JoyTunes

Simply Piano

Recommended Ages

K-12th Grades

Parents who didn’t grow up playing an instrument often feel intimidated about teaching music at home. Simply Piano offers an approachable way for beginners of all ages to learn using a tablet or phone plus any real keyboard or piano, giving instant feedback as students play along with step-by-step lessons and popular songs. Developed by JoyTunes, the app has won multiple EdTech and parent-choice awards and is widely used in homes and schools as a practice companion or primary curriculum. We love that lessons start with absolute basics, gradually introduce reading music, and let learners move at their own pace while still feeling like they’re playing real pieces. It’s a strong fit for self-motivated kids, teens, and adults who enjoy structured, screen-guided learning and want to practice several times a week. Families seeking deep music theory or intensive ear training will likely need supplemental materials, but for most beginners the value is excellent compared to private lessons alone. Pro tip: schedule short, consistent daily practice sessions and connect the device to external speakers so learners can hear both themselves and the backing tracks clearly.

Best for kids, teens, or adults who are excited to play recognizable songs quickly, enjoy app‑based learning, and will practice independently for short daily sessions; a strong fit for families wanting a gentle, low‑pressure introduction to music before investing in ongoing private lessons.

Pros

Lets kids start playing real songs quickly using any acoustic or digital piano, with instant visual feedback on notes and rhythm; offers graded courses from absolute beginner through intermediate, plus a big library of familiar pop and classical tunes; consistently praised by homeschoolers as an accessible way to begin piano lessons at home without needing a local teacher right away. 

Cons

Subscription cost can add up, especially for multiple children; scrolling notation and app‑based feedback don’t fully replace learning to read traditional sheet music or developing good technique, so some students hit a plateau; microphone‑based note detection can be finicky in noisy rooms; several pianists note that it offers limited music theory, expression, and hand‑position coaching. 

Simply Piano is sold through app stores and as a direct subscription; some charter and ESA programs reimburse it as a music curriculum, but families should confirm with their provider since approval is not universal or centrally listed.

$85 per level

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Simply Piano
$85.00 USD

Skills

What kids will learn
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Music
Music
Piano
Piano
Instruments
Instruments

Simply Piano Mission

Simply Piano’s mission is to bring joyful, high‑quality music learning into every home by using technology to give learners step‑by‑step lessons, instant feedback, and songs they actually want to play. Built for both acoustic and digital keyboards, it’s designed to make real instrumental skills feel achievable for beginners of all ages, not just kids with access to traditional lessons.

Simply Piano Story

Simply Piano was created by JoyTunes—now Simply—a Tel Aviv–based company founded in 2012 by brothers Yuval and Yigal Kaminka and technologist Roey Itzkovsky, who wanted to make music education far more accessible. After building a powerful audio‑recognition engine and early apps used by many piano teachers, the team launched Simply Piano as a structured, self‑paced course that listens to your real instrument and adapts to your progress. The company has since rebranded around the Simply name and expanded into guitar, singing, tuning, and even drawing, but Simply Piano remains its flagship product, recognized by Apple and Google with multiple top‑app awards.

About Modular Learning

FAQ: Additional Details about Simply Piano

In a typical session, your child places the device on the music stand, taps “Start,” and plays along with a scrolling on‑screen staff; wrong notes turn into gentle prompts, correct runs light up and unlock coins, and finishing a song brings a satisfying “level complete” screen and the option to replay or move on.

Simply Piano is a subscription‑based app that listens to any acoustic or digital piano through your device’s microphone (or MIDI) and walks learners through step‑by‑step courses, from basic note recognition to chords, pop songs, and classical pieces. Lessons are structured as short, interactive exercises with instant feedback, so families can treat 5–20 minutes a day as their core piano practice block. 

For younger kids, parents often sit nearby to help with posture, hand position, and motivation, while the app handles instruction; older learners can work independently, with parents mainly tracking progress and encouraging consistent practice.

Learners need access to a piano or keyboard, basic ability to follow on‑screen directions, and enough hand size and coordination to press individual keys; reading music is not required because the app teaches it gradually.

Simply Piano’s guided, app‑based lessons give immediate feedback and let kids practice independently, which can work well for ADHD and autistic learners who like structure and repetition. Some may be overwhelmed by fast progression or constant feedback tones, so families can limit session length and turn off competitive features.

App‑based piano can be a good fit for 2e learners who like immediate feedback and self‑paced progress. Headphones and visual cues can lower performance anxiety; coordinate with an OT if finger positioning or posture are difficult.

Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled through the app store; charges are generally non‑refundable once a period has begun, with any exceptions handled via Apple or Google Play’s standard subscription‑refund procedures rather than by the publisher. 

Not ideal for advanced students, serious classical training, or families who want a traditional method with intensive note‑reading and technique from the start; may frustrate learners who dislike screens or need a lot of in‑person encouragement.

Consider supplementing or replacing Simply Piano with live or online lessons, Hoffman Academy, Piano Marvel, or a local teacher using methods like Faber Piano Adventures for deeper theory and technique. 

Simply Piano is actively updated with new songs and courses and has continued to refine its feedback engine and curriculum; it’s also now part of a broader family of JoyTunes music apps. 

Use wired or Bluetooth headphones and place the device on the music stand so your child can clearly see both the keys and the screen, and periodically record short performances to share with grandparents or friends to keep motivation high.

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Meet Yuval

Yuval Kaminka is the co‑founder and CEO of Simply (formerly JoyTunes), which he launched in 2012 with his brother Yigal and colleague Roey Itzkovsky to bring music learning into “every single household around the world.” A longtime music lover and technology entrepreneur, he has led the company as it built its MusicSense audio engine, grew to millions of learners in 180+ countries, and partnered with organizations like Trinity College London to offer recognized certification through its apps.