Casio Releases A Free Music App That Makes Learning To Play The Keyboard Fun

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Chordana Play App Chordana Play App

CASIO RELEASES A FREE MUSIC APP THAT MAKES LEARNING TO PLAY THE KEYBOARD FUN
Chordana Play Features Casio Keyboard Link Functions and Piano Roll Window That Enables Users to Visualize Notes and Keyboard Position

DOVER, NJ, January 19, 2017 - Casio America, Inc. announced today the release of Chordana Play, a free app for smart phones and other devices. The app makes it fun for users to learn to play the keyboard by displaying notes graphically in real time in the piano roll window.

In 1980 Casio released the Casiotone 201, its first electronic keyboard. Since then, it has developed a series of original electronic instruments, including Key Lighting Keyboards, in an effort to encourage people to play music. More recently, Casio has been developing free music apps. In 2013, Casio released Chordana Tap, which had chord analysis technology, and in 2015, it released CHORDANA TRACKFORMER, which can automatically compose electronic dance music (EDM). By focusing on both electronic musical instruments and music apps, Casio is aiming to bring the fun of music to an even broader range of people.

Chordana Play is a free music app developed with the vision of enabling people who have no experience playing an electronic keyboard to have fun, while also helping experienced keyboard players expand their repertoires.

Electronic Keyboard in the App Makes Playing Fun
The app can automatically play a variety of 50 songs, from pop to classical. As the song plays, the app displays the correct keyboard position for both hands in real time in the piano roll window. Thanks to this feature, even users who cannot read a musical score can have fun learning to play. Of course, users can play by touching the virtual keyboard, and they can go even deeper with the lesson function and scoring function.

App Can Be Linked with a Casio Electronic Keyboard
Chordana Play can be linked with LK-265 or LK-266 Casio Key Lighting Keyboards, as well as CTK-2500, CTK-2550, or CTK-3500 Casio standard keyboards.*1 Chordana Play can connect to these new Casio keyboards using a standard audio cable. No special USB cable or connection kit is required for use and the app will work on both iOS and Android devices. Users can play along with the data from the app in real time, or they can save the song data to the keyboard. Furthermore, the key lighting system on the LK-265 and LK-266 keyboards can be used for lessons with song data sent from the app.

Wide Range of Functions Enables Users to Make the Most of Their Musical Skills
Users can import song data (MIDI format) into Chordana Play. Equipped with original chord analysis technology, the app automatically generates a suitable chord accompaniment for the left-hand part. Like the built-in songs, imported songs can be displayed in the music score*2 and piano roll. Users can link to an electronic keyboard even when playing imported songs.

To learn more about Chordana Play or Casio’s full portfolio of electronic musical instruments, please visit www.CasioMusicGear.com

Main Specifications

Platform iOs Android
Released on App Store Google Play
Google Play Music Music & Audio
System Requirements iOS 8.4 or later required Android4.4 or later required
Available Songs 50 built-in songs. MIDI files can be imported via browsers such as Safari. 50 built-in songs. MIDI files can be imported via browsers such as Google Chrome.
Chord Play feature automatically determines chords and generates chord accompaniment for the left-hand part. Specify right- and left-handed parts in the track settings.
Music Score Window Shows score for right-hand only, left-hand only, or both hands.
Specify number of measures per line.
Piano Roll Window Shows piano roll notation for right-hand only, left-hand only, or both hands.
Specify the number of measures shown (from 2 to 8 measures).
Specify the size of the visible keyboard (up to 61 keys).
Song Playback Standard playback and AB repeat.
Change tempo (20 to 300 bpm).
Transpose key (-12 to +12).
Lesson Functions Step lessons (Off / 1 / 2 / 3).
Specify part (both hands / right hand / left hand).
Scoring feature.
Keyboard Link Function Performance Mode Transmit melody and chord data along with the song playback.
Save Mode Save the song data to the keyboard device.
*1 A commercially available 3.5mm stereo mini-plug cable (stereo mini plug to stereo mini plug) is required.
*2 Based on the MIDI file, the grace notes and other musical ornaments are omitted from the music score.
*IOS is a trademark or registered trademark of Cisco in the U.S. and other countries..
*App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.
*iPad and Safari are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
*Android, Google Chrome and Google Play are the trademarks or registered trademarks of Google Inc.

About Casio America, Inc.
Casio America, Inc., Dover, N.J., is the U.S. subsidiary of Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of consumer electronics and business equipment solutions. Established in 1957, Casio America, Inc. markets calculators, keyboards, mobile presentation devices, disc title and label printers, watches, cash registers and other consumer electronic products. Casio has strived to realize its corporate creed of “creativity and contribution" through the introduction of innovative and imaginative products. For more information, visit www.casio.com.