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Unlocking the Brain Benefits of Flow State in Early Music Education
Have you ever felt frustrated or bored while learning to play an instrument? This usually happens because students don’t always feel like they’re in flow state when practicing and learning — that mental zone where time seems to vanish and you become utterly absorbed in the activity. Learning to play an instrument isn’t just about mindless practice; it’s a complete brain workout! Sometimes, the mental gymnastics required to master an instrument can be challenging, pushing students to their limits.
Today, let’s delve into the fascinating world of flow state. We’ll discover how it’s reshaping the way students approach learning an instrument, and why it’s vital for nurturing young musicians who often find the journey too difficult or anxiety-ridden.
Flow State: A Brain Booster for Young Musicians
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s groundbreaking work in his book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience uncovered the concept of flow state. While it’s often associated with professional musicians and athletes, it can be a game-changer for budding musicians too.
Getting into flow state during music education is like unlocking a secret door to peak performance and enhanced learning. It is a state of complete concentration, where the outside world fades away and the music becomes the sole focus. It’s an optimal mental state where creativity and skill meld seamlessly, leading to a truly immersive musical experience. Flow typically occurs when the challenge of a task matches a student’s skill level. When the challenge is too low, a student might feel bored, and when it’s too high, they may become anxious.
In the world of music, entering flow state often involves selecting pieces of music that are just challenging enough to stretch a student’s ability, but not so difficult that they become frustrated. This is a lot harder than you might think, given the many variables of musical complexity within a single piece of music.
Bridging the Dropout Gap in Early Music Education
Traditional early music education isn’t all sunshine and harmonies. In fact, dropout rates among young music students are alarmingly high (~50% before they reach the age of 17). The typical grind of discipline and hard work can turn the sweet symphony of learning into a sour note.
So, how do we keep students engaged and passionate about music? The answer lies in integrating flow state into the early stages of learning an instrument. Positive feedback is also crucial. When students feel tangible progress in their education, they’re more likely to enter flow state. And when they receive praise for their efforts (not their achievements), they’re more likely to create positive feedback loops of internal motivation. This combination makes learning something new deeply engaging and gratifying.
The Art of Sight Reading: A Gateway to Flow State
One of the most effective ways of reaching flow state while learning an instrument is through sight reading. Sight reading is the act of reading and playing music at first sight. Sight reading pushes students to train their reading and playing skills without relying on muscle memorization, which often becomes a crutch when practicing a single song repeatedly. If the challenge is in the “Goldilocks zone” of their skill level (not too hard, not too easy), then flow state is engaged.
Sight reading, if personalized to a student’s skill level, allows them to drop into flow, immersing them in the process of learning.
MuseFlow: Your Gateway to Flow State Learning
Enter MuseFlow, a web app set to transform how students learn piano, especially in the early stages. Instead of assigning one piece of music which exercises many skills all at once — thus making it hard to isolate practice on a specific technique — MuseFlow guides students through new rhythms and notes in isolation first, then embeds that new skill into the rest of their musical knowledge later on, all while immersing them in a constant stream of new music.
In the first level, students learn how music is written, basic rhythms, their first note, and how that one note is played in both hands. Then, they simply start playing. The metronome sets the pace, a guiding cursor shows the next note, and they play each note on the spot while sight reading.
Rather than playing a passage of music, stopping, then repeating that same piece of music over and over again until it’s perfect, MuseFlow pushes students to keep playing no matter what. Getting stuck on previous mistakes is one of the most common ways for students to get knocked out of flow state and lose motivation. In MuseFlow, new music will continue to appear and help them hone their skills in ever-changing contexts, instead of stopping the flow to go back and repeat music they’ve already played.
This is the heart of flow state — that groove that students find themselves in, where time seems to fade away and the joy of learning takes center stage. It becomes just about passing each level, mastering each small new concept, one by one. They start to recognize those aha moments: “Oh my gosh, I’m getting it! I’m really getting it!” When they eventually pass the level, they experience a rush of dopamine and feel a sense of achievement that propels them forward on their musical journey.
Why Flow State Learning Matters
Csikszentmihalyi’s research reveals that being in a state of flow can turbocharge the learning process. It’s not only about making learning more enjoyable — it also boosts information retention. By weaving flow state into MuseFlow, we’re tackling the dropout crisis head-on. When students are deeply engaged in the process of learning an instrument, it boosts their motivation, achievement, and enjoyment of learning.
Curious about what MuseFlow has to offer? Visit www.museflow.ai to find out more. If you have a MIDI keyboard and a computer, try out the beta version at www.beta.museflow.ai. We can’t wait to hear what you think and set out on this musical journey with you!
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How to Play a MIDI Keyboard
A MIDI keyboard is very much like a piano or digital keyboard - they both have the same keyboard layout, and they can both play that classic “piano” sound. However, a MIDI keyboard can do much more than just let you play the piano! In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits of MIDI keyboards and different use cases for playing them - DJs and music producers, composers, and finally music students.
