Excellent App and Customer Service
I have been a user of the flowkey app for the past four months and am very impressed. I am using the app for teaching myself how to play the piano and the integrated approach of listening, viewing and then playing is fantastic. The app shows me the proper fingering of the notes, along with the sheet music. Flowkey‘s ability to “hear” my playing is very cool.
With respect to the Customer Service Team, they are incredibly quick in replying and extremely thorough. I had an issue with the app on two different iPads and reached out to them for a solution. They were very responsive and I give them the highest marks of excellence.
Bravo flowkey!
With respect to the Customer Service Team, they are incredibly quick in replying and extremely thorough. I had an issue with the app on two different iPads and reached out to them for a solution. They were very responsive and I give them the highest marks of excellence.
Bravo flowkey!
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Useless without “premium”
I have been searching everywhere for an app or book that can teach me to play piano but I was not successfully. This app sounded like a good idea... I learned to play a simple song: ode to joy. When the app let me roam free around to pick another song, I soon figured out that as I had no subscription, I could only play 8 songs! When I opened up a “beginner “ song... I was shocked... the song I found listed under beginner was extremely difficult. As I was attempting to learn it, the app suggested that I take a course on learning the piano. I found many lessons... it was EXACTLY what I had been searching for... but APPARENTLY it was too good to be true... I tapped on the first lesson of how to read sheet music. I felt fine and relieved to take the first lesson... but when I finished it, the app told me I needed a “premium” plan... I was fuming! As realization struck me, I found out that the long winding list of lesson types with even more lessons within them required (once again !) a “premium plan”
So to put it simply, the functionality of LEARNING how to actually USE the piano is not very possible on this app without a subscription of $20 a month!!!!!!!!!
So to put it simply, the functionality of LEARNING how to actually USE the piano is not very possible on this app without a subscription of $20 a month!!!!!!!!!
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Helpful but pricey
I used another service to teach myself the basics so I haven’t tried the lessons. There is a pretty good song selection and there is a tool to help loop. However, it would be beneficial if the songs came with preset loops that you can follow along in a kind of lesson to master the song. This way was very helpful another program and would add value to flowkey. There is also an issue using this on my Mac because I am told I have to download another app to use my midi cord but then am told I can’t download it. Overall, good idea and selection but could use some more user friendly ways to navigate inside a song without having to continually change the loop to practice.
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Great learning system
This app has excellent visuals, clear instructions and well thought through lessons. I have not played the piano or learned to read music before and this program caters well for beginners like me. What I like about this program is that you can revisit lessons to get more practice and focus on areas that pose a challenge. I very much like the way that the video clearly shows where the hand is placed as music is played and the ability to scroll in time through a piece of music. I have only scratched the surface of this app and I am confident that Flowkeys will be my go to music bible in years to come.
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Love/Hate
I have a love/hate relationship with this app. I love the interface. I hate, seriously hate, the music selection. For the beginner and intermediate levels, you are only given snippets of songs. Only the advanced and pro levels are given the full songs. I even emailed them about this and they gave me a ridiculous answer about how playing snippets of easy songs will enable you to play the full advanced version. Right. Further, there are beginner and intermediate snippets that have no advanced version. I really feel like this is bait and switch. Look at our great music selection - btw, you only get a few lines. Ranting aside, I do love the interface and keep coming back to it. I just have to ignore all the beginning and intermediate versions. Which works for me, but totally stinks for beginner and intermediate students.
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Excellent concept and works better than I expected
This app is excellent for practicing music. It allows you to loop a section and the microphone pics up sound very well.
There are times when it is a little buggy, but regardless I’ve seen a huge improvement in my playing. If you can sit down and play, it’s like having somewhere there to help you practice.
There are some features that I wish were available, like the ability to toggle on and off which notes are supposed to be play next so that you can practice reading the notes yourself. I also wish there was the ability to add markers and save your progress. These are minor things though and overall I’m very happy with the way this app works.
There are times when it is a little buggy, but regardless I’ve seen a huge improvement in my playing. If you can sit down and play, it’s like having somewhere there to help you practice.
There are some features that I wish were available, like the ability to toggle on and off which notes are supposed to be play next so that you can practice reading the notes yourself. I also wish there was the ability to add markers and save your progress. These are minor things though and overall I’m very happy with the way this app works.
