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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Read the previous Music in My Life article.

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

We sat down with Mirella, a graphic and mobile UI designer, and discovered what is most fascinating about designing mobile apps.

How long have you worked at Musopia?

I joined in June 2023, so it’s been about a year.

Why did you want to work for Musopia?

Musopia checked so many boxes for me that I just knew it would be a good fit. UI design at the intersection of music, education, and gamified apps? In an international, flat-hierarchy company that’s neither too small nor too big? Yes, please!

What is your prior work experience? 

I’ve worked as an illustrator for an e-learning startup, as a jack-of-all-trades Visual Designer for a climate foundation, and as a freelance animator and web designer before my current role. I also have some background in writing and journalism.

I’m still regularly staggered by how many talented, smart, and fun people Musopia has brought together.

What is your area of responsibility at Musopia?

I’m a UI designer on the live apps team. Lately, I’ve been working primarily with the Kala ukulele app, but I like to take on other tasks every now and then as a palette cleanser.

How have you been able to develop your skills as a mobile app designer in your current position?

The continuous iteration of the live apps and collaboration with talented team members have taught me a lot, especially since I’m relatively new to mobile app UI design. Pushing my professional boundaries has been both interesting and rewarding.

What is your most surprising learning outcome during the mobile app design process? 

It’s been fascinating to observe how users might interact with your prototype or design differently than you imagined they would. It’s always better to test than to assume. 

What is the starting point in your design process?

The starting point in my design process typically revolves around understanding the problem or goal that the design aims to address. Once I have a clear understanding of the context and purpose of the project, I move on to brainstorming and ideation, exploring different concepts and solutions. From there, I proceed to sketching, wireframing, and prototyping to visualize ideas and iterate on them. Ultimately, it’s about setting a solid foundation based on insights and objectives, which serves as the North Star to follow during the design journey.

Music is my companion in highs and lows, a booster when I need energy and a wind-down when I need to relax, and a time machine that brings me back to memories I would otherwise never remember so vividly.

What do you like best about your work?

Designing UI for our music apps is a perfect mix of problem-solving, creative freedom, and pixel-perfect attention to detail. It’s like getting to solve a puzzle that, when assembled correctly, rewards you with a better user experience and performance of the product. 

What do you think are Musopia’s strengths?

The vision, the company culture, and the people. I’m still regularly staggered by how many talented, smart, and fun people Musopia has brought together. 

What is your musical background?

I’ve always loved listening to music, dancing, and singing, but I’ve never had any formal training. I picked up an acoustic guitar some time ago, though, and during my time in the company, I’ve found the joy of playing and singing with others instead of only in the shower.

What instruments do you play?

I have an electro-acoustic company guitar and random instruments like my kantele or my ocarina that I fiddle with for fun, but I mostly sing.  

What kind of music do you listen to?

Looking at my playlists, I hear a lot of indie electropop, alternative rock, and synthwave. Sprinkle in some folk metal, drum and bass, video game soundtracks, and ambient soundscapes, and the picture is somewhat accurate.

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

Music resonates with people in a way that transcends language and amplifies emotions, making it feel almost magical. There’s something profoundly beautiful about how music connects people in ways that many other things can’t. 

What is the meaning of music in your life? 

It’s a soundtrack to my life, adding a dimension that’s difficult to imagine being without. Music is my companion in highs and lows, a booster when I need energy and a wind-down when I need to relax, and a time machine that brings me back to memories I would otherwise never remember so vividly.

Music resonates with people in a way that transcends language and amplifies emotions, making it feel almost magical. There’s something profoundly beautiful about how music connects people in ways that many other things can’t.

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

I refuse to feel guilty about any music I enjoy – embrace the cringe! That being said, something I probably wouldn’t play on a speaker first thing at a party with new people is ‘Life’ by E-Type. I definitely have a nostalgic soft spot for 90s Europop.