Introduction
MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. It is the instrument that translates a musical keystroke into 0s and 1s so a computer can interpret your actions. MIDI keyboards, or MIDI-compatible keyboards, are used by DJs and music producers as their main sound producting instrument. You can load many different sounds onto it - a grand piano, a synthesizer, strings, whatever you’d like - hook it up to your computer, and play those sounds as part of a larger whole.
MIDI Keyboard for Producers and DJ’s
Producers and DJs write their music in any number of DAWs out there - Digital Audio Workstations.
Typically, they use a MIDI keyboard to quickly play out different parts of a musical arrangement.
Use Case for Composing an Indie/Pop Tune in Logic Pro X
Instrumentation:
- Drums
- Electric Bass
- Piano Synth
- Lead Guitar
- Horns
- Set the Tempo:
- Set the tempo (speed of the song) in your DAW (Logic Pro X) for how fast you want it to be.
- Record the Electric Bass:
- You look through a bunch of electric bass sounds and find that you really like the Liverpool Bass sound, so you upload that to your DAW.
- Start recording and play the MIDI keyboard in that sound to the tempo you’ve set.
- Experiment by recording several takes until you find a groove you really like.
- Lay Down the Drums:
- Choose a drum kit SFX that you like and that maps well to your MIDI keyboard.
- Record the drum part by playing the keys on your MIDI keyboard associated with the drums or cymbals you want to include.
- This will take some experimentation so be patient! Enjoy the cacophony that comes with this percussion instrument. you’ll soon find a pattern you love.
- Record the Piano Synth:
- Browse through the synth sounds in Logic and try out a few until you find one that fits the vibe of your song.
- Record some simple synth chords. Keep it understated… the goal is to fill out the sound without drawing too much attention.
- Record the Lead Guitar and Horns:
- Find samples of a lead guitar and horns that you really like.
- Load them into your DAW… they’ll map to your keyboard.
- Play and record these parts in time with the rest of the instruments to complete the arrangement!
If you want to add vocals to this piece, write lyrics and come up with a melody. Consider different structures for your song. Repetition is key here. We as humans like to hear things a few times so we can really understand it.
MIDI Keyboards for Composers
If you’re looking to compose something that someone else will need to play, you’ll need to write it down on sheet music. The process is very similar to what DJs and producers do, but instead of a DAW, composers usually write their music in music notation software. They use a MIDI keyboard as their main instrument.
Use Case for Composing a Classical Piece in Sibelius
Instrumentation:
- Strings (Violin, Viola, Cello)
- Flute
- Clarinet
- French Horn
- Timpani
- Set the Tempo and Time Signature:
- Open your music notation software (Sibelius) and set the tempo and time signature for your piece.
- Compose the String Section:
- Start with the strings (Violin, Viola, Cello).
- Choose a rich, warm string sound. Begin by notating the main harmonic structure with the Cello. Make sure there’s a solid bass line in there.
- Add the Violin melody, keeping it simple and lyrical. Then, fill in the Viola with harmony.
- All of these instruments will be on separate staves, so you’ll want to choose the orchestration template so you have all these instruments on one sheet of music.
- Experiment and Refine:
- Play back the string section to ensure it flows well. Make adjustments to the harmonies so it sounds good, then add dynamics, articulations, and phrasing to make it musical!
- Add Woodwinds (Flute & Clarinet):
- Add a Flute line… possibly doubling the Violin melody or adding a counter-melody.
- Introduce the Clarinet with supportive harmony or another counter-melody. Keep it light to complement the strings.
- Copy the dynamics you have for the strings. Make sure it all lines up nicely.
- Incorporate the French Horn:
- Notate the French Horn part. This adds warmth and depth to the harmony. The French Horn can also provide rhythmic support or reinforce the bass line with the Cello.
- Consider articulation here - A percussive articulation could be fun for rhythm, or a smooth, flowing articulation could be nice for a more lyrical interpretation.
- Compose the Percussion (Timpani):
- Add the Timpani to provide rhythmic structure and emphasize key moments. Keep it subtle; the Timpani is there to support, not dominate. Unless you want it to dominate :).
- Playback and Adjust:
- Listen to the piece with all the instruments together. Fine-tune the dynamics, articulation… balance between the sections to ensure each instrument's role is clear.
- Finalize the Score:
- Review the entire score, ensuring all notation is correct. Play along with it on your MIDI keyboard so you can be sure it’s exactly the way you want it to sound. Double-check that all dynamics and expression markings are consistent throughout the piece.
- Export and Share:
- Export the score as a PDF and, if needed, as MIDI or audio files. Share the sheet music with performers or collaborators!
MIDI Keyboards for Piano Students
Whether you’re a beginner or expert, there are piano learning software options out there for everyone. You can use your MIDI keyboard to learn piano. Let’s map the same process above to setting up your keyboard and computer and using one of the best piano learning software out there, MuseFlow.
