It is widely known that music brings joy and happiness while improving the quality of life. This applies to listeners as well as to the musicians themselves.  Sometimes, giving the gift of music to those who need joy in their lives is such a noteworthy story that it needs to be told. This is one of those stories.

US-based musician Lee Williams is doing precisely that: bringing joy and enrichment to people’s lives – including his own. Lee performs regularly at retirement homes with a classical “a man and his guitar” act. 

The idea came to him two years ago when Lee’s mother-in-law was in a retirement facility. 

“I was talking with one of the staff and mentioned how much I enjoyed learning guitar and what music had come to mean to me in my old age. So, she simply invited me to play. I accepted, and we scheduled it. I played for about an hour. Needless to say, with my poor skills, I was terrified but realized how much the patients appreciated it”, Lee says.

“It feels great to be appreciated and know that you brought some real value and so much happiness into some lives.”

And indeed, Lee’s musical journey began in his golden years. 

“I never touched a guitar until I was 69 years old.  I guess one is never too old to learn.  I am so grateful I took it up.  My progress is slow, but I still love it”, Lee explains.

Lee has learned his guitar skills both independently and with Justin Sandercoe. He has used the JustinGuitar app and also visited Justin’s Guitar camps.

“I have attended Justin’s Guitar camps three times: once in Petite St. Vincent’s, once in Italy, and once in Montreal. The camps have helped me improve as a guitar player in a surprising way: Justin insisted that I learn to sing. The truth is, I’m not that great at either playing guitar or singing, but I love the hell out of both”, Lee says modestly.

“I really recommend the camps! Both the instructions and the class itself are great!  It’s nice to be in a supportive group. Justin and his instructor colleagues are nothing less than outstanding”, Lee continues.

Lee wants to emphasize that one shouldn’t miss the chance to perform for others just because one might be worried about one’s skills as a player. 

“I Never touched a guitar until I was 69.  I guess one is never too old to learn.“

“My advice is, don’t worry how badly you play or sing – just do it”, Lee says.

He enjoys his performances at retirement homes tremendously. 

“Seeing the smiles and laughter is what I love the most about it. I also tend to tell a couple of jokes along the way. As poor as an artist as I am, it feels great to be appreciated and know that you brought real value and so much happiness into some lives.”

“I have seen them laugh wildly and also see tears flow down their faces. It’s quite moving. They absolutely love and appreciate it, and you are doing great service,” he continues.

Personally, Lee is most inspired by classic rock bands such as The Allman Brothers, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and Chris Stapleton when you cross the bridge from rock to country. He mainly plays old-school rock and new-school country with his guitar.

However, when performing in nursing homes, he always considers what the elderly would appreciate the most.

“Initially, I choose songs from the early to late sixties. At the end of the first session, I ask them to write down what they want to hear and try to study and play those songs when I return. You know they love it when you start getting warm hugs and handshakes at the end of the session. The songs seem to take them back to earlier days”, Lee tells us.

“Artists from Ricky Nelson to Willy Nelson and everything in between are especially loved. Also, each home is a bit different depending on the demographics. My best advice is just to be open and, most importantly, have fun with it!” Lee advises.

“Music allows us to transcend from a simple existence to truly living.”

To other hobby musicians, Lee has a word of encouragement.

“Playing in retirement homes is the definition of a win-win situation.  It gives both the artist and the patients tremendous joy and enrichment.  It’s also a great way to learn to perform before an audience, and one that you can almost rest assured will greatly appreciate you no matter how little or exceedingly skilled you are.  You will find retirement homes very appreciative of your offer to play, and the patients will love the hell out of you for it.

We have now talked a great deal about what music means to his audience, but let’s now focus on Lee. What does music mean to Lee himself?

“It allows us to transcend from a simple existence to truly living”, Lee says philosophically. 

Read the previous My Music Journey

Follow Musopia on Linkedin to get the latest updates

The post My Music Journey: Lee Williams first appeared on Musopia Blog.

In the first part of our in-house music series, we explored how Musopia’s in-house music enhances the learning experience for users of apps like Justin Guitar and KALA. By creating custom tracks tailored to educational needs, Musopia balances musical enjoyment and practical skill-building. 

