🎶 Changing lives through music: how K-Piano brings music education to all

A life in music: from student to educator

K-Piano was founded by Mi-Yan’s husband, Ken Wilson, whose life was completely changed by music. His dad taught him to play the piano and the organ, and music opened up so many doors—more than he ever imagined. From being a church musician to becoming a university organist, it was an incredible journey. His experience really inspired him to create a programme to give back to students of all backgrounds.

What began as a small after-school programme has grown into a nationwide initiative, offering live, interactive lessons for students across the U.S. 

But this rapid growth came with its own challenges.

Solving K-Piano’s biggest challenge

Consistency was a major challenge in the past. Without a centralised platform, each music instructor relied on their own teaching style, leading to a fragmented learning experience. Mi-Yan recalls: "Before LessonUp, we didn’t have a centralised platform. Our learning content was scattered across different tools, and every instructor had their own way of teaching."

Mi-Yan is the kind of person who loves to examine every little detail before making a decision. True to form, she researched 20 different online teaching platforms, testing each one before choosing LessonUp. She explains the reasons behind her choice: "When I found LessonUp, I knew it was the one! It allowed us to put all our materials in one place, add notes, create structured lesson plans, and even embed videos. The interactive features—especially the quizzes—ensure students are actually absorbing music concepts. Everything became simpler, more efficient, and much more engaging!"

Regardless of budgets, abilities, and language

Music education is not a given in every school. Many districts have cut music programmes due to budget constraints, but K-Piano is committed to bridging that gap: "We work with schools regardless of their budget. If a school doesn’t have a music programme, we find ways to make it happen—whether through grants, or alternative funding models."

The programme has also become a lifeline for students facing learning difficulties. One student, who initially struggled with confidence, found support through engaging instructors and catchy interactive features. As Mi-Yan shares, "He grew more confident every week. His classroom teacher even noticed the change! Now, he’s one of our most committed students."

Language barriers have been another challenge. Many of the schools K-Piano partners with have asylum-seeking students who don't speak English. To overcome this, the team has hired bilingual instructors and translated relevant lessons to ensure every student feels included.

The Future of K-Piano and LessonUp

K-Piano’s mission is clear: bring music education to every student, no matter their background. As Mi-Yan explains, "The education landscape is shifting, and we want to keep ensuring every school—especially those without music programmes—has access to quality music education. Our next goal is to continue growing, and make sure we are in all states! Quality is everything to us, and LessonUp helps us deliver the best learning experience possible."

By combining live teaching with digital interactivity, K-Piano and LessonUp are transforming music education—one student, one tune, one lesson at a time. 🎶