ION(www.ionaudio.com) announces immediate availability of PIANO APPRENTICE, a portable lighted-key piano learning system for iPad, iPhone or iPod touch.

PIANO APPRENTICE transforms iPad, iPhone or iPod into a personal piano instructor. The PIANO APPRENTICE App (a free download from the App Store) is designed by ION to work seamlessly with PIANO APPRENTICE, creating a comprehensive music-learning experience. 

Piano players follow Emmy award-winning piano instructor, Scott “The Piano Guy” Houston, who demonstrates hand positions while the PIANO APPRENTICE keys light up in time with the song. PIANO APPRENTICE’s clever design places Scott’s hands on-screen directly above your hands, providing a direct and intuitive learning experience.

In addition, PIANO APPRENTICE can be used as a controller for many other applications, including GarageBand. PIANO APPRENTICE operates via CoreMIDI, making it capable of controlling any CoreMIDI app. So PIANO APPRENTICE will first teach aspiring musicians how to play and then enable them to create music using their favorite applications.

Other modes will teach aspiring pianists how to read sheet music, by highlighting musical notes, or allow them to play the piano at any octave they choose. The keyboard itself is touch-sensitive, allowing for a range of volumes and more expressive music creation. PIANO APPRENTICE is lightweight, battery powered, and has built-in speakers so you can play anywhere.

“PIANO APPRENTICE is truly a first-of-its-kind music learning tool for iPad, iPhone or iPod, said Wendy Mittelstadt, Product Manager, ION. “Learning to read and play music has never been easier, more portable or accessible for people of all learning levels than it is with PIANO APPRENTICE.