Is it really possible to learn how to play the piano with an iPad?

An intriguing possibility is to combine an iPad with a Midi keyboard. Then you have a real keyboard with the proper feel, and access to GarageBand and all the piano apps of the iPad. This is probably more useful to an advanced musician who is interested in recording multiple tracks and using synthesizer sounds. For a beginner you can get a simple keyboard with a built-in speaker or headphone jack and have most of what you need. The more money you spend, the better the keyboard - for example you can get keys that are weighted to act like real piano keys rather then the weightless plastic keys on the cheapest models. However, with a Midi keyboard and the $29 Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit, you can connect your keyboard to the iPad.

To some extent, this depends on the application: most that I've seen cannot display more than an octave at a time, ultimately limiting what you can accomplish.  An octave is enough for the exercises I would assign to a pre-K/Kindergarten student, but as the pieces and exercises move to two hands and multi-octave spans you're in trouble. Mr. Paterlini's point about tactile feedback is also important.  An experienced pianist can play in the dark or blindfolded, but only based on the physical contours of the keys.  Such feedback is impossible with a tablet interface. Yet another critical element is finger strength.  I assign an advancing student increasingly difficult exercises (scales in four octaves, parallel scales, scales in contrary motion, arpeggios, diminished-seventh chords, &c, &c).  These are intended to increase dexterity and finger strength, preparing the student for similar passages in the repertoire.  While you may be able to perform similar exercises on a tablet's screen, you will not be able to attain the same strength and dexterity that a physical keyboard demands. In summary, you can learn the basics: how notes sound, which keys correspond to which pitches, beginning exercises, and extremely basic pieces.  Further advancement will quickly hit the wall of the device's limited screen real estate and lack of tactile feedback.

Yes it is somewhat possible however one thing you cannot learn is the real feeling of pitch and tone control. For a real piano your hand needs to adjust to a certain amount of strain and a full sized multi-scaled paino. In iPad you need to change scales using some options. You cannot play complicated songs like that. Chords don't feel right (although they sound OK). You know it's something you need to figure out yourself. Real Piano is still the best way to learn. Anyways here are a few apps for you 1. iGrand Piano 2. Magic Piano 3. Garageband 4. Virtuoso Hope this helps, Rahul

Of course not. Since there are no keys on the iPad (and piano still has them), it's impossible to learn how to play it. What you can do is try to learn where on the piano the single notes are, but in my opinion it's impossibile to learn how to play without it. It maybe different if you already play the piano - it would be probably fun to use the iPad from time to time :)