Now, we will examine the technical side of this creative process and how the Musopia team ensures that every track meets the high standards expected from a leading music education platform.

From the tools and instruments used to the seamless integration of music into the apps, Markus Pajakkala shares how in-house music production comes to life and what the future holds for Musopia’s ever-expanding musical landscape.

“Some users have named our in-house songs as their favorites”

Musopia strives for a broad, versatile style in terms of musical variety. The music is mainly timeless, drawing inspiration from the popular tracks users enjoy in the song libraries of both Justin Guitar and Kala App. This wide-ranging approach ensures in-house music resonates with a broad spectrum of learners.

Markus’ own journey into music production began early. 

“I’ve always had a lot of musical ideas in my head,” he recalls. 

At ten, he started experimenting with software on his dad’s computer, splicing loops to create his own riffs. As he developed his skills, he transitioned to modern recording and mixing software, motivated initially by the financial necessity of making music without renting studio time.

What began as a passion has since blossomed into a full-fledged career, where Markus can now combine his love for music with helping others learn.

“We believe in our music. It shows great results within our apps, and we’ve also started releasing it on streaming platforms.”

At Musopia, for the technical side of things, Markus uses Logic Pro software and a range of instruments and plugins. While some aspects of the production are programmed for efficiency, many elements are recorded live, including drums, which he plays on an electric drum kit, and various instruments on a MIDI keyboard. Vocals are either performed by Markus himself or by session singers from his hometown. He even incorporates more unusual instruments like the saxophone, melodica, and concert xylophone when the occasion calls for it. After recording, he handles the mixing and mastering process to ensure the music maintains a high standard, even under a fast production schedule.

When evaluating the quality of Musopia’s in-house music, Markus relies on his experience in the industry, supported by user testing, to verify that the music hits the correct mark. Feedback from users has been overwhelmingly positive. 

“Some users have named our in-house songs as their favorites,” Markus says, underscoring how in-house music often plays a crucial role in helping users learn to play their instruments.

The integration of this music into the apps is seamless. After a video tutorial introduces a new chord or technique, the user immediately applies that knowledge by playing along with in-house songs or exercises. There are also dedicated trainers and practice sessions that feature Musopia’s custom tracks to help reinforce what the user has just learned.

Looking to the future, Musopia has ambitious goals for its music production. 

“We believe in our music. It shows great results within our apps, and we’ve also started releasing it on streaming platforms,” Markus notes. 

The company is working on producing more music for various educational purposes, seeing the potential for music to play a vital role in branding the company.

Follow Musopia on Linkedin for the latest news.

Read the previous article about Musopia’s in-house music production.

The post Musopia’s In-House Music: Exploring the Technical Side of Things first appeared on Musopia Blog.

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.

Follow Musopia on Linkedin for the latest news.

Read the previous Music in My Life article about Markus Pajakkala

The post Musopia’s In-House Music: Enhancing the Learning Experience first appeared on Musopia Blog.

We interviewed our Music Content Producer, Markus, to find out how he combines his musician life with his work at Musopia.

How long have you worked at Musopia?

I started in the Spring of 2023, so one and a half years now.

What is your area of responsibility at Musopia?

I write and produce in-house songs to support the learning purposes of our apps. I’m also involved in the video side, lesson and exercise design, and music used in marketing—so basically, all things content.

What do you like best about working at Musopia?

The relaxed, friendly, and fun atmosphere. I was also able to set up a flexible working schedule so I could live my musician life on the side. 

What is your musical background?

I started playing drums when I was 10, and I picked up the saxophone and flute when I was 15. I’ve always played a little piano and composed many songs on the side. In the army band, my friends convinced me to apply to Sibelius Academy, where I graduated with a master’s in music technology in 2013. I’ve played hundreds of gigs in probably hundreds of line-ups, but nowadays, I lead my own jazz-rock/prog band called Utopianisti and am a member of Von Hertzen Brothers, Frank Zappa Memorial Pancake Breakfast and Njet Njet 9.

“Music is a higher form of communication and an outlet for emotions so powerful that it makes most other things in life seem pretty much redundant.”

Are there any other instruments you play?

I play saxophones, flutes, clarinets, drums, percussion, keyboards, and ukulele. I also took some lessons on the violin and in conducting. 

What kind of music do you listen to?