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

I start my day with the office machine’s ‘special’ option, with oat milk. The most important part is that there’s a lot of it. None of us has figured out how ‘special’ coffee differs from regular coffee since they’re ground from the same extra dark beans, but I like it for the name, if nothing else.

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

Jamming with Imogen Heap would be especially cool. She has motion-capturing wearable music tech gloves that work as a looper and control effects with hand gestures, and I want to try them!

Read the previous part of this series

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The post Music in My Life: Meet Mirella Baas first appeared on Musopia Blog.

Last week Musopians had the pleasure of visiting a pinball hall in Helsinki. We interviewed Arsi, the event host, about the fun get-together.

Arsi, You hosted a Musopia Pinball Tournament in your co-owned “Pinball Cave” called Flipperikellari.

 It is such a treat to be able to play pinball without any limitations, just for fun

Even though it was “just for fun” , the fight was fierce. Everyone played the first individual games with six pre-chosen machines. The Grand Final was played between four finalists, JP, Topi, Frans, and Saku with the Iron Maiden pinball. Hard rock and hard playing, that is the least I can tell. JP was leading the final until the last ball when Saku made his phenomenal performance and gained a huge amount of points to reach a clear win at the end.

Arsi, the Pinball tournament was amazing – thank you for inviting us!

Could you tell how Musopians ended up gaming for the Rockaali Championship with your machines?

We have some great get-together events at Musopia during the year. I thought that visiting Flipperikellari and having an event mid in the endless waiting-for-summer season would be fun for colleagues. And not to forget our Rockaali series of company wide activities, which are always fun not too serious competitions. Let’s see if we make a tradition out of having a pinball location visit now and then.

How did you come to establish this place?

Pinball is my long-term hobby. About three and a half years ago we found a place to locate our pinball machines with a few friends and Flipperikellari was born.

How many pinball machines do you have?

Currently, we have some 70 pinball machines at Flipperikellari, pinballs are such funny machines that they do not feel comfy in small amounts…

What is the beauty of pinball machines?

The beauty of pinballs and playing pinball is that it is a social hobby, whether you are playing just for fun or at a competitive level. Also, the variety of the machines is enormous, the machines span several decades, and have a variety of artwork and craftsmanship not to forget the playing itself. “One more game” is the saying always around. You may develop your skills and knowledge endlessly. I have been playing pinball for over 40 years and expect another 40 to come. It is a hobby and activity for everyone.

You have some music-themed pinball machines too, tell a little bit about them.

We have Iron Maiden mentioned above, AC/DC, Metallica, and Guns n’ Roses. They are modern pinball machines and popular among our visitors. Such modern machines typically have a deep set of rules and achieving a great score needs in-depth knowledge from a player. Some collectors even have a full set of rock-themed pinballs – 15 or even more produced. Check your local pinball arcades nearby!

What is in your opinion the best song to celebrate a pinball championship win?

Pinball Wizard by The Who, naturally!

What is your “real job”, a.k.a your role at Musopia?

I’m the head of Finance at Musopia and a fairly new Musopian – since the beginning of 2024. I’m responsible for handling our rocking finance and more.

Flipperikellari is located in Käpylä, Helsinki, and hosts a weekly game night open to visitors on Thursdays from 5pm to 10pm. Occasionally open tournaments are also played at Flipperikellari. More information www.flipperikellari.fi

The post Musopia Pinball Tournament at Flipperikellari first appeared on Musopia Blog.

Musopia has the honor of supporting an extraordinary organization, the Association of Friends of the University Children’s Hospitals (Kummit), in its important work. Founded in 1993, this organization has been an important ally to the five Finnish university children’s hospitals, supporting pediatric healthcare, research, and the well-being of young patients.

Specialized healthcare is supported by society’s funds. Still, with the donations from the Association of Friends, even more can be achieved: by investing in better equipment, development, and research, as well as focusing on mental health and patient comfort, the best possible care can be provided to young patients.  Musopia has recently donated guitars and ukuleles to all five children’s hospitals around Finland.

