How My Mom’s Duolingo Journey Changed My Mind About Piano-Learning Apps

As a piano teacher and a doctoral-level pianist, I’ve always approached music education the traditional way—scales, repertoire, technique, and, of course, time. Lots of it. So I never gave much thought to piano learning apps. I mean, what could a piece of software possibly offer that decades of study and a conservatory education hadn’t already taught me?

Turns out, I was about to learn something new.

“A Game Is Just a Game... Or Is It?”

Picture this: my mom is Vietnamese, studied in Russia, and doesn’t speak a word of English. She dreamed of visiting me in the States but had zero interest in slogging through traditional English classes. Instead, she started playing around with Duolingo on her iPad.

I thought, “A game? Really?” But she was hooked. She loved the chimes, the little green owl, the daily streaks—what looked like a toy to me turned into a powerful learning tool for her. Slowly but surely, she began understanding signs, holding short conversations, and even responding to my American friends with confidence.

That’s when it hit me: maybe learning can be playful and powerful.

“Put in Your 10,000 Hours... Or Not?”

If a language-learning app could work for my mom, could piano-learning apps do the same? I mean, who decided that learning music had to be dull, repetitive, and rooted in the infamous “10,000 hours” rule? (Although... I did clock in way more than that.)

But not everyone wants to be a concert pianist—and they shouldn’t have to be. Some just want to play their favorite piece at a friend’s wedding or surprise their loved one with “Clair de Lune” on a quiet evening. If an app can help spark that joy, is that really any less valid than studying Czerny etudes for months?

That’s when I started questioning my assumptions: What if learning piano could be joyful from day one?

“Sometimes You Can’t Escape Your Worst Enemy”

When the pandemic hit, it was chaos. My students dropped off one by one—Zoom fatigue was real, and my usual in-person tricks (like passing out stickers or chocolate) didn’t translate online. I couldn’t see their hands clearly, couldn’t adjust posture, and definitely couldn’t hear nuances over laptop microphones.

Meanwhile, apps were rising to the occasion. I saw friends and colleagues turning to software like Piano Marvel, and I’ll admit, I was hesitant. But when my university adopted it for our group piano classes, I had no choice—I had to dive in!

And honestly? It surprised me.

Piano Marvel gave me something I didn’t realize I needed: structure and flexibility. I could assign pieces, track practice time, give students feedback asynchronously, and even access a whole library of repertoire. Suddenly, I wasn’t chasing students for practice logs—they were chasing me for their next monthly challenge.

“Teach Me Moonlight Sonata in 2 Weeks to Impress My Girlfriend”

We all know this student: the one who doesn’t want to “learn piano”—they want to learn one showstopper piece to impress someone. And before, I’d sigh internally. But now? I see it differently.

Maybe that “Moonlight Sonata” request is their gateway drug. And apps like Piano Marvel make that kind of entry point possible. These students might start for the wrong reasons, but some of them stick around for the right ones. I’ve seen it happen—again and again.

Sometimes, one viral moment, one app reward, or one piece they actually love can unlock a lifelong love for music.

“AI Is Taking Over Our Jobs!”

Let’s talk about the elephant in every teacher’s studio right now: the rise of AI and learning apps. I get it—there’s fear. What if we get replaced? What if students stop needing us?

But in my experience, these tools haven’t replaced me—they’ve enhanced what I do. Apps like Piano Marvel can reinforce skills between lessons, track progress more precisely than a notebook ever could, and keep students accountable in a way that feels modern and motivating. I’ve even had students improve faster because of the gamified practice environment.

And for teachers? Tools like the Piano Marvel Library let us publish our own arrangements and curriculum, reaching students around the world. I’ve uploaded pieces there that now help not only my students, but thousands of others I may never meet. That’s something a local studio could never do.

Final Thoughts

What I’ve learned is this: piano learning apps can be a game-changer. They can make learning piano feel like an adventure instead of a chore. While nothing replaces the magic of human connection (yes, I’m still stubborn!), these apps bring excitement and accessibility to students who might never have picked up music otherwise.

How do you use tech like Piano Marvel in your music life—whether you're teaching, learning, or just playing for the drama of it all? I wanna hear how you're mixing apps with old-school vibes.