Anything from zeuhlcore to zydeco or cha cha cha to Cha Cha Cha. I love all kinds of music, but for favorites I like to dig deeper than the most commercial selection. Some of my favorite composers are Frank Zappa and Pekka Pohjola, whose influences can be heard in my Utopianisti project. 

How do you feel music makes the world a better place? 

It’s a higher form of communication and an outlet for emotions so powerful that it makes most other things in life seem pretty much redundant. 

“I love all kinds of music, but for favorites I like to dig deeper than the most commercial selection.”

What is the meaning of music in your life? 

See the previous answer. Also, I might play drums with a death metal band and the next day play sax in an opera singer’s Christmas concert, where the different audiences wouldn’t even call the other performance music. That’s awesome.

What is your guilty pleasure song, the song that you secretly love?

Radio Helsinki has a program called Kotibileet, which hits all my guilty pleasures and creates some new ones. I love it!

What kind of coffee do you start your working day with?

Dark roast with oat milk. Coffee brands change, but only Elovena or Oddlygood oat milk qualify! 

Which famous musician would you like to jam with, if possible?

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to get to play with many of my favorite bands, like Kingston Wall, Saimaa, WÖYH, Jaakko Laitinen & Väärä Raha, Black Motor, of course, the Von Hertzen Brothers and Njet Njet 9, and I also get to play Zappa music with the excellent cover band Frank Zappa Memorial Pancake Breakfast. But to name a few, a flute battle with Ian Anderson, a drum battle with Tatsuya Yoshida or a free-form jam with French guitarist Marc Ducret would be something to dream about.

Follow Musopia on Linkedin for the latest news.

Read the previous Music in My Life article.

The post Music in My Life: Meet Markus Pajakkala first appeared on Musopia Blog.

Topi Löppönen, CEO of Musopia, hits the gong and opens the Musopia Peace & Love Festival with an impressive sound. The first band is about to take the stage: Los Musopatos! 

“Musopian Rhapsody”,  one of the hit songs composed by Markus Pajakkala, Musopia´s in-house music composer, sounds phenomenal.

This year – well, 2023, to be precise – we at Musopia decided to reinvent the concept of a traditional company Christmas party and do something completely different yet true to our style. This aim resulted in us renting the legendary Semifinal rock venue in the heart of Helsinki and throwing a full-blown festival with seven bands consisting of the amazingly talented Musopia team members, who are working as mobile developers, UX and UI designers and data analysts as they day job.

We asked Paula Lehto, CMO and co-founder of Musopia, what the initial idea behind the Peace & Love Festival was and what inspired her to come up with the concept. “Musopians are great music lovers, and many of them are, in fact,  professional or hobbyist musicians. We wanted to celebrate that talent with our team, friends, and long-time partners. Also, I have wanted to organize a festival in the Semifinal Rock Bar for a long time, since pre-covid times”, she explains.

And indeed, finding performers in-house wasn’t a challenge.  “Most of the bands, “Los Musopatos”, “Musallica”, “Paris Lunchbox”, and “Divas”, are in-house bands, combinations of Musopians. Then we had “Kopra” and “Bon Anjovis” as guest stars; their members are also part of the extended Musopia family.”

“All the bands were fantastic; I´m super proud of all of them. It was great to see new sides of your colleagues and how they turned into talented musicians! One heartwarming thing was seeing how we supported one another in making it all happen”, Paula says with great enthusiasm.

“Musopians are great music lovers, and many of them are professional or hobbyist musicians as well. We wanted to celebrate that talent with our team, friends, and long-time partners.”

Support was truly there at every stage and at every step of the way, from organizing to performing. Paula gives special thanks to Tuomas Valtonen, a fellow Musopian, for his input. “I was fortunate to have someone like Tuomas as a stage manager, who can handle all the stage and tech-related parts of the project.” 

Tuomas also agrees that cooperation was vital in organizing the event and managing the stage. He shares the view that the evening was a highly enjoyable experience. “The best part is when all the planning is finally done, the stage is set, and the first band kicks in. You can take a breather, soak in the vibe, and watch people having a blast. That moment when all the hard work pays off – that’s the real highlight. I mean, who doesn’t love live music? Being a part of that is still the coolest thing ever.”

