Keyboard Info
We recommend that you use a MIDI or USB keyboard in order to take advantage of the interactivity of Playground Sessions, including real-time feedback, scoring, badging, and progress visualization. However, even if you don't have a MIDI or USB keyboard you still get tons of value from our Bootcamp curriculum, video song tutorials, great arrangements at all levels and printable sheet music.
There are two main types of MIDI keyboards:
1. MIDI & USB keyboards with their own speakers and sounds
2. MIDI & USB controllers that do not have speakers or built-in sounds, so they need to be connected to a computer.
Both types of keyboards work very well with Playground Sessions. And both will sound equally great since we have our very own piano sounds built into the software.
MIDI controllers tend to be less expensive (some are even under $100) and more compact so they fit better on a desk near your computer. For Full MIDI keyboards you’ll have to turn off the volume on the keyboard to hear Playground’s piano sounds. Full keyboards give you the advantage of playing without needing to be plugged in to a computer, since they come with their own speakers. With a full keyboard, you can play anywhere and more easily play in front of friends and show off what you’ve learned!
Casio CTK-4200 Portable Keyboard
M-Audio Keystation 61es
MIDI Keyboard Requirements
We recommend a 61 key keyboard, although most of our arrangements (including all rookie and intermediate arrangements) were designed so that they could be played on a 49 key keyboard. The extra keys make it a bit more comfortable to play. We also recommend keyboards with a USB connection - most keyboards made after 2000 will have USB capability.If your keyboard doesn’t have a USB connection, you can purchase a MIDI-to-USB adapter (see link below). Of course if your MIDI connection works fine with Playground there is no need.
