After seven months of anticipation, Duolingo has finally unveiled its music courses, aptly named “Duolingo Music,” as a valuable addition to its renowned education platform.
Music Education on Your Phone
Duolingo Music offers an engaging way to learn the fundamentals of playing music right from your iPhone, and the best part is, you don’t need to own a musical instrument. These lessons start by teaching you the names of individual notes and their positions on a digital keyboard that appears on your phone’s screen. From there, Duolingo guides you through the process of reading music and even helps you translate what you see or hear into playing actual songs. As you progress, the courses will train your ear to distinguish specific notes and recognize whether they’re high-pitched or low.
A Comprehensive Learning Experience
Duolingo Music’s primary objective is to establish a strong foundation for aspiring musicians, whether they’re beginners or have some prior musical knowledge. The company aimed to make learning music literacy engaging and enjoyable, departing from the stereotypically “boring, dry” approaches used by some traditional music education methods.
Karen Chow, the Teaching/Curriculum Expert at Duolingo who played a pivotal role in creating these courses, shared insights into their thought process. Duolingo set out to cover various facets of music education, from playing instruments to honing ear training skills. With these principles in mind, the company meticulously designed the lessons.
Duolingo Music offers “hundreds of bite-sized lessons” with numerous interactive exercises, all aimed at gradual and comprehensive music learning. These exercises include tasks like completing a music sequence and matching notes to audio played on a digital piano. Duolingo believes that interactivity is essential for effective learning, as it keeps learners engaged and focused. The content is presented with Duolingo’s signature brightly colored and user-friendly interface.
Expanding the Learning Horizon
In addition to Duolingo Music, Duolingo Math is receiving an update, enabling users to acquire “real-world math skills,” from calculating tips to identifying patterns. These courses are designed to demystify math, making it more understandable and logical for learners. Plus, there will be courses to enhance mental math abilities, allowing users to perform calculations mentally without reaching for a calculator app.
Availability
Duolingo Music will initially be available exclusively on iOS devices in English and Spanish starting later this autumn. Users will receive in-app notifications when the update is ready for download. The company has plans to expand Duolingo Music to Android users and additional languages in the future, although an exact rollout date for this expansion hasn’t been provided. It’s a promising step towards making music education accessible and enjoyable for a broader audience.