Immersive Metaverse Piano Tutorial: Comparative Analysis of VR Interaction Methods

This study details the development and evaluation of an immersive Virtual Reality (VR) piano tutorial system designed to teach musical scales within a Metaverse environment. Built using Unreal Engine 5, Blender, and the Meta XR SDK, the system features a fully interactive virtual piano equipped with hand-tracking technology that allows for natural, gesture-based interaction. A step-by-step tutorial guides users through learning the C-major scale. Thirty participants tested the system and completed a survey evaluating aspects such as the intuitiveness of hand tracking, responsiveness of keys, sound quality, seating comfort, and overall user experience. The findings showed high levels of intuitiveness in hand tracking, strong key responsiveness and immersive sound quality. However, 16% of participants noted discomfort due to suboptimal seating positions, suggesting a need for ergonomic improvements. Interestingly, mild dynamic distractions within the virtual environment appeared to improve memory recall. Participant feedback emphasized the system's capability for music education and entertainment, with 80% of subjects recommending it. This work highlights the potential of VR-based musical tools to break down physical barriers, improve accessibility, and inspire creative exploration, while also pointing to areas for further technical and ergonomic refinement to support more effective learning experiences.