Although Tuomas already had several years of experience setting up music events, the experience was the first for Paula. “I have never organized a music event before at this scale. We have had jams in the office, but not in an outside venue. This was a super interesting  learning experience for me.”

Mirella Baas, UI Designer and the singer of Paris Lunchbox, agrees with Paula. “It was so much fun! It was my first time on a stage, and to be honest, I was very nervous at first. The good atmosphere, coworkers’ support, and the great gigs before ours helped me relax, though.” 

“Singing and playing in a band has been a long-time dream of mine, so this felt like the perfect opportunity to challenge myself. I’m glad I did”, she continues.

Ending up in a workplace that allows you to combine your software development profession with your passion, music, isn’t given in the business world. This is why Musopia’s way of enabling its team members to enjoy music on both levels is noteworthy. 

Indeed, the in-house bands are usually formed at work. “Ours was born during a coffee break, and I suppose it’s similar for most of the other bands. When someone needs a specific instrument for their group, they ask around in Slack or at the office, and the right people bundle together organically. It’s impressive how many multi-talented colleagues I have”, Mirella explains.

“Ending up in a workplace that allows you to combine your profession with your passion isn’t given in the business world.”

Needless to say, she enjoyed the evening as well. “There’s a very primal level of enjoyment in creating music together, and that’s what it ultimately boils down to. It would be fun to continue playing together with our band in the future.”

When we asked Paula if she would like to organize a similar event again, it proved not to be tough to answer. “We love to organize different kinds of events for the team!  For example, it´s great to do something fun after an intensive strategy planning day. I guess it is a mode of “work hard, play hard” for us Musopians.”

“I loved to see how the event affected the atmosphere at work and the whole team,” she continues. “There were many happy and relieved people at the office after the Peace & Love Festival. Happy because everyone had such a blast, and relieved as it also required much attention and energy to pull it all together.  Personally, I was flying 15 cm above the ground just for being so impressed by the Peace & Love vibe!”

Read more about the happenings at Musopia:
Exploring the Harmony: Inside Musopia’s Music Room Setup
Building an Inspirational (Sound Proof) Space Inside a Thriving Office

Follow Musopia on Linkedin to get the latest updates

The post Musopia Peace and Love Music Festival – Work Hard and Play Hard first appeared on Musopia Blog.

They say the only exercise some people get in January is walking back and forth to the fridge. We all know the January gym-goer stereotype: packed facilities, enthusiastic resolutions, and an abrupt drop-off by mid-February. If you’ve ever felt the thrill of starting a new workout routine only to see it fizzle out, then perhaps it’s time to consider a different kind of workout for the soul – learning to play a musical instrument, in this case guitar or uke.
Don’t worry; this isn’t a journey laden with pitfalls. In fact, with a bit of strategy and commitment, you can stay on track and make beautiful music. Here’s how to sidestep the common traps on your musical journey.

Switching from gym sessions to guitar or uke practice is not just a change of routine; it’s a shift in mindset. Instead of dreading the next workout, imagine looking forward to creating your own melodies. To make this transition smoother, consider finding an accountability partner – someone who shares your passion for music. Having a friend to check in with, share progress in chord and strumming skills, and maybe even jam together can make the learning process more enjoyable.

Just like hitting the gym regularly, consistent practice is crucial when learning to play guitar. Aim for a daily practice routine, even if it’s just for a short duration. The key is to build a habit, ensuring that playing guitar becomes as ingrained in your daily routine as your morning coffee. Set realistic goals and milestones, and celebrate small victories along the way.

One of the best ways to keep the enthusiasm alive is by playing songs you love. In fact, in our Big Guitar Survey, 17% of respondents claimed their biggest motivation was learning to play their favorite songs with guitar or ukulele. Whether it’s your favorite rock anthem, a classic jazz tune, or a pop chart-topper, learning to play songs that resonate with you will keep you motivated. With each successful rendition, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment that propels you forward in your musical journey.

Learn more about the Big Guitar Survey and discover tips based on its results.

Learning an instrument doesn’t have to be a solitary pursuit. Joining a band or ensemble introduces an element of camaraderie and shared progress. Playing with others not only enhances your skills but also provides a social aspect to your musical journey. Local communities, music schools, and online platforms are great places to find like-minded musicians to collaborate with.