Supporting the Healing Journey Through Joy

Kummit channels its efforts into four essential programs: innovation and equipment acquisitions, pediatric research, patient comfort (known as “Kummitassut”), and children’s and adolescents’ mental health (“Mielen tila” program). Each program is equally important to fulfill the association’s mission.

For us it’s important that we can create an environment where children can be children again. The hope is to give the family a more positive experience of hospital visits so that the child remembers something pleasant happening at the hospital. As a result, the following visits become easier.

explains Jaana Roos, Project Manager of The Association of Friends of the University Children’s Hospitals.

This sentiment lies at the heart of the association’s mission—to support children’s health and ensure the best possible care. Enhancing patient comfort is one aspect of this mission. Given that many young patients spend more time in the hospital than at home, often for extended periods, providing various stimuli, from games to books, can significantly improve their experience.

Enhancing Patient Comfort and Well-being

Kummit endeavors to create a nurturing and comforting space for children undergoing treatment. This is done through arranging visits from volunteers and providing comforting things to do.

As hobbies are difficult to carry out in the hospital, I would rather speak about the role of comfort. The well-being of patients and families in the hospital plays a significant role in the patient’s recovery and the family’s coping.

The Power of Comfort in Healing

The importance of comfort should not be understated in pediatric healthcare. By facilitating activities that allow children to be children—whether through playing, gaming, or engaging in creative endeavors—the association aims to uplift spirits and foster resilience in young patients. Among other things, music has been a source of joy and comfort for many pediatric patients. Now they have an opportunity to get familiar with playing music as hospitals can offer instruments and supporting apps for those who are interested in playing.

All actions that momentarily take the mind off illness are a great help in recovery. Music visits and hospital clowns, in particular, are highly desired and enjoyable. In some hospitals, musicians regularly visit neonatal intensive care units. Music also helps calm small premature babies.

explains Jaana Roos.

Creating Lasting Memories

Photo: Atte Mäläskä

Music plays a big role in one of the association’s flagship initiatives, the “Elämä Lapselle” concert, which represents the power of music and uniting for a shared mission. Through this renowned charity event, which brings together performers from various fields, including entertainment and culture, the association raises important funds and creates unforgettable experiences for children and families.

We can invite patients from various university children’s hospitals to the Elämä Lapselle concerts. For the past few years, they have had the opportunity to meet the performing artists personally before the concert. Many happy and surprised faces have remained in memory when they have interacted with their idols.

Pediatric patients have appeared in concerts mainly as interviewees but sometimes even performed with an artist. The concerts are the most important campaign entities of the operating year in terms of both fundraising and visibility.

How You Can Help Make Miracles Happen

An individual can get involved in the association’s activities in many ways. You can read more about how to donate or participate at www.kummit.fi but below are some options.

The Association of Friends’ activities support the best possible care for children and young people in Finland. We warmly welcome you to join the support team for young patients!

Jaana Roos

Did you enjoy reading this chapter of the series Doing Good? Read the previous part where we introduced Music Will, which runs the largest nonprofit music program in the US public school system.

The post Doing Good: The Association of Friends of the University Children’s Hospitals (Lastenklinikoiden Kummit) first appeared on Musopia Blog.

We sat down with Lassi, Musopia’s talented Unity Developer in the New Apps Team, to find out why Musopia is such a great place to work from a developer’s perspective.

What is your area of responsibility at Musopia?
New Apps development. I do whatever our current app prototyping process needs, from building early prototypes to refining them for release, from testing apps on my own to running in-house testing sessions and documenting the results.

What is it like to work in a new apps team, and how is it different from the JustinGuitar and Kala Ukulele teams?
I’ve worked almost exclusively in the new apps team, so comparing it to the Justin and Kala teams is hard. Still, the main difference is that the Justin and Kala teams keep refining the same products to get better and better. In contrast, we make a lot more bold moves and need to be used to significant changes in direction and even give up on projects if it looks like there is something more important to work on instead.

What is most fun about your job?
Having to get up from the computer to get an instrument to test the latest thing I’ve been working on. 

