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cadr | 2 months ago

I used to get so much done on my BART commute. Also learned piano on a little 25 key midi keyboard until the program I was learning from started needing a 26th key.

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firefax|2 months ago

I used to get frustated that the train shook so loud that in combination with the sound of the train I struggled to listen to podcasts, kudos to you.

cadr|2 months ago

I sometimes would bring ear-protection headphones that I'd wear over my earbuds to muffle the train noise.

gozzoo|2 months ago

That's so cool. Can you share more about this. What program and keyboard did you use? Did you proceed with more serious learning?

cadr|2 months ago

I used an Akai LPK25 with my iPhone (using the Camera Connection Kit and a combined usb hub/dac) and an app called Simply Piano. They make a wireless version of that now that would simplify the setup a great deal. It is a mini keyboard and the keys are quite small, but in my experience it was fine for the beginner stuff (and the keyboard is useful in general later). As I said before, I stuck with this until the app started using keys outside the range I had.

Now, as for "did I proceed with more serious learning" - I alternate though a ton of hobbies. So I moved on after that, though still go back to it from time to time. But I also have other musical interests and it was helpful to those as well.

Also did a lot of music on the commute on my iPhone with Korg Gadget (and Caustic before that). Sometimes with a keyboard, sometimes without.