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Happy to recommend flowkey
I’m new to flowkey but so far so good 👍 it’s easy to understand, easy to follow and easy to use. You work at your own pace and you can repeat courses until you’re satisfied to move on, which happens quicker than you think possible. Highly recommended you have nothing to lose only a gain in playing with confidence
Angela S Australia
Angela S Australia
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Serves a purpose, there are work arounds for lack of sheet music
I took lessons for years when I was a kid, never very good, but I still like to dabble on my own. The app helps me A LOT for this first couple hours learning a piece. It's much faster than me working on my own. However, after a certain point the app is no longer helpful. That's when i start needing the sheet music to work at my own speed and drill problem areas. The app just isn't good for that and I can't memorize pieces like this app is apparently expecting you to. Overall it serves a purpose up to a point but then you really need the sheet music. some songs arranged by their "partners" do have sheet music available on the partner's website. for the other songs I've resorted to taking screenshots of measures then piecing them together on my computer. not ideal but it works. the classical music obviously has sheet music you can find on other sources. for that reason i upgraded it to four stars. minus a star for expense.
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Not what I expected.
I am an experienced pianist, so cannot comment on the teaching tools, but I am disappointed with the sheet music, as in there is none. My complaints:
1. You must play from the line that only shows a few bars at a time.
2. You cannot slow the speed of the flow - at least not that I can figure out. I’m a good sight reader, but It would be nice to be able to do that when first learning a new song.
3. You only see the key you are in at the start of the flow. I would like be able to glance at a key signature from time to time, especially in songs where it changes throughout.
4. I would like the option of downloading the sheet music so that I done have to deal with the flow line only. I would be fine with a small fee to download a digital file.
5. There seems to be a glitch in connecting to Bluetooth. My Roland has a blue tooth connection - this is the first time I’ve had trouble connecting.
6. It does not seem there are 1000+ songs. Where are they hiding?
What I like — the partners arrangements and being able to hear and see their scores - albeit a few bars at a time. I will need to go to them to purchase the digital files and hopefully they are available from them.
If you want to try it - pay for one month only to see if this is something for you. I paid for 3 months and unless I see some other benefits, that will be all I am in for.
1. You must play from the line that only shows a few bars at a time.
2. You cannot slow the speed of the flow - at least not that I can figure out. I’m a good sight reader, but It would be nice to be able to do that when first learning a new song.
3. You only see the key you are in at the start of the flow. I would like be able to glance at a key signature from time to time, especially in songs where it changes throughout.
4. I would like the option of downloading the sheet music so that I done have to deal with the flow line only. I would be fine with a small fee to download a digital file.
5. There seems to be a glitch in connecting to Bluetooth. My Roland has a blue tooth connection - this is the first time I’ve had trouble connecting.
6. It does not seem there are 1000+ songs. Where are they hiding?
What I like — the partners arrangements and being able to hear and see their scores - albeit a few bars at a time. I will need to go to them to purchase the digital files and hopefully they are available from them.
If you want to try it - pay for one month only to see if this is something for you. I paid for 3 months and unless I see some other benefits, that will be all I am in for.
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Response from developer
Thanks for your detailed feedback. We definitely appreciate that - even though we're really sorry to hear that flowkey does not meet your expectations yet. I hope, I can help you to get the most out of your subscription, so I'd like to help you with the different practice modes: After you've selected a hand that you want to start practicing, you have three different speed options: flow mode (where the app waits for you to play the correct note), 50% speed and 75% speed. It's true, when the key signature changes in a song, it doesn't stay at the beginning of the stave - however in songs that keep the key signature throughout the song, you'll always see it at the beginning of the stave. Downloading the sheet music is indeed not possible and we want to find a solution for that. Most partner arrangements can be found online though, and our support can help you finding them as well. If you should still have troubles with the Bluetooth connection, please contact our support via mail: support@flowkey.com They are always happy to help. Hope we can help you get the most out of your subscription!
Incredibly false-advertised.
Their subscription page says you will have access to 1000+ songs. In reality, there are actually 216. Note that the selection is decent for such a small slice of the music world, but there is no excuse for such Lies. I wanted to like this app, but many of the songs are only portions of said songs, which differ in quality. If you are going to spend 20$ a month, or more outrageously, 300$ for a lifetime subscription, you ought to get a real tutor. Unless the price drops to adjust to the song quantity and quality, you will do better elsewhere.
Edit: raised stars because developer responses are great forms of customer service. I will look into the matter and contact your team. This has been greatly appreciated. Will be in contact soon.
Edit: raised stars because developer responses are great forms of customer service. I will look into the matter and contact your team. This has been greatly appreciated. Will be in contact soon.
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