This looks like a software alternative to having an arranger keyboard / (or arranger workstation), which is nice. Arranger keyboards are great and all, but they cost money and take up space.<p>You may have used an "arranger keyboard" without knowing what that product category is. An arranger keyboard is designed to provide automatic accompaniment--backing tracks--at the touch of a button, in many different styles. Common low-end keyboards fall into this category, like the Yamaha PSR series and the Casiotone series. You may have one, or you may have purchased one for your children. There are also much more expensive, high-end keyboards in this category, like the Genos.<p>The simplest way to use the accompaniment is to trigger it from the left hand with a keyboard split. Here's what that looks like:<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWW9tyB__3o&t=706" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWW9tyB__3o&t=706</a><p>The general two purposes for arranger keyboards is (1) to let you perform as a solo act and (2) make it easier to write songs.<p>The other three common types of keyboards are synthesizers, stage pianos, and keyboard controllers.
This looks very much inspired by Band-in-a-Box.<p>A commercial software to generate backing music that my teacher recommended for training jazz improvisation.<p>The performance was okay. I found it too sterile. It didn’t really swing … especially for the target audience of jazz musicians. It was helpful though!<p>Judging from its look and feel, Band-in-a-Box is around since the 90s.
Didn't Microsoft have a tool/game like this aimed at kids? I remember a youtube video ages ago that generated music from humming or something.