Simply Piano
Simply Piano was crafted by JoyTunes, a leading music education company. The app was developed to democratize music education and make piano learning accessible and enjoyable from home. Co-founder and CEO Yuval Kaminka, alongside his team, launched JoyTunes with a vision to combine music educators' expertise with advanced technology, thereby simplifying the piano learning process. Simply Piano has earned recognition for its innovative approach, winning multiple awards such as the World Summit Awards in mobile content and Apple’s Editor’s Choice. It has also gained a vast user base, reaching millions globally (Music & Creativity) (Wikipedia). The Simply App has since expanded to offer guitar and singing lessons as well.
Differentiation: What sets Simply Piano apart is its 'playing-based' approach, similar to learning a language through immersion. It contrasts starkly with traditional 'reading-first' methods, promoting immediate hands-on playing. This method allows learners to start playing familiar tunes right from the beginning, integrating musical theory and skills as they progress (Wikipedia) (The Music Ambition).
How to Get Started: Getting started with Simply Piano is straightforward. After downloading the app, users can immediately start with introductory courses that cover basic piano concepts and simple songs. This setup makes it easy for homeschoolers to integrate piano lessons into their routine, recommending daily short sessions to steadily build skills (The Music Ambition).
How It Works: Simply Piano is designed as an intuitive, user-friendly app perfect for homeschooling environments. Learners begin with basic lessons and gradually advance through different paths depending on their interest—be it pop chords or classical music. The app provides instant feedback on playing, with visual cues that help in correcting and learning from mistakes. Homeschoolers can efficiently use Simply Piano independently, with minimal setup and no need for extensive prior preparation (The Music Ambition).
Educational Content and Languages Included:
Basic to intermediate piano skills
Music theory integrated with practical playing
Styles include classical, blues, jazz, and popular music
Courses in reading sheet music, chords, and playing techniques
What’s Good About It: Users appreciate the seamless blend of learning and playing, the variety of music genres covered, and the app’s ability to cater to different skill levels. The immediate feedback mechanism and the structured learning paths that keep the experience engaging and progressive are also highly valued (Music & Creativity) (PianoDreamers.com).
What Could Be Improved: Some users note the app's limitations in advanced music theory and the inability to customize aspects like tempo during practice. The requirement for a compatible keyboard and issues with note recognition on acoustic pianos are points of friction for some users (PianoDreamers.com) (The Music Ambition).
Advice from Parents: Many parents suggest starting with short, daily sessions to build a routine without overwhelming the learner. Ensuring that the keyboard or piano is fully compatible with the app to avoid technical issues is also recommended. Some also advise supplementing app lessons with traditional music theory for a more rounded education (The Music Ambition).
Who It’s an Ideal Fit For: Simply Piano is perfect for homeschooling families looking for a flexible, engaging way to introduce music education. It's especially suited for beginners and intermediate players who enjoy a variety of musical styles and want to see quick progress in their ability to play songs (The Music Ambition).
Who It’s Probably Not a Fit For: Advanced players or those seeking in-depth classical music training may find the program limiting. It's also less suited for learners who prefer traditional, structured, and theory-intensive piano lessons (The Music Ambition).
Grades: Suitable for all ages, from young children through adults.
Cost: The app offers various subscription plans ranging from $59.99 for three months to $119.99 for a year (Music & Creativity).
Ways to Get It: Simply Piano is available for download on both iOS and Android platforms, accessible through the App Store and Google Play respectively.
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For the last 20 years, I’ve taught over 2000 children in 3 countries (of all socio-economic backgrounds). I pioneered an English language program in a conflict region in the Middle East. I’ve worked as a bilingual public school teacher at some of the highest and lowest performing public schools and in all five boroughs of NYC. I’ve tutored 18 subjects in three languages to some of the wealthiest families in NYC, San Francisco and Paris to make up for shortcomings in private schools they were paying up to $60,000 a year to attend.
Since 2015, I’ve helped hundreds of parents start microschools (way before this was a household buzzword). I founded CottageClass, the first marketplace for microschools and learning pods that was part of the Techstars 2018 class. In 2019, I created a virtual learning program to help families through the pandemic, a free online math tutoring program (masteryhour.org), and schoolclosures.org, a hotline developed in collaboration with Twilio and 80 other partners including Khan Academy, Revolution Foods and the Crisis Text Line, that served 100,000 families impacted by school closures.
I’ve climbed trees with children in forest schools in San Francisco, and tested new digital apps with kids in seven countries.
I’ve also coached dozens of families at different stages in their homeschooling journey. Most recently, I founded Modulo with homeschooling dad, best-selling author and tech entrepreneur Eric Ries, to help families curate their children’s education, social and childcare experiences drawing from a diverse array of in-person and online resources.
During the last three years, I’ve devoted much of my time to reviewing and testing secular homeschooling curriculum and other resource. I’ve spent the last three years talking to thousands of secular homeschooling families, and poring over tens of thousands of secular curriculum reviews and testing physical curriculum and digital apps for with hundreds of students to find the highest quality, most engaging, personalized learning materials for every type of learner.
I’ve spoken about homeschooling and modular learning at multiple venues including SXSW EDU, NY Tech Meetup, and on the LiberatedEd podcast.
In 2022, Modulo was one of 8 organizations who were awarded the Bridge Grant from the Vela Education Fund to expand access to homeschooling and modular learning to under-resourced communities.
My experience in education and homeschooling has led me to believe that there is no perfect education for every child, but families have an extraordinary amount of wisdom they can apply to building the perfect education for their individual child.
My goal with Modulo is to make it possible for any family to easily build a customized education that their child will love, and that will empower the whole family to thrive, taking into account, social, emotional and academic needs.
I love to answer questions from parents and receive feedback on how we can improve Modulo, so feel free to reach out anytime! I personally answer all the questions and comments readers leave on my blogs.
In my free time, I like hiking, traveling the world, tasting ceremonial grade matcha, enjoying dark chocolate.
I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Brandeis University with highest honors, with a double degree in French Literature and American Studies and minors in Environmental Studies and Peace & Conflict Studies.
And I love to learn!
Right Start Math review: For a highly visual, and hands-on math curriculum, Right Start Math is a favorite mastery-based choice for families that dislike worksheets. A phenomenal option for kids who thrive with hands-on-learning, gifted kids, and also children with dyscalculia.