How have you been able to develop your skills as a unity developer in your current position?
I came to Musopia from the game development world, and the way music apps are made is somewhat different, so getting back up to speed with the latest software development thinking has been very useful for me. Also, the company’s staggering amount of musical expertise has taught me a lot about making and playing music.

The company’s staggering amount of musical expertise has taught me a lot about making and playing music.

How does it feel like to sometimes “kill your babies”?
Over my studies and career, it has gone from painful to fun, which sounds horrible. But what I mean is that after making a few dozen games and apps, I’ve started to see that the best thing I can do for a project is to cut out everything I can, leaving just the very core of the experience. Then, I can start building on that. This applies to the type of prototyping work we are doing. If the core of the experience is not strong enough, it’s better to move on and find something more important to do. Of course, sometimes it would be nice to keep working on something fun. Still, if continuing can’t be supported with data or any other reasoning, it will probably end in heartbreak anyway, so it’s better to end it early.

What is your most surprising learning outcome during the new app development process? 
Like in any development and design work, it’s when users do something completely different from what you expect;  that you realize some of your assumptions weren’t based on anything real. To me, the most surprising and a bit frustrating are the ones where you think, “Okay, let’s just try the most obvious thing, but people will see right through it, and it probably won’t work”. And then it works incredibly well. And then, at other times, the obvious thing that everyone else is doing doesn’t work at all. So, the most surprising thing is repeatedly learning that you never know until you test something.

When creating new app concepts and ideas, what sparks or ignites those initial ideas? 
We have many creative people with varied musical interests and ideas, so we have built up quite a catalogue of ideas over the years. They come from every department, and we try to pick the best ones to develop further and test. Then, when we see user reactions in testing, we learn and come up with even more ideas to test. Most often, the spark is as simple as “I wish a musical app like this would exist” or “I have tested all the learn-to-XXX apps, and none of them worked for me.”

How do you evaluate the new app ideas? 
It depends on how far the prototypes get, but we do internal UX testing, use user testing platforms, release test builds into the world, and collect all sorts of data. We have some criteria per idea that we want to hit. Sometimes, it might be how the users feel during the experience, sometimes it’s how long users stick with the app, sometimes it’s how the data compares to other apps we have, and sometimes it’s just feeling like there’s some more we could still learn from the project.

What do you like best about working in Musopia?
I’ve always loved experimentation and music, and that’s the majority of my work, so there’s a lot to like. It’s also great to have a shared interest in music throughout the company and the facilities to make music. I’ve even given a bunch of drum lessons at the company studio, and that’s a joy that couldn’t happen in almost any other workplace.

I’ve always loved experimentation and music, and that’s the majority of my work, so there’s a lot to like. 

What is the meaning of music in your life? 
Music has always been a big part of my life. My parents have worked with music their whole lives. I’ve played in different bands for over 15 years, and even while writing this reply, I can count about half a dozen instruments around the apartment. Even in my sports and games activities, I always gravitate towards musical ones, so currently, I have multiple dance classes going on, and it’s pretty likely to spot me playing Beat Saber at the office after work. 

Do you play an instrument yourself?
Yeah, I’ve been playing drums since I was 11, and a few years back, I picked up bass. I even got to play it on stage at Musopia’s Peace & Love Music Festival. My current project in terms of music is learning to sing, but that is still relatively early.

What is your guilty pleasure song, the song that you secretly love?
The more I’ve learned about music, the less I’ve felt guilty about listening to any of it. So, I’d pick Spice Girls- Stop to choose something that would’ve embarrassed me ten years back. I learned to love the song while figuring out the saxophone and trumpet parts with our old party band. That song also opened my ears to many wonderful pop songs I would have disregarded before.

Read the previous part of this series

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The post Music In My Life: Meet Lassi Vapaakallio first appeared on Musopia Blog.

