Growing up, I always wanted to be in a band. I started piano lessons when I was 6 and, by 10 years old, I was getting pretty darn good! I used to turn up the stereo and try to play along with my favorite songs, but it was really hard because I usually couldn’t keep up (or the song was in a difficult key). I got better at it over time, but it was a slow process. Thankfully, it’s MUCH easier for kids today to “play with a band” whenever they want – thanks to some cool new technology from Hal-Leonard!
There are several sites on the Internet where you can download MIDI files for free. Many of these MIDI files will include all or most of the background instrumentation for the song you want to play, including drums, guitars, horns, etc. With the right software or digital piano, you can even mute the parts you don’t want to play along with! Even better, you can easily change keys and/or adjust the playback speed so you can mute the melody part and enjoy playing along with “the band” just like I did as a kid (minus all the frustrations I had back then)!
Why would you want to do this (aside from just “having fun”)? Well, one of the best things about playing with a backing track is – it makes you a better musician! It trains your ears to listen differently and look for ways to “fit in” with the other instruments and you learn to “feel” the song in ways you can’t when playing alone. It helps you hear and correct “wrong notes” quickly. It makes learning rhythms and tempo easier… and – since it IS so much more fun – it makes you want to practice more! I can’t think of a better practice habit for pianists of all skill levels!
The only downside to MIDI, however, is it can sound somewhat mechanical. The backing instruments are computer generated so they sound good, but not as “lifelike” as an actually in-person band. That’s where newer, game-changing technology from Hal-Leonard comes in.
Awhile ago, Hal-Leonard launched their incredible Sheet Music Direct Play-Along app and it transformed the way we played the piano. With backing tracks made from real audio recordings of live bands, SMD offered an experience that was even better than playing along with MIDI files! The app even let you change keys, change tempo and make on-screen notes! It was THE way to play – especially if you had it connected to a Clavinova or Roland Digital Piano.
Unfortunately, due to changes within iOS, the Sheet Music Direct Play-Along app was discontinued and is no longer available. Thankfully, we’ve found a workaround that still gives you most of the vital functionality (and all of the great music to play along with)! You just have to be a bit… creative… with how you access it.
Check out this short video we did explaining the process:
Now you can once again enjoy playing along with “the band’ without sacrificing the authenticity of your experience. You can still speed up the music or slow it down. You can even change keys! Play-along is back thanks to Hal-Leonard’s “Sheet Music Direct” website (when accessed via a mobile device). You just might have to use more than one app to do everything the old app used to. It’s a small price to pay for the experience though! Once you start playing with the band, you’ll never want to stop!
Why not give it a try? By integrating these tools into your practice routine, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of rhythm and harmony while enjoying more creative freedom than ever before! Don’t miss out on the best way to play piano in 2025! Embrace the “background band” and unlock new levels of expression in your piano playing today!
