self-taught lessons.
• Star stickers to help you celebrate every time your children learn a new song!
• Color Coded Keyboard Stickers (washable and removable) to color-coordinate the keys of your keyboard with the computer game.

What separates Piano Wizard from all the other software methods out there?

Our piano software is a game that makes learning fun and effortless. You play first—no reading music required—and naturally absorb skills as you go. Unlike traditional lessons that start with theory, Piano Wizard lets you jump right in and play, learning music the way we learn language: by doing.

You follow a 5‑step learning method:

1. Play songs in the game with sound and color cues that guide you.
2. Learn timing and rhythm through play.
3. Transition from hitting keys to reading real sheet music.
4. Gradually decrease game-assist cues.
5. Play on a standard piano, applying what you’ve learned.
6. It combines entertainment with deeper musical understanding.

How is this different from Rock Band®, Guitar Hero®, or other software?  Is this just another type of advanced "air guitar" and a similar waste of time?

While Guitar Hero and Rock Band are fun games, they don’t teach musicianship or how to get away from the game and play a real instrument.

The Piano Wizard Academy does all that in minutes! Additionally, many have claimed that it is even more enjoyable than those popular games. You may have even seen similar-looking software...at least similar to our Step 1.  That's where comparisons end.

Who is this program designed for?

Perfect for:

• Children ages 5–12, with fun, game-style progression.

• Parents and homeschoolers—no music background needed.

• Teen and adult beginners who want to start at a relaxed pace.

• Unlike the earlier Piano Wizard standalone game, the Piano Wizard Academy includes structured lessons specifically designed to guide you from game-based play toward reading sheet music and playing the piano.

Does it replace a piano teacher?

Not at all.  Consider it pre-k for piano learning.  Since what we actually do is teach the player the language of music, we set up the user to be more prepared to continue their studies with a personal teacher rather than start the hard way and just give up.

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

We call it “learning for the rest of us”—because anyone can use it, no music background required. Parents, even with zero experience, can coach their kids simply by watching the videos and following the steps.

Set a routine (1–2 lessons a week) and stick to it. Your involvement matters: when parents stay engaged, kids stay motivated. The game handles the heavy lifting—teaching through play—while you provide structure, encouragement, and celebration.

Kids move fast, so your job is to guide the pace. Reward each level, praise their progress, and highlight key milestones like playing from sheet music. With your support, they’ll go from game to real piano—often in minutes.

Can I use Piano Wizard Academy for homeschooling music?

Yes! and many families do just that and have made it an integral part of their children’s home school curriculum.  No teacher? No problem. Our 5-step system turns your home into a music classroom—without the stress or high cost.

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 to use 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.

Piano Wizard Academy is designed to guide kids from playing a game to playing real music on a piano—with the help of a parent, teacher, or facilitator. Kids thrive on attention, praise, and structure, and when adults follow our step-by-step system, the results are powerful and motivating for both child and parent.

The multi-sensory feedback—visual, auditory, and kinesthetic—helps kids deeply absorb each song. Once a song is mastered, sheet music becomes a simple guide. They naturally begin to explore expression, nuance, and creativity—both in and out of the game.

This system works—if you follow it. Like a chainsaw, it only works when you turn it on. With our videos, software, sheet music, and clear path, your child can learn to play and read five songs in a week or less.

What are the system requirements for running the software?

Our Next Gen 2.0 SOFTWARE is FULLY compatible with Mac OSX and Windows 98 through Windows 7 / 8 /10 – 32 and 64-bit systems.
Windows 98SE / ME / 2000 / XP /Vista/ Windows 7 / 8 / 10 / 11
Macintosh Mac OS X versions 10.2.8 and higher but NOT compatible with Catalina or newer OS.
733+ MHz processor, 32 MB video card
200 MB free hard drive space
Internet access to register, update game, and download more songs.

Will it run on an iPad or tablet?

NO. You cannot run software programs on such devices, only “apps.”  That being said, we do have a Piano Wizard app in development.  It’s a much scaled-down version of our software.

My computer doesn't have a CD Drive

We provide a downloadable version of our software so you need not worry about not having a CD Rom.

What songs will I learn to play?

Piano Wizard software includes 200 songs – 100 lessons and 100 additional songs. Most are well-known recognizable traditional tunes ranging from Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to Beethoven’s 5th Symphony.

You can also import any MIDI file from a song that you want to play and it will render into our 4-step game format.

For the best results, use high-quality MIDI files. If you're comfortable with MIDI programming, you can even create your own—great for teachers adding custom songs. While popular songs are fun, our included classical and traditional pieces each teach essential skills. Once you've built a strong foundation, you can use Piano Wizard’s MIDI import to play the songs you love.

How do I use the sheet music?

Our software includes 100 lessons (equivalent to 2 years of children's level curriculum).  With Academy  we include video lessons and sheet music for the first 50 lessons all online.  Lessons 51-100 are self-taught. The object is to go through Steps 1-4 in the game, then move on to the piano (or digital keyboard) to play the lesson by reading the corresponding sheet music.

Does Piano Wizard teach Ear Training?

Yes—indirectly. Through repeated gameplay, students naturally connect keys with sounds. Singing note names in steps 3 and 4 also strengthens this.

While it doesn’t directly teach intervals or chords, teachers or parents can create ear training games in Free Play mode to explore these concepts in a fun, visual way.

Will learning with the color-coded system impede my child’s transition to a piano?

Not at all – and quite the opposite. There’s a reason we call Piano Wizard “training wheels for the piano”. When you learned how to ride a bike, you had training wheels. Then your parents took them off and held you until finally, you rode the two-wheeler on your own. The same process takes place with Piano Wizard (and the same excitement!). The transition is so natural through sensory learning and repetition that the color takeaway is hardly noticeable.

How soon can I go from the game to sheet music?

Surprisingly fast—often within 10 to 20 minutes. At demos, even total beginners play simple songs from sheet music after just a few guided steps. Many are shocked by how much they absorb once they stop overthinking and just play.

Piano Wizard immerses you in music so your brain learns naturally. And since you can import any MIDI song, the learning never ends. It's a complete, lifelong music system.

I don’t have a real piano.  How do I progress from the game to piano (Step 5)?

If you are serious about playing piano, eventually you’ll want a real one.  But if that’s not possible, digital keyboards will do.  While you are learning you can easily use your digital keyboard in step 5 (reading the sheet music).  If you are using our USB keyboard, just open up free play mode in the game.

How Do I Use Piano Wizard Academy?

Please refer to How To Use Piano Wizard Music Learning System.  Additional instructions can be found in the game's help section, or in our KnowledgeBase and online tutorials.

Please be sure to watch the Academy QuickStart Course.

What digital keyboards work with Piano Wizard?

Any digital MIDI keyboard will work with the software. Please review our Keyboards page or shop our selection.

I need help setting up my keyboard

Please review our Knowledge Base first, and then our Help Desk if needed. Also, review How To Connect Digital Keyboard To Computer

Do you accept Purchase Orders?

Absolutely. Please fax your P.O. to 1-303-530-4217 or for more information, click here. For more information on our school programs or to request a quote, please review our Bach2School page.

It sounds just too good to be true.

We get that a lot, always from folks who haven’t tried it. But our system has been proven, and we know it works. If you are still skeptical, we invite you to try it for yourself. Remember, we back it with our rock-solid money-back guarantee so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

What if I have technical issues?

If you encounter problems like missing sound, keyboard setup issues, or registration code errors, the support portal has step-by-step troubleshooting articles. If you still need help, you can submit a ticket to the team.