1ON1 Piano

1ON1 Piano is an app for iOS, Android, and Mac that combines MIDI, video, audio into a peer-to-peer call so that users can call each other and play each other’s digital instrument in that call in real time. By streaming MIDI, 1ON1 Piano solves two major problems of online piano lessons: sound quality and latency. Because the sound is captured and produced by the digital instruments instead of the tiny mics and speakers of the devices, the sound quality is excellent, and because of the data efficiency of MIDI, latency is low enough that 1ON1 Piano users are able to play duets on most internet connections.

1ON1 Piano is innovative because it simplifies MIDI video calling, and makes it accessible to the major mobile platforms. 1ON1 Piano is a full-featured platform for teaching piano that includes the tools teachers need such as camera switching, annotation, screen sharing, screen capture, and document sharing, while naturally integrating MIDI calling. When onboarding, 1ON1 Piano asks questions to determine what piano users have and gives them links to cables that will help them connect, as well as videos showing how to connect, so that no technical background is needed to benefit from the MIDI calling technology. After users connect, it automatically reconnects, and using the MIDI calling becomes a natural part of the online lesson experience. The app is available in 175 countries, and runs on iPhones, iPads, Macs, Android phones, and android tablets, so almost anyone can use it.

The most inspiring use for 1ON1 Piano has been in the Pianos Without Borders program at the University of Kansas. This program, which allows students in an underserved part of Kansas City to study online with piano students at the University of Kansas, was my inspiration for creating an app that brought MIDI video calling technology to everyone. We still serve the Pianos Without Borders program with 1ON1 Piano, and we are inspired whenever someone uses 1ON1 Piano to teach a student across the world and is delighted by how good the sound is. You can read more about that program in this blog post: https://1on1piano.com/2022/04/19/how-1on1-piano-came-about-my-wow-moment-and-journey/