![]() Kaminka received his MSc from the Institute in 2009, under the supervision of Prof. Thinking like a scientist, he started brainstorming how computer algorithms might be able to help. “We thought we’d take something very tedious and mechanical, and make it fun,” he says. Kaminka came up with the idea for JoyTunes after watching his nephew happily playing video games but protesting the idea of practicing piano. All the while, the app must precisely identify both single notes and chords (polyphonic recognition) through a “music sense” system that combines machine learning, neuro-linguistic programming, and acoustic recognition. Its main challenge is coping with “real life” conditions outside the laboratory, such as the restrictions posed by a single microphone, the presence of background noise, and the highly limited performance abilities of standard mobile devices. ![]() The app’s core technology is its acoustic recognition engine, which is able to distinguish each note that a user plays-transforming an ordinary smartphone into a powerful ear that sifts through sounds and provides instant feedback. Rather than disrupting traditional music education, JoyTunes aims to break down the mental block that often prevents people from casually trying out an instrument, says Kaminka. About 30 seconds after learning their first three notes, students play a simple song, and about an hour later, they’re on to a version of Jingle Bells with two hands. Simply Piano takes a linear approach-watch videos, complete exercises, play songs. Instructors can use Piano Maestro in a variety of ways: as a special activity for their students during their lessons, for homework assignments, or as a digital method book. While the apps teach piano students, they aren't meant to replace teachers. “In every household, you’ll find someone who dreams about jamming on the guitar or someone who played piano at one point and wants to get back to it,” Kaminka says. The company’s three main products include Piano Maestro, an in-depth educational app used by teachers to accompany traditional lessons Simply Piano, a step-by-step program for self-learners and Piano Dust Buster, a playful introduction to piano for kids. Placing a tablet or mobile phone on their piano’s music rack, users can launch one of three JoyTunes apps that instantly enable their device to recognize the notes they are playing. JoyTunes’ piano-learning apps are its key products (pun intended) and the company plans to expand them to include other musical instruments. ![]() Kaminka, a Weizmann Institute computer science alumnus, is the CEO and co-founder of the Tel Aviv-based JoyTunes. Yuval Kaminka is determined to bring live music into homes around the globe-from one-handed piano melodies like Beethoven’s Ode to Joy to more complex renditions of today’s pop chart favorites.
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