Learning Piano Made Easy

Who of us out there have always wanted to learn how to play the piano, or any instrument for that matter, but never could find the time or the patience that went along with such a task. For many of us, our musical careers ended in junior high when we swore to never play another instrument after the relentless repetition of “Hot Cross Buns” on the recorder for what seemed like hours.

Finally, Thad Starner, a Georgia Tech professor, has created something that gives all us musically challenged individuals hope. Starner has created a glove which is fitted with buzzers above the knuckles to effortlessly teach people how to play the piano. The glove is designed to teach people very easy piano songs while doing other tasks, or in other words – while not trying to learn. The buzzers within the glove vibrate the fingers individually to the beat of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” while the user listens to it in their ear. The result? The test subject can now play the song.

Now unfortunately, we cannot expect to see this product on Target shelves anytime soon. Instead, Starner is using this experiment and research in the noble act of trying to rehab patients with brain and spinal cord injuries. He has already successfully worked with an elderly quadriplegic man who has gained back motion in his hands due to the glove. The man also learned a little bit of piano along the way.