In today’s digital world, personalized learning experiences are more important than ever, especially when it comes to mastering new skills like playing an instrument. Musopia has taken a unique approach to enhance the learning journey by producing its own music in-house. Markus Pajakkala, a key figure behind this creative process, shares insights into how the company crafts engaging, educational music that motivates users to practice and makes learning fun and rewarding.
Musopia has carved out a unique approach to enhancing the learning experience within its popular Justin Guitar and KALA apps by producing its own music. According to Markus Pajakkala, Music Content Producer for the in-house music production team, the rationale behind this decision is rooted in pedagogy.
“Real music, so to say, is often not best suited for learning an instrument,” he explains.
“When users start out, their favorite songs are likely too complex to play. By creating our tracks, Musopia can perfectly tailor the music to the user’s skill level, keeping it catchy, fun, and educational.”
The process of creating these songs starts with the specific learning challenges within the apps. For example, users may need to practice a particular chord change at the right tempo repeatedly. From there, Markus’ creativity and expertise are required to build a song that doesn’t feel like practising but rather like playing real music.
“The creation process is swift,” he says, noting that ideas come from everywhere.
If progress stalls in one part of the process, he shifts to another section, which often helps unlock the initial challenge.
While the songs are designed to meet educational needs, Markus emphasizes that creativity is not sacrificed. He enjoys working within the “rules” set by the educational focus.
“It actually makes things easier,” he says, explaining how the technical requirements—such as a particular chord change or tempo—might inspire the song’s direction. For instance, a specific challenge might remind him of Pink Floyd, leading him to experiment with a 70s drum kit or a Hammond organ. The goal is to keep things simple and accessible for beginners but with enough depth to keep the music engaging.
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Read the previous Music in My Life article about Markus Pajakkala