Use Case for Learning Piano with MuseFlow
Equipment:
- Computer (laptop or desktop)
- MIDI Keyboard
- USB/MIDI Cable (compatible for both your keyboard and computer)
- Chrome or Edge Browser
- Set Up Your Equipment:
- Turn your computer is on.
- Connect your MIDI keyboard to the computer using your USB/MIDI cable.
- Make sure the cable is compatible with your keyboard and computer.
- Open MuseFlow in Chrome or Edge:
- Go to http://museflow.ai.
- Sign up for MuseFlow.
- Make Sure Your MIDI Keyboard is Connected:
- Go through the welcome flow and get to the roadmap.
- Try to play a few notes and make sure they come out of your speakers.
- If not, go to the settings and ensure that “device speakers” is toggled on.
- Choose a Level Where Your Skill Matches the Challenge:
- Find the level that fits your skill level.
- Look at the preview images of the music in the levels and see what you can play.
- Try a Few Levels:
- Go through the tutorial, and play along with the music.
- Start the level, and play through a few bars. If it’s too easy for you, try another level.
- NOTE: The first tier of each level is easier than the later ones, so you may want to play the full level to see if it’s a good place to start for you.
- Continue From There:
- Once you’ve found the level that’s right for your skills, go ahead and pass that level, then move on to the next!
- The tiers/levels should be fairly easy to start, then get harder as you go along.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a producer, DJ, composer, or music student, MIDI keyboards are the perfect instrument for you to play. See the above step-by-step guides to see how you can use your keyboard in each scenario. Keep rocking it, and we’ll see you on the next one!
Curious about whether MuseFlow is right for you? With a MIDI keyboard and a computer, you can try it out at beta.museflow.ai. We can’t wait to hear your feedback as we make music education available and engaging for everyone!
The Best Way to Learn to Play a MIDI Keyboard: Discover Why MuseFlow is the Best Choice
Do you have a MIDI compatible keyboard at home or in a studio and you want to learn to play the piano with it? MuseFlow has your back, and answers this question with a big “come on in everyone! Every type of keyboard is welcome!” Let’s first discuss the differences and similarities between a MIDI keyboard and a piano. Then we’ll dive into what MuseFlow is and why it’s the best platform for you to learn how to play your MIDI keyboard.
Interested in MuseFlow? Try it for free for 7 days!
What Is a MIDI Keyboard?
We’ll keep this short. A MIDI keyboard is a keyboard that sends musical information through its digital interface to your computer or laptop (See MIDI - Musical Instrument Digital Interface. Music can be broken down into rhythm, pitch, velocity, volume, sustain, and a bunch of other information categories. When you play a note, the information associated with that note and how you played it gets converted into ones and zeroes and is sent to your computer or laptop via your MIDI device. It’s the most reliable way to make sure the information of what you’re playing gets to your laptop or computer exactly the way you played it.
Usually a MIDI keyboard is hooked up to your computer via a USB cable or through Bluetooth. See MuseFlow’s FAQ “Where can I buy a ‘plug and play’ MIDI keyboard and cable, and which one is right for me?” for more information on MIDI keyboards and the cables we recommend.
A piano, on the other hand, is an acoustic instrument that doesn’t require electricity to play. It has hammers attached to the keys on a keyboard, which hit strings of certain lengths that ring out to create sounds at certain pitches. When you press down on a key, those strings for that pitch ring out. The vibration of those strings create the sound waves you hear!
The keyboard on a piano is laid out the same as a MIDI keyboard, and the pitches are the same. It’s just that a MIDI keyboard is a digital version of a piano, and relies on electricity to run. A piano is an analog version of the MIDI keyboard, which is solely a digital instrument.
Why MuseFlow is the Best for learning MIDI keyboards
MuseFlow is a piano education application that teaches you how to play the MIDI keyboard through sight reading (the act of reading music at first sight).
For the best connection possible, you’ll want a MIDI keyboard connected to your laptop or tablet. That is the most reliable form of connecting any MIDI keyboard to MuseFlow. It will know if you held the note long enough, played the note correctly, or missed it all together. It can even tell if you grazed a wrong note just slightly!
With the precision offered by MIDI keyboards and MuseFlow's ability to connect to them, it stands as the #1 piano learning app for this reason alone! Not to mention the fun you’ll have with its gamified approach to learning music. Each level is a new skill you need to learn (a new note, or new rhythm). And once you play four phrases of music in a row at or above 95% accuracy, you are moved onto the next level.
Conclusion
If your goal is to learn how to play the MIDI keyboard, MuseFlow is the best piano learning app out there to get you to where you want to be. With the level of accuracy and accountability a MIDI keyboard offers you in your learning journey, it is the #1 tool you can use to better yourself and improve your piano skills with MuseFlow.
Try MuseFlow today! Sign up for your 7-day free trial and learn how to play your MIDI keyboard with ease.
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