Factsheet
Developer:
Real Keys Music - Play Along Keys
Based in Framingham, MA, USA
Founding date:
August 1, 2006
Website:
playalongkeys.com
Press / Business contact:
press-contact@playalongkeys.com
Social:
twitter.com/PlayAlongKeys
facebook.com/playalongk/
YouTube playlists
Releases:
Play Along Keys
Browser
Address:
Real Keys Music
32 Pine Lane
Framingham, MA 01701-3802
Phone:
(508)271-7824
Description
Play Along Keys is a music performance game for everyone from Real Keys Music that is both fun and authentic. With most music games, you play on a simulated piano or guitar, but when you play the same way on a real piano or guitar, your playing is meaningless. Not so with Play Along Keys! These are the real notes of the song. If you play enough to get a high score, you may find that you can go to a real keyboard and play the same song part that you did in the game. Play Along comes with a free large set of song-games.
History
Early historyBruce Cichowlas made the discovery that for many melodies and other musical parts, only about seven different keys are needed to play them. If only those keys are highlighted on the keyboard, it makes it much easier for a novice to find and remember the keys. This is similar to the reason that people can remember seven-digit phone numbers easily, but not numbers with more digits. It is also similar to the number of actual things that you do on a game controller regularly --- often four directions and about three buttons.
From game console to phones and tabletsPlay Along Keys was originally designed for the XBox and required a special keyboard to highlight those keys for each song. However, the increasing capabilities of the screens and audio of tablets and phones made them a natural for Play Along Keys. The first version of Play Along Keys had only a few songs. There have been many updates to add many additional songs as well as better analysis of the player's performance and comparison with local, Facebook and global players. Play Along Keys welcomes requests for additional songs.
Company PurposeReal Keys Music offers Play Along Keys free without add-ons or advertising to promote peace and understanding through playing music. It is intended to be safe and useful for all. As a performer, Bruce noticed how easy and natural it was to trade music ideas in jazz or a jam with players from other parts of the world or from different cultures, even if no spoken language was shared. This seems so important and valuable that Real Keys Music has covered the development costs and music production costs as well as the server costs and music licensing fees in order to bring this to the public. Perhaps some day a sponsor will be recruited to help cover costs and be associated with the app in a NPR-like sponsorship way.
More content, more capabilitiesBoth popular and traditional new songs are added on a regular basis. Capabilities have been added to track each player's performance with their local and Facebook friends, as well as track global performance rank for a song.
Projects
Videos
Brief Demo YouTube
How To Play YouTube
Take Your Game To A Real Piano YouTube
Young boy plays along with Jingle Bells on Play Along Keys YouTube
Images
There are far more images available for Real Keys Music - Play Along Keys, but these are the ones we felt would be most useful to you. If you have specific requests, please do contact us!
Logo & Icon
Selected Articles and Quotations
- "People communicate by playing music together without even sharing a language. It's important for mutual appreciation, understanding, communication and peace. That's why Play Along Keys is free and safe for everyone."
- Bruce Cichowlas, Real Keys Music founder - "Fun music game with a wide range of songs to play along with. Hoping this improves my piano playing."
- Perry Grossman, Android App Reviewer - "The interesting thing about Play Along Keys is that not only is it melody-matching as opposed to rhythm matching, it's actually educational. So you learn the song on the keyboard and you can transpose it to a real piano and you'll be able to play that song."
- Neil Tinegate, EMI Music VP of Digital Projects, Billboard Biz @ MIDEM Music Expo - "This game has its own fun way of teaching the player to learn some of their favorite songs. There are three simple steps to learning your choice of song.
1. Pick a song in the Play Along library. Almost every week this game is updated with more songs.
2. Practice what you learned on Play Along Keys.
3. Take your skills acquired to a real piano.
This was a fun overall experience which is why I gave it 5 stars."
- The Melon Gamer, iOS App Reviewer - "Before I played this game I was a non-piano player, but now I can pluck out tunes and play the songs a real piano that I have played in the game! It is so much fun and super addicting trying to earn all platinum scores for each song. This app is incredible!"
- PowPow8, iOS App Reviewer
Additional Links
Play Along Keys You Tube channel
Demos and tutorials youtube.com.
Team & Repeating Collaborator
Bruce Cichowlas
Designer, Developer, Musician
Marco Farsheed
General Manager
Luke Roberts
Musician
Chris McRobbie
Graphics Designer
Contact
Inquiries
info@playalongkeys.com
Twitter
twitter.com/PlayAlongKeys
Facebook
facebook.com/playalongk