Go Beyond the Book with Confidence 💫

Meet Amie.

Amie came to piano teaching as a second career, and was dedicated to mastering her new profession. She tried classical lessons and several programs for teachers, but didn’t feel that they were impacting her teaching as much as she had hoped.

When she popMATICS, she immediately knew that this something different.

“Tony has done more to transform my teaching than anything else I’ve ever found.

The activities are immediately applicable to my students. I now have a reputation for working with students who were about to quit lessons. I keep them at the piano.

I love how the program works. 

It is exceptionally rare to find opportunities to watch someone teach in real time, with real kids and real songs, at all levels.”

How it works

  • popMATICS is a comprehensive musical curriculum based on popular music. You won’t have to change what’s already working for you in your lessons. popMATICS is the perfect supplement for any core curriculum.

    The five stages of our curriculum span the range from complete beginner materials to advanced functional harmony. We focus on patterns and landmarks, learning by listening, creativity, and our streamlined approach to music theory.

  • In the past, popMATICS was only accessible to teachers through private lessons with Tony. But the best way to learn new ways to teach is through direct observation.

    Our membership program invites you directly into the teaching space.

    Observe how Tony works with students in live classes. Or better yet, ask questions and participate as a student.

  • Take what you learn back to your studio! Share all of our activities, materials & resources with your own students.

    Free song sketches & chord charts, with new songs added weekly.

  • We host Teacher Workshops and are happy to take teaching questions in any of our regular channels (Live Classes, Office Hours, and in our online community).

Teacher Testimonials

  • "popMATICS is helping me grow as a teacher and musician in ways I never have before."

    I have studied classical piano at a collegiate level and have been teaching for 2 decades. popMATICS is helping me approach the piano from a new lens (more creatively and sound before sight). popMATICS is helping me grow as a teacher and musician in ways I never have before.

    Tony is an excellent teacher who cares about giving value to his students. He is good at what he does, but is also patient, humble and approachable.

    —Amy Benedict Stanger

  • "Tony Parlapiano at popMATICS helps my dream come true."

    I'm a classically-trained pianist and a piano teacher for three decades. I dreamed to be able to create my own music and play the piano without relying on the music score in front of me at the piano. Tony Parlapiano at popMATICS helps my dream come true.

    He has a unique curriculum to help music lovers develop improvisation skills by listening to music they love, by creating sounds on the piano, and by understanding the math behind the music.

    Tony is a passionate musician and teacher. He inspired me to realize the music knowledge I have stored in my brain into music on my fingertips at the piano. I highly recommend the popMATICS program for anyone who wants to experience the freedom of music making at the piano.

    —Grace Bunday

  • "Learning from Tony has been transformative for me, both as a pianist and a teacher."

    My popMATICS membership is GREAT! Learning from Tony has been transformative for me, both as a pianist and a teacher. His creative approach is accessible for every student. My membership has given me a completely unique opportunity to observe him teaching real students.

    I've benefitted from my membership both personally and professionally, and what I've learned has been immediately applicable in my own piano studio. popMATICS is a game changer for today's piano students!

    —Amie Ridges MacDonald

  • "Tony's passion for music and teaching is contagious! "

    Tony has an awesome style that is both comprehensive and laid back. His passion for music and teaching is contagious!

    His approach and material for teaching popular music and theory are a fantastic way to master the art of playing by ear while building a solid foundation to play for life (even after lessons).

    —Sarah Ryan Buckley