In the age of smartphones and apps, technology can be a powerful ally in your musical journey. Check guitar apps that offer guitar tuner, lessons, practice schedules, and even virtual instructors. Choose the app that fits your learning style the best and provides a structured learning path, making it easier to track your progress and stay motivated. Plus, they allow you to practice at your own pace, anytime, anywhere. If your new preferred instrument is a guitar or ukulele, be sure to check out our apps JustinGuitar Lessons & Songs App and Kala Ukulele Tuner & Songs App.

So, as you swap the treadmill for the metronome and dumbbells for drumsticks, remember that learning an instrument doesn’t have to follow the same pitfalls as a New Year’s fitness resolution. With an accountability partner, daily practice, playing your favorite songs, joining a band, and embracing technology, your musical journey can be both fulfilling and enjoyable. So, here’s to hitting the right notes and steering clear of the January blues – let the music play on!

Follow Musopia on Linkedin to get the latest updates

The post Skip the January Blues: Navigating the Musical Journey Without Hitting Sour Notes first appeared on Musopia Blog.

We sat down with Levent, mobile developer and Team Lead of the Kala Ukulele App and found out why Musopia is a great place to work from a developer’s point of view.

How long have you worked at Musopia?
I joined in October 2021, so it’s been two years already.

Why did you want to work for Musopia?
I had long wanted to work for an international company, and Musopia caught my eye. And especially after seeing the music tech connection, I knew I just had to get the job.

Where have you worked before Musopia?
My first job in software was at Sanlab, a Turkish company manufacturing Training Simulators and Motion Platforms. Then, I worked at RestPlay making mobile casino games for about two years.

What do you like best about working at Musopia?
Oh, there are many great things: the hybrid working system, work-life balance, and flat hierarchy, to name a few. The office music studio is also a major plus; we can, at any time, just go in and jam!

Making music is one of the biggest drivers for me. It’s one of the few things in life that offers such long-term gratification.

What do you think are Musopia’s strengths?
It’s got to be the people. We have grown a lot in recent years since I joined and acquired the best talent around.

What is your area of responsibility at Musopia?
I am the Team Lead of our Kala Ukulele App. I get to plan and develop our roadmap, and I am responsible for implementing and releasing new features and enhancements. My core specialization is building UI elements and other user-facing features that feel responsive and satisfying.

How have you been able to develop your skills at Musopia?
I came from a game development background, and there were a lot of differences to the work here at Musopia, especially when it comes to live-ops. We do a lot of remote content management, which has been very interesting to learn about.

How would you describe the atmosphere and interactions among developers?
It’s pretty chill. There isn’t a strong top-down hierarchy, and everyone is free to speak their mind and contribute to anything. This was pretty cool for me, especially since I come from a country with more strict social roles, so it was really easing my mind to be able to just hang out on a first-name basis with anyone in the company, including our CEO. Overall, it’s a very respectful atmosphere where everyone’s ideas are valued.

Do you work independently or interact a lot with other developers?
I would say that it’s a bit of both. There can be a lot of interaction when working on a project together or when you need to ask for help from someone who knows it better, and there are also smaller things that you just develop by yourself. The practical coding itself is usually individual work, but it tends to happen after discussions to find solutions. If I get stuck somewhere or don’t know which is the best way to proceed, I’ll for sure ask someone who knows better than I do. And if it’s a task I’m very familiar with, I’ll go the route of legendary F1 driver Kimi Räikkönen: “Leave me alone; I know what I’m doing”.

How do you come up with the workflow?
It’s very collaborative. Usually, we’ll talk about the task and discuss the goals, requirements, UI/UX design and the specific tech we’re building as we’re starting it. If everything is clear, a developer can start working on it without needing too much further communication. We work on a scrum-like basis, and at the start of each sprint, we’ll divide the tasks based on priorities and the individual developer’s experience and interest. Some tasks, especially those that require cross-team collaboration, will involve more frequent interaction. Our company policy is to work on hybrid working mode, on average two days from the office, so sometimes communication happens face-to-face, and if not, we stick to our digital communication channels. 

If it’s a task I’m very familiar with, I’ll go the route of legendary F1 driver Kimi Räikkönen: “Leave me alone; I know what I’m doing”.

