Play Music.

Not Just Notes.

We make music as easy to PLAY as it is to LISTEN TO.

Piano Lessons. Reinvented.

You're standing outside the concert hall. Ticket in hand.

The music is right there. You can hear it. But you're stuck on the sidewalk. You can't get inside to fully experience the music.

Most piano instruction keeps you outside the concert hall. Recreating music note-by-note from a page. Hit one wrong note (as you inevitably will) and you freeze.

You're building a house without a foundation, and that's backward.

At popMATICS, we flip the script. We start with listening and creating before reading. The same way you learned to speak.

Play what you hear in your head.
Improvise without overthinking.
Build real fluency. Not just technical muscle memory.

Music should be as easy to PLAY as it is to LISTEN TO.

It's time to fall in love with the piano again.

A woman playing a piano by ear or improvising in a bright room with a window seat visible in the background.

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Look, we get it.

You've tried the YouTube rabbit holes. The "easy" chord books. Maybe another online program.

And you're still here. Still looking. Because something is missing.

Here's the truth: Most of those tools just teach you to copy. Memorize this pattern. Follow these lights. Play from this lead sheet. It works for a song or two—until you forget. Because you're still a spectator

At popMATICS, we don't teach tricks. We don't do "follow-the-bouncing-ball" piano. We teach you how music actually works. Not just where the notes are, but why they go there.

No more "memory" games. Once you understand the structure, you own the music.
No more "disconnected" tips. We build a foundation, not a junk drawer of licks.
No more "copy-pasting." You'll stop recreating someone else's music and start playing your own.

“Since joining popMATICS, my creativity has gone through the roof, and I feel great about my ability to improvise.”

— Jeannie P.

Whether you're brand new to piano or classically trained, you'll learn how to:

Play what you hear in your head. No more hunting for PDFs. No more "follow the lights" tutorials. Just you and the music.
Improvise without overthinking. Start expressing your own music—whether you're jamming with a band or playing for yourself at midnight.
Understand how music actually works. Not just which notes to play, but WHY. Once you know the "why," you can play anything.
Fall in love with the keys again. Piano won't feel like a chore. It'll feel like a conversation.

How It Works: Listen, Create, Understand

These three pillars are the foundation of musical fluency. It's the natural way to learn—the way you learned to speak.

Listening Classes — Stop guessing. We show you exactly what to listen for in real songs so you can play what you hear.
Creating Classes — This is the playground. We give you simple, step-by-step frameworks to start improvising immediately. No "wrong" notes.
Understanding Lessons — We break down the 40 foundational concepts of sound into logic that makes music finally click. No dry theory.

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What our members say about popMATICS

"I am completely won over by the popMATICS approach."

I’m most impressed by the knowledge, teaching skills and dedication of founders and teachers, Tony and Angela. They have built a supportive piano community of all ages, interests, and levels of experience. There are beginning students as well as piano teachers looking to expand their teaching toolbox.
I’ve studied classical piano for years and wanted to give ear-playing and improvisation a try. I was nervous and doubtful at first, but am completely won over by the popMATICS approach and the expertise and creativity (and warmth) of the teachers.
—Diane Mammone
"popMATICS is a chance to fall in love with music and an instrument again."

popMATICS is a chance to fall in love with music and an instrument again. So encouraging. And zero pressure even though there are challenges … which we all love if we admit it.

—Heather Morris
"I can't believe the difference in my listening abilities, and freedom at the piano."

“I have learned so much in these past six months. I can't believe the difference in my listening abilities, and the feeling of freedom at the piano that I've never had before.
I know I have lots more to learn, and I'm looking forward to building on it. Thanks to Tony and Angela for this incredible program!”

—Julie W.
"Tony and Angela are excellent teachers."

The piano has always seemed so mysterious to me. It just sat in my house staring at me for years. And now it’s like a trusty friend I can visit and interact with.
Tony and Angela are excellent teachers. They are kind, patient and always looking to improve. They have helped me bring the piano to life. So grateful for their program.
–Gerry Adair
"I've never had so much fun playing music."

I’m overcoming my addiction to the printed page. popMATICS succeeds where other music programs fail. It’s like the way children learn language. Initially, you explore the keyboard,and really "play." After that Tony provides the labels that explain what you heard.
Tony models how to be curious, enthusiastic, delighted in the sounds and harmonies. And you jump right in, all levels together. It’s the most natural, lasting form of education.

—Martha Dahlen
"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. I am growing as a 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
"Attending the live classes has been a highlight of my year."

I can't thank Angela and Tony enough for all the care, enthusiasm, and brilliance that they put into developing popMATICS! Attending the live classes has been a highlight of my year and, having played piano by reading music for over 30 years, I loved learning to play "from the inside out."
Another special part of the program is learning from and along with other students. Thank you, thank you for putting so much heart and soul into this program.

—Helen Scharber

How can popMATICS help you?

We teach music as a language—not as a set of instructions to copy. You'll learn to listen actively, noticing the melody, bass line, chord progression, and structure in every song. You'll understand why certain chord progressions make you feel a certain way, and how to use that in your own playing. Music becomes as easy to play as it is to listen to.
OWe show you exactly what to listen for in real songs—the melody, the harmony, the patterns that repeat. You'll start simple and build from there. No guessing. No frustration. With consistent practice, you'll be able to sit down and play what you hear in your head.
Perfect. You won't waste time with boring exercises or children's songs. From Day 1, you'll create music using the full range of the piano, improvise simple melodies, and play along with songs you actually love. We make the journey interesting from the start—not just the destination.
You've got the technical skill. Now combine that with our focus on creativity and playing by ear. You'll learn to improvise, transpose on the fly, and express your own music from within. It's not about abandoning classical training—it's about adding freedom and musicality on top of what you already know.
Most programs teach you to memorize patterns or copy what's on the screen. You learn a few songs, then forget them. We teach you to understand how music actually works—the patterns, the structure, the "why" behind the notes. Once you understand it, you own it forever. No more starting from scratch every time.

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Why This Actually Works

Most piano instruction teaches you to read notation before you can hear what you're reading. That's backward. It's like studying grammar books before you can say "hello."

Standard notation is a tool for preserving music—not for learning it.

At popMATICS, we focus on what traditional lessons often skip: listening, creating, and understanding how music actually works.

The result? The better your ear gets, the less you need your memory. You'll start to hear the invisible architecture—the patterns that connect every song. Once you understand the pattern, you own the music. Forever.

No more "memory games."
No more forgetting songs a week later.
No more starting from scratch every time you sit down.

The Guarantee: 100% of people who follow this approach will find the trailhead and reach the summit. It doesn't take perfection. It takes consistent effort.

A year from now, you'll be glad you started today.

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Join Tony live Monday through Thursday for Listening and Creating classes. Friday is Office Hours and Social Hour. This isn't a static course—it's a living conversation. Ask questions. Get unstuck. Learn with the community.
Can't make it live? Key lessons are recorded and released weekly. Plus access to our complete library of Understanding Lessons, Song Tutorials, and more. All designed to help you play by ear, improvise, and enjoy the music you love.
More than just an online school—it's a thriving community of adults learning together. Share progress, ask questions, celebrate wins. Connect on Discord with fellow students who are on the same journey.