JustinGuitar has been the first stepping stone for many successful guitar journeys, and many aspiring guitar players have learned how to play guitar with guitar teacher Justin Sandercoe’s help. Although the populars JustinGuitar Lessons and Songs App is described as an engaging and effective step-by-step beginner guitar course, it’s not just beginners and rookies who can benefit from Justin’s teaching.

Case in point: passionate hobby guitarist and singer Sanna Keskioja first started playing the guitar when she was a teenager, but one could say that she experienced a renaissance in guitar playing when she got acquainted with Musopia’s JustinGuitar App.

“I wish I had had the JustinGuitar App when I first started practicing years ago. It would’ve made a big difference”, Sanna says. “Back in the day, when I started playing, you didn’t have anything like these guitar lessons as an option.”

“I started playing because I simply thought the guitar was such a cool instrument. I really liked the sound, and I used to be a huge fan of Led Zeppelin and other guitar heroes back in the day.”

“I wish I had had the JustinGuitar App when I first started practicing years ago. It would’ve made a big difference.”

She first started to play classical guitar when she was 16 but soon encountered a problem: her hands were simply too small to get along with the classical guitar. “I felt like it took up all of my time just trying to stretch my fingers to hit the right spots, to be able to play the songs”, she explains. She ditched the classical guitar but later found a better way to play that suited her needs.

“During my studies, I got motivated to learn basic guitar chords to accompany myself when I was singing, which is the most important form of musical expression for me. The most important thing about playing is that I can accompany myself when I sing.”

This revelation made all the difference since strumming was easier, even with smaller hands. “Still, with small hands, you must pay attention to how you position your hand to reach the right chords at the right time. Justin’s technical tips have been very helpful to improve my strumming and rhythm skills”, she explains.

“I first found Justin’s app in 2022. I had just recovered from a finger injury and was ready to start practicing again. That’s when I got acquainted with JustinGuitar.”

It made all the difference. Sanna says that she first tried to look for quality teaching on YouTube but soon noticed that JustinGuitar’s teaching methods were much higher quality. “Justin Sandercoe is a top-notch teacher”, Sanna says. “He is a fantastic teacher: very systematic, his pedagogical skills are of high quality, and, most of all, his technical tips are excellent.”

“I have learned a lot of new things! The most important skill for me was learning to strum guitar properly. I’m not a natural at it, and Justin’s teaching has helped me improve significantly. Justin’s advice generally is much better than what I’ve received before. Thanks to him, I’ve truly been able to improve my sound. When I started taking guitar lessons, there was no such thing as remote music lessons. As a self-taught musician, it would have been much easier if I had had the chance to start learning with an app like this from the beginning. Now, I need to keep correcting a lot of old mistakes.”

Besides the quality and possibilities of remote guitar lessons, Sanna finds that a lot has changed in the world of guitar playing. “Back when I first started playing, there were just guys we looked up to as guitar heroes. Girls didn’t really play in bands, and there were barely any female guitar heroes yet. Now, there are several great, cool female guitar players, like the amazing Finnish guitarist Erja Lyytinen”, Sanna says.

“Thanks to JustinGuitar , I’ve truly been able to improve my own sound.”

“I myself don’t entertain the idea of becoming a major guitarist. At the moment, I simply enjoy improving my technique and being able to accompany myself while singing. One day, I’d like to perhaps play guitar in a band and write my own songs, but before that, I need first to have the guts to play in front of people”, Sanna laughs.

For her, the best part about playing is the flow state you get into. “If you’ve just had the worst day and start playing guitar, hours suddenly fly by, and you lose all sense of time.”

Music, in general, is more than just a hobby for her. “Music is such an integral part of life and of who I am as a person. It is quite simply irreplaceable; I can’t even begin to imagine a life without it. For me, music has always been number one. It’s always there, one way or the other.”

Although Sanna doesn’t entertain broad audiences with a guitar yet, she has found a lovely and somewhat original way to spread joy with music. “Next to music, I love riding and being around horses. When I notice that a horse might be a bit tense, I start to sing. I’ve noticed it relaxes both parties equally”, Sanna laughs.

Read the previous My Music Journey

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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

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