What is your musical background?
I started playing the classical guitar when I was twelve and moved on to electric guitar a few years later. I played with some friends in a high school band, playing songs we liked for fun, and eventually composed a few songs ourselves. I also got into electronic music production and made some game music. I’ve started writing music again after moving to Finland, and recently, I’ve bought a lyre harp, so I’m currently learning that and incorporating it into my compositions.

Do you play any other instruments?
The guitar is still my ‘main’ instrument, although I’ve also picked up the bass and drums over the years.

What kind of music do you listen to?
These days, I mostly listen to various subgenres of metal, mainly Folk Metal, Power Metal, and a bit of Black Metal.

How do you feel music makes the world a better place?
It’s impossible to say since I cannot compare it to a world without music.

It’s a very respectful atmosphere where everyone’s ideas are valued.

What is the meaning of music in your life?
Making music is one of the biggest drivers for me. It’s one of the few things in life that offers such long-term gratification.

What is your guilty pleasure song, the song that you secretly love?
I don’t get guilty pleasure in music – if I like it, I like it. I haven’t felt the need to keep any songs I love secret.

What kind of coffee do you start your working day with?
Any kind that I can get my hands on. I’m not a picky person when it comes to coffee. And sometimes, I’ll enjoy a cup of tea instead.

Which famous musician would you like to jam with, if possible?
I’ll go with Thanasis Lightbridge, the musician behind projects Dol Ammad, Dol Theeta, and Dol Kruug. I adore everything he has made, so to jam with him would be great. Oh, and here’s another perk of working at Musopia: At last year’s Musopia Slush party, I played with Justin Sandercoe! One famous name down, and many more to go

Read the previous part of this series

Follow Musopia on Linkedin for the latest news

The post Music in My Life: Meet Levent Parmaksızoğlu first appeared on Musopia Blog.

In the vibrant world of Musopia, where creativity fuels innovation, the desire for an exceptional music sanctuary became more than just a dream; it became a reality. Following our acquisition of the new office space in late summer 2022, the company’s collective heart yearned for a dedicated haven of inspiration – a place where rhythm and melody could harmonize with the buzz of software development.

The first chapter of Musopia’s Music Room journey unfolded the transformation of our office into a soundproofed Music Room. Now, let’s dive into the gear setup that made this musician’s dream a reality within our bustling workplace. The Music Room serves multiple purposes for various teams:

1. Company Content Team: This is where song arrangements and in-house music ideation come to life.

2. Developers: The room also plays a crucial role in tuner testing and chord recognition development.

3. Everyone: Beyond work-related tasks, the Music Room is a place for relaxation during workdays and free-time rehearsal for all employees.

We’ve carefully considered both the acoustic elements and technical setup of our Music Room, not to forget the instruments. Our gear selection was the result of spirited debates among the music enthusiasts at Musopia.

On the acoustic front, we invested heavily in acoustic treatments to ensure the room was soundproof and conducive to music creation. The back wall serves as a bass trap, and while it may not be a floating studio, the extra-thick glass walls and double-strong element walls effectively isolate the studio from the surrounding spaces. This means you can crank up the volume for metal or any genre while others focus on their work tasks.

We equipped the room with Powerplay16 personal in-ear monitor mixers for an optimized personal listening experience, allowing each player to craft their ideal audio mix. Silence-playing is also an option. When it’s time to crank up the volume, we turn to the dB Technologies speaker system. Some of our members even brought their Engl full stack to further enhance the sonic experience

For recording purposes, we rely on an RME interface and (proudly Finnish) Genelec speakers. There is also a light studio set-up for recordings.

We chose the Neural DSP Quad Cortex, the most powerful floor modeler globally, and the Darkclass Audio Alfa Omega bass amplifier. Both offer best-in-class line outputs and happen to be manufactured right here in Helsinki!

In the realm of instruments, our expertise in fretted counterparts shines through with an array of offerings. From Fender and PRS guitars to Schecter, Charvel, and LTD models that cater to the metal enthusiasts, and the soulful strummers find solace in Takamine and Yamaha acoustics. Naturally, Kala is the unrivaled king of ukuleles.

