PEDAGOGICAL APPROACH

We teach music in the opposite order from piano

Piano starts with note names, then theory. GridPlay starts with distances and shapes — the grid reveals the math of music visually. Names come last.

  1. DistancesWeek 1–2
  2. ShapesWeek 2–4
  3. NumbersWeek 3–8
  4. NamesWeek 12+

Piano teaches: C → C major chord → "this is the I chord"

GridPlay teaches: distance of 4 pads → triangle shape → this is "I" → (much later) "that was C major"

Stage 01

Distances

Intervals as physical space on the grid. No names, no theory — just sound and direction. Two pads apart = always the same interval, anywhere on the grid.

Piano: same interval, different look

Major 3rd from C (C→E)

Major 3rd from F# (F#→A#)

Same interval — completely different visual pattern and fingering

Grid: same interval = same distance, always

Major 3rd from any root: always 4 pads right

Position A:
Position B (shifted):

Same distance = same interval. Always. Everywhere.

4 pads →bright, warm, sunshine3 pads →dark, sad, rain↑1 →2strong, open, power
Stage 02

Shapes = Chords

Combine distances into geometric patterns. Each shape is a chord type. The shape never changes — just slide it.

Piano: C major vs F# major

C major (C-E-G): all white keys

F# major (F#-A#-C#): two blacks + one

Same chord — completely different fingering. Must relearn for each key.

Grid: major = always same triangle
Key A
Key B
Major vs Minor: one pad difference
Major △
Minor △

Learn 1 shape per chord type → play it in all 12 keys

Stage 03

Numbers: degrees & Roman numerals

Scale degrees (1–7) from lesson one. Roman numerals (I, IV, V, vi) arrive when we start chord progressions. Uppercase = major shape, lowercase = minor shape.

I
degree 1
home
V
degree 5
tension
vi
degree 6
emotion
IV
degree 4
lift
When each notation appears
  1. Lesson 1
    Pads labeled 1–8
    Scale degrees on pads. No letter names anywhere.
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7C D E F G A BI IV V vi
  2. Lessons 1–3
    Chord tones: 1·3·5 and 1·♭3·5
    Intervals by distance and degree number.
    1·3·51·♭3·5C·E·G
  3. Lesson 2
    Roman numerals for progressions
    I = home. V = tension. vi = emotional turn. IV = lift.
    I V vi IV1 2 3 4 5 6 7C G Am F
  4. Lessons 4–15
    All progressions in Roman numerals
    I–IV–V, ii–V–I, I–vi–IV–V. New chord types shown as shapes + degree formulas.
    I ii IV V vi1·3·5·♭7Cmaj7 Dm7
  5. Phase 5+ (lesson ~50)
    Letter names as translation layer
    "By the way, when your root is here, that's C. I–V–vi–IV in C = C–G–Am–F." Letters become a lookup, not the primary language.
    I V vi IV1 2 3 4 5 6 7C G Am F

Why Roman numerals before letter names?

On the grid, I–V–vi–IV is the same physical movement in every key. The user never needs to think "C–G–Am–F" — they think "I–V–vi–IV" and it works everywhere. Roman numerals describe the universal pattern. Letter names are coordinates that change with every key.

Stage 04

Letter names — the final layer

Letters arrive when the user already thinks in shapes and numbers. They become a translation table — not the primary language.

Phase
What user sees
Letter names?
1–2
"Play the Major shape at position 1"
Never. Only numbers + shapes.
3
"Play I–V–vi–IV, then transpose"
Still no. Roman numerals only.
4
"Play ii–V–I with seventh chords"
Not yet. Degrees + shapes.
5
"Your root is C. So I = C, V = G, vi = Am"
Yes — as labels on known shapes.
5+
"Play Dm7 → G7 → Cmaj7 (ii–V–I in C)"
Both. Roman primary, letters secondary.
7+
"Modulate from C to E♭ via ♭III pivot"
Letters needed for key names.
Phases 1–4

Pad labels show degree numbers only (1, 2, 3…). Chord cards show shape + formula (1·3·5). Progressions show Roman numerals (I–V–vi–IV). No note name toggle available.

Phase 5+

A "show note names" toggle appears. Pads show degree + letter (e.g., "1 (C)"). Chord names show both ("I = C major"). Progressions show both notations.

Piano path vs GridPlay path

Traditional piano
GridPlay
Step 1: Learn note names (C, D, E…)
Step 1: Learn distances (1 pad = 1 semitone)
Step 2: Learn C major scale (white keys)
Step 2: Learn shapes (△ = chord, works everywhere)
Step 3: Learn chord names (C, Am, G…)
Step 3: Learn numbers (I, V, vi, IV)
Step 4: Relearn everything in G major
Step 4: Transpose = just slide. Done.
Step 5: Relearn in F major, D major…
Step 5: Learn emotions (bright / dark / tense / open)
Step 6: Finally understand "why" (intervals)
Step 6: Improvise with pentatonic
Step 7: Much later: Roman numerals
Step 7: Much later: letter names (C, G, Am, F)

The core difference

Piano teaches you 12 different alphabets. Grid teaches you one number system. Roman numerals are the universal language of chord function — and on the grid, they map directly to physical positions that never change.