Instant music lesson for any piece
Type the name of a piece, choose your instrument and your level, and your lesson is ready right away: listen to it, play along, then answer a few questions about its key, rhythm and notes.
Nothing you play is recorded or sent. Your results are kept on this device only.
What is in each lesson
- Listen Not assessed – the key, time signature and speed of the piece, then hear the whole piece or just the opening.
- Play along Self-assessed – falling notes, fingering or tab for your instrument, with wait mode and a speed control.
- Play the opening on the keys Graded by Classfern – for instruments that read the notes as they sound (piano, recorder, flute, violin, guitar, ukulele, singing, tuned percussion, harmonica, and trombone, euphonium and tuba in bass clef).
- A teacher or parent listens Teacher or parent judgment – a short rubric: right notes, steady beat and, at higher levels, keeping going and playing with shape.
- Questions about the piece Graded by Classfern – its time signature, note values, first notes, major or minor and, at higher levels, the key signature, intervals and concert key.
- Finish Self-assessed – a short “Can you…” checklist.
Each question is about the piece you chose, as it is written for your instrument, so a clarinet player is asked about the clarinet part. Press New questions at the end for another set.
Instruments
| Instrument | How you play along |
|---|---|
| Piano or keyboard | Falling notes onto the keys, right hand only for beginners, wait mode |
| Recorder, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet or cornet, violin | Scrolling notes with a fingering picture for every note, written for your instrument (B♭ and E♭ instruments too) |
| Singing | Scrolling notes with letter names or do re mi, in a range that suits your voice |
| Guitar and ukulele | Tab, fretboard and chord views, in an easy key for the instrument |
| Trombone, baritone or euphonium, tuba, French horn | Scrolling notes with the slide position or the valves to press for every note, in bass or treble clef |
| Glockenspiel, xylophone, chime bars, colored note tubes, handbells | Scrolling notes with color-coded bars: the bar, tube or bell to play next lights up |
| Harmonica (10-hole, in C) | Scrolling notes with the hole number and blow or draw, with the tune moved into C |
Ideas for the classroom and home
- Let each child choose a piece they already know – a carol, a folk song or a theme – and work through the lesson at their own level.
- Use the same piece at three levels: beginners play in wait mode while more confident players go at full speed.
- Put the lesson on the board with the Class screen button and take the questions together.
- At home, a parent or caregiver can use the rubric to say how the playing went – it takes a minute.
Good to know
The sounds are electronic, not recordings of real instruments. Library pieces were converted from free editions and only the tune is used for most instruments, so a few pieces may need the Easier version or another octave. Where the music comes from.
Frequently asked questions
Which pieces can I choose?
Over 2,000 free, out-of-copyright pieces: folk songs, carols, hymns, classical piano and guitar pieces, songs and some easy tunes arranged by Classfern. Copyrighted songs are never included. If your piece is not there, the Tune to notes page can help you write it down.
How is the lesson graded?
Every step says how it is assessed. Listening is not assessed. The questions about the piece, and playing the opening on the on-screen keys, are graded by Classfern. Playing your real instrument is self-assessed, or judged by a teacher or parent with a short rubric, because the page does not record you. Your results stay on this device.
Does it use the microphone?
Only if you press Listen in the play-along, and then only to hear which notes you play, on this device. Nothing is recorded, saved or sent.
What do the levels change?
Beginner starts slowly in wait mode (the music waits for each note), keeps hard notes in an easy range where it can and asks four questions. Intermediate is a little faster and asks six. Advanced plays at full speed without waiting and asks eight, including key signatures, intervals and, for clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, French horn and brass in treble clef, the concert key.
Can I share a lesson with a class?
Yes. Press "Copy a link to this lesson" and share the link: it opens the same piece, instrument and level. In the questions, Test mode gives a test code so everyone can have the same questions. The Class screen button shows one step at a time on a board.
More music tools
Spotted a copyright problem with any music here? Report a copyright problem and we will check it quickly.