In the keyboard department, we’ve chosen the Nord Electro 6D for its seamless blend of user-friendly operation and a robust synth engine, overall superior Scandic quality. 

When it comes to percussion, electronic drums make sense in our soundproofed space, with Roland’s V-Drums delivering an immersive drumming experience. In microphones, we trust renowned brands like Shure and Neumann, ensuring a great quality in recordings.

The Musopia Music Room stands as a testament to our dedication to creativity and innovation. It’s a unique space where the worlds of music and software development collide, and where inspiration knows no bounds.

As we conclude this series, we invite you to explore our other captivating blog articles. There’s a wealth of insights and stories waiting for you to discover!

Follow Musopia on Linkedin for the latest news

The post Exploring the Harmony: Inside Musopia’s Music Room Setup first appeared on Musopia Blog.

As Musopia acquired the new office space late summer 2022, a musician’s playground was on the top of the wish list.

Having a fully equipped music room inside an office is a feat of its own. Like many guitar players we were in a mindset that loud is good and louder is more good. How would that fit with the highly intensive task of being software developers?

With the duality of this task we were set up for a journey that would involve renovating the room from ground up to fit our purpose. First was the acoustic treatment of the room; an acoustic consulting company Akukon helped us transform the acoustics of an office into a music room that sounds great and feels comfortable to play music in. Having extra thick walls and double layered glass panels with bass traps and dampening materials we were able to bring down the inherent problem of having an hall reverb/echo of an old factory hall and the noise spilling to the actual office space in check. On top of that, we implemented an IEM system to be able to play with all the instruments with comfortable volumes next to focusing spaces. (More about that in the next Music Room blog post).

After completing the renovation and set-up of the Music Room during the fall, we found ourselves marching onto the first trial by fire. Musopia hosted a Slush Afterparty and the Music Room was to play a large part of the evening’s entertainment.

The newly formed House Band “The Musopaths”  had their first rehearsals just a week before the event. With time running out and common practice time was nowhere to be found we trusted in the individual talent of our band members to handle a basically new setup and a 40 min set of songs. That has something to say about the musicianship of our fellow Musopaths that we managed to pull this off and sound reasonably professional doing so… and to add to the mix the super talented Justin Sandercoe, alias JustinGuitar took the stage as well and rocked it with the Musopaths for a few songs (some planned and some chosen in the heat of the moment).

After this trial, we managed to transform the “normal office space” into the living beating heart of the afterhour sessions, and not just one or two groups have formed and used it as their rehearsal place. To us it is like an extension of a living room. A place where you don’t worry about deadlines but just can immerse yourself in music.

So what was that gear set-up which we ended up with, after all vigorous pondering between different instruments and accessories, that provided such an opportunity to make this musician’s dream come true in an otherwise quite busy and intimate workplace?

Well that’s another story for the next music room blog. Read the second part.

Get to know our employees by reading the Music in My Life -series.

Follow Musopia on Linkedin

The post Building an Inspirational (Sound Proof) Space Inside a Thriving Office first appeared on Musopia Blog.

How long have you worked at Musopia?
Since September 2022, so I’m still a newcomer.

Why did you want to work for Musopia?
In the summer of 2022, I was forced to look for a job after layoffs at my previous company. With my ex-coworkers, we cooperated to search and recommend suitable positions to each other, and Musopia was one of the recommendations for me. Plus, I was fed up working for hyper casual mobile games and wanted to try something different yet related to the Unity game engine. Musopia was, therefore, a perfect fit for me!

Where have you worked before Musopia?
I worked at Seriously Entertainment on the game Best Fiends, and before that, at a
Belarusian game studio called Belka games, testing three of their mobile games.

What do you like best about working at Musopia?
Mainly it’s the company vision; the idea of making the world more musically inclined in an
entertaining, gamifying way really speaks to me. And, of course, the company culture. I
enjoy working with like-minded people, experiencing transparency and encouragement in every discussion, and I value a goal-oriented approach. Good riddance of red tape! No surprise that for the first time in my life, I am glad it’s Monday and time to go to work!

What do you think are Musopia’s strengths?
The strengths are similar to what I like best about working here — a perfect combination of a great product and a startup mindset. The company is stable and keeps growing steadily, constantly exploring new ideas but keeping its mission within the scope.

