Synthesia uses falling colored bars like a rhythm game — fun, but it won't teach you to read notation. Piano Nova is the Synthesia alternative that renders real sheet music from any PDF, photo, or MusicXML you upload. Full feature, pricing, and use-case comparison below.
| Feature | Piano Nova | Synthesia |
|---|---|---|
| Upload your own scores | PDF, MusicXML, images | MIDI & MusicXML files |
| Sheet music display | Real notation | Falling notes only |
| PDF & image upload | Smart conversion | Not supported |
| Tempo control | ||
| Loop sections | ||
| Hands-separate practice | ||
| Wait mode | ||
| Sight-reading practice | Real notation builds skill | Falling notes don't |
| Built-in song library | Bring your own | 150+ songs included |
| Platform | Web, Android | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS |
| Pricing | Free tier, $11.99/mo, $79.99/yr, $199 lifetime | Free tier, $39 one-time |
This is one of the most common questions from pianists considering Synthesia. The short answer: no. Synthesia uses a falling-notes display — colored bars drop down the screen, and you press the matching keys. It's visually engaging, but it's not sheet music.
If you're learning piano to eventually read notation — for exams, playing in ensembles, or working through classical repertoire — falling notes won't build that skill. You need to practice reading real staves, clefs, time signatures, and dynamics. That's what sheet music apps like Piano Nova provide.
Piano Nova renders your uploaded scores as full traditional notation. You see the exact same sheet music you'd have on a music stand, but with playback, tempo control, and looping built in.
Synthesia is great if you want a game-like piano experience with falling notes. But if you're a musician who reads sheet music and wants to practice your own pieces — not someone else's library — Piano Nova is built for you.
Upload a PDF, a photo, or a MusicXML file. Slow it down. Loop the hard parts. Practice with real notation.
Try Piano Nova FreePiano Nova. Synthesia's falling-notes display is engaging but doesn't build sight-reading. Piano Nova renders full notation from any PDF, photo, or MusicXML — what you see is the actual score, with the same staves, clefs, and dynamics you'd find on a music stand. You also get tempo control, looping, hands-separate practice, and MIDI play-along.
No. Synthesia accepts MIDI and MusicXML files but not PDFs or images. Piano Nova accepts PDF, MusicXML, and photo uploads, converting them into playable scores.
Synthesia's falling-notes display doesn't teach music reading. If you want to build sight-reading skills, you need an app that shows real notation, like Piano Nova.
Synthesia has a limited free version. The full version is a one-time $39 purchase. Piano Nova offers a free tier (2 scores, 2 PDF/image pages, all features) with paid plans from $6.67/month.