What is your area of responsibility at Musopia?
I am responsible for the quality of our apps in production, development, and website. Anything our users interact with has to be tested by me first, and my focus is on finding flaws before anyone else does. Be it new features for learning how to play an instrument, music content or LiveOps-related stuff like in-app messaging and purchasing.

I don’t know anything more universal in the world than music. Almost everyone likes to
listen to it and wants to encounter new things.

How have you been able to develop your skills at Musopia?
As I am relatively new to the company, I am learning a lot about its flagship products, trying
to follow the same path our users have to walk to learn an instrument. I believe it’s the best
way to come across errors and get improvement ideas. It inspired me to look back and brush
up on my language skills related to music theory, particularly in English, as I am used to a different terminology. At the same time, I am developing testing documentation, embedding software testing lifecycle into the development cycle and doing many other challenging yet exciting things.

What is your musical background?
I come from a musical family. My grandmother was a huge opera fan and befriended the great singer Nadezhda Obukhova. Both my aunts were piano teachers, and my mother plays the piano very well, as do all my cousins. As you can see, I had no choice but to continue the tradition. I started my formal training at 6 when I was accepted to the local music school and continued my studies till high school. I managed to write a few songs of my own, but poetry and other forms of creative writing attracted me more, so later on, I focused on writing lyrics.

Do you play an instrument?
The piano used to be my main instrument, and the second was my voice as I sang in the choir during my school years. As mentioned above, I quit playing long ago because I didn’t find it rewarding enough; besides, I was never free to choose my repertoire. Nowadays, things are very different, and I can learn anything I want at my own pace without grades and public concerts.

What kind of music do you listen to?
I am versatile, and my collection of 1700 songs includes almost every genre and
style to match my current mood or, on the contrary, to change it entirely by mentally
sending me to another dimension. But according to my Spotify wrap, in 2022, I mostly
listened to heavy metal, atmospheric black metal, indie and Latin rock, world music and hard
blues. Anything with a hard bass or general badass sound makes me jump right in! I also always remember classical music, which I listened to and played throughout my
childhood. Every time I visit my hometown, I must attend a symphony concert at
one of our numerous festivals.

How do you feel music makes the world a better place?
I don’t know anything more universal in the world than music. Almost everyone likes to
listen to it and wants to encounter new things. Music, for me, is the best way to learn one’s culture and express my emotions and thoughts. When nothing else helps, when all hope is gone, and a misunderstanding between you and someone is overwhelming, talk to them in the language of music. Their heart will answer even if their mind is silent.

What is the meaning of music in your life?
The idea of communicating through music with people I have met (thanks to the internet) worldwide led me to create a playlist with songs from over 100 countries, in different languages, belonging to various genres from different eras. Each piece is someone’s story—Sung in their native language, creating a unique atmosphere and feelings. I spent many hours exploring the songs’ history, lyrics, and social background. That’s just one example of how much music means to me.

What is your guilty pleasure song, the song that you secretly love?
I don’t really feel guilty about listening to anything I like, but perhaps it could be a
chanson that is rooted in prison life and criminal culture, as it is the last thing you think I would listen to, like the song Kolschik by Michail Krug.

What kind of coffee do you start your working day with?
If I don’t have time to brew coffee, I prefer Japanese drip coffee brands like UCC and AGF. But when I have enough time for filtered coffee rituals, I choose something from my Vietnamese collection: Mocca by Trung Nguyen or Phuong Vy. Thanks to my Vietnamese friends and ex-colleagues, I can try local brands not for sale anywhere else, like a signature coffee by Himiko Nguyen from her Visual Cafe – the first alternative art space in Hồ Chí Minh.

Which famous musician would you like to jam with, if possible?
Those who inspired my artistic side and became my inspiration and reference point: Chris
Corner – for electronic experiments and confessional lyricism, bringing up mental health topics and the music industry vices. I also want to mention Edmund Shklyarskiy – a musician and an artist who manages to create masterpieces even after 40 years on stage and knows how to sing about love without using that word.

Read the previous part where we got to know George Ingledew, Musopia’s Customer Success & Marketing Executive.

Follow Musopia on Linkedin

Find more interesting reads here

The post Music in My Life: Meet Anna Morozova first appeared on Musopia Blog.