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Helping a child on their musical journey isn’t always straightforward. We’re here with practical ideas and thoughtful guidance to make practice clearer, calmer and more rewarding.
FAQs
About Pip
What is Pip?
Pip is a music practice web app that turns a teacher’s guidance into clear, purposeful practice between lessons.
Teachers create clear practice plans, students have a simple way to follow them, and parents can see how things are going. Pip adds gentle motivation, reflection and visible progress, helping make music practice clearer, calmer and more consistent.
Together, these features make Pip a Platform for Intentional Practice: a structured way to carry the intentions formed during a lesson into purposeful playing at home.
Pip is built around a simple belief: most musical progress happens outside the lesson.
The lesson provides direction. Practice builds improvement.
Who is Pip for?
Pip is for instrument teachers, students learning with a teacher, and their families.
It can support:
- Instrument teachers teaching any instrument or genre, whether in person or remotely, in a school, club, music service or private setting;
- Families with one or more children learning an instrument with a teacher, at any level from beginner to advanced;
- Students of any age who would benefit from more clarity, structure and encouragement between lessons.
Pip is designed primarily around children and young people, but adult learners can use it too.
What is Pip not?
Pip is not a replacement for a music teacher, an AI tutor, a social network or an app that judges how good someone is.
Pip does not listen to students and grade their playing. It does not contain public profiles, competitive leaderboards or an endless feed designed to hold their attention.
Pips and Squeaks add light encouragement, but Pip is not trying to turn music learning into a game built around dopamine hits. Its purpose is simpler: to support structured, consistent and increasingly independent practice.
Does Pip replace a music teacher?
No. Pip is designed around the teacher’s guidance, not as a replacement for it.
Teachers decide what each student should work on and update their practice plans as they progress. Pip helps turn that guidance into clearer, more consistent practice between lessons.
How is Pip different from a traditional practice notebook?
Pip combines the clarity of a practice notebook with support for motivation, reflection and visible progress.
Teachers can share clear, easy-to-update activities, notes and resources - including audio, video, images and PDFs - instantly with students and parents. Plans can be opened on any device, with no handwriting to decipher and no notebook to lose or leave behind.
Students can follow the plan, keep a record of their effort and reflect on how practice went, while parents and teachers remain informed. Think of Pip as a modern practice notebook combined with a guided practice companion.
Does Pip work for piano, singing, guitar, drums and other instruments?
Pip can be used with any instrument, genre or level, from a child’s first lesson to advanced playing.
Teachers can use it for private lessons, school-based teaching and other settings, whether lessons happen in person or remotely.
Is Pip suitable for adult students?
Pip is designed for children, young people and adult students alike.
The fundamentals apply at any age: clear guidance, purposeful practice and visible progress. Students under 18 have a connected parent or guardian; adults can use Pip independently.
Who is behind Pip?
Pip was created by Chip Horne, a parent, pianist and former senior product leader at YouTube and Warner Music Group.
The idea grew from family life with his wife and two daughters—all musicians—alongside Chip’s own experiences of learning piano and years spent building digital products for artists and creators.
Even with a good teacher and the best intentions, life gets busy, motivation dips and practice can become patchy. Pip is designed to help bridge that gap.
Pip has since been brought to life with contributions from Chip’s family, a small team of experienced technology and creative professionals, and the teachers, students and parents helping shape it as it develops.
Where is Pip available?
Pip is based in the UK and can be used anywhere with a suitable internet connection.
Membership prices and availability may vary by country.
Getting started
Does the student’s teacher need to use Pip?
Yes. Pip starts with the student’s teacher, who creates and updates their practice plan.
If your child’s teacher is not using Pip yet, you can invite them to take a look. Pip is free for teachers, forever.
How do parents and students join Pip?
Parents and students join Pip using an invitation sent by their teacher.
Once the teacher has joined, they will send the family an invitation by email. Use the secure link in that email to create your accounts and connect them to the teacher’s practice plans.
If your teacher is not using Pip yet, you can invite them first.
Can students use Pip without a teacher?
Pip is currently designed for students who are learning with a teacher.
The teacher creates and updates the practice plan, which is central to how Pip works.
We may support independently created practice plans in future, but this is not part of the initial experience. If you’d like to use Pip independently, let us know - your feedback will help shape how this could work in future.
What if several families invite the same teacher?
Every family identified by the teacher as having invited them can receive the half-price offer.
The offer is not limited to the first family to get in touch, but each family can receive the discount only once.
Is Pip an app, and do I need to download it?
Pip is a web app, so there is nothing to download.
It works in a browser on a computer, tablet or phone and requires an internet connection.
You can also add Pip to a phone or tablet home screen so that it opens much like an installed app:
iPhone or iPad (Safari required)
- Visit app.pip-music.com in Safari
- Tap the Share icon
- Choose Add to Home Screen
Android
- Visit app.pip-music.com in your browser (Chrome works best)
- Tap the three-dot menu
- Choose Install or Add to Home Screen
For students
What is a practice plan?
A practice plan is the guidance a teacher shares through Pip for the time between lessons.
It can include activities, priorities, notes, goals and useful resources such as images, PDFs or videos.
Teachers can update an existing plan as the student progresses rather than recreating everything after every lesson.
Do students have to use Pip every time they play?
No. Students can play or practise without Pip whenever they like.
Using Pip helps them follow their teacher’s plan, remember where they spent their time and make their progress visible, but it should never get in the way of making music.
What are Pips and Squeaks?
Pips and Squeaks are Pip’s way of recognising effort and encouraging regular music practice.
Pips are small markers of effort - or Points Indicating Progress. Students earn one Pip for every five minutes of practice, up to a maximum of six Pips per day.
A student earns a Squeak by collecting at least one Pip on four different days from Monday to Sunday.
Unlike a streak, an earned Squeak can never be lost. Pips and Squeaks are not competitive rankings; they are a light, encouraging way to recognise effort and consistency.
What happens when a student earns a Squeak?
A Squeak marks a week in which a student played on at least four different days.
At 6pm UK time on Sunday, they receive an email containing a short Sunday Squeak video from Pip, featuring musical stories, inspiration and occasional contributions from the wider Pip community.
Why is there a maximum of six Pips per day?
Pip rewards regular practice, rather than encouraging students to chase points through long sessions that may be less focused or effective.
Students earn one Pip for every five minutes of practice, up to six Pips—or 30 minutes—per instrument each day. They can always keep playing beyond that; they simply won’t earn more Pips for that instrument until the next day.
Regular practice—little and often—is generally more effective for learning and progressing than occasional long sessions.
The limit applies separately to each instrument, so a student practising two instruments can earn up to six Pips for each one.
Can students record their playing?
Students can make short recordings during practice to listen back, reflect and notice how their playing is developing.
Recordings are private to the student and are not shared with their teacher. Students can give each recording up to three stars and revisit it later from the Progress tab.
Pip does not analyse, grade or score their playing.
Can one student use Pip for more than one instrument?
Yes. Students can use one Pip account for all the instruments they are learning.
They can switch between instruments without needing separate accounts. Practice plans and activity are kept separate for each instrument, while regular playing across all their instruments contributes towards their weekly Squeak.
Paid membership is per student, with all their instruments included.
For families
Does a child need their own smartphone to use Pip?
No. Children do not need their own smartphone to use Pip.
Pip works equally well on a shared computer, tablet or phone. Students can check their plan, begin practising and put the screen aside while they play.
Is using Pip going to mean more screen time?
Pip is designed to support music-making, not compete with it.
Students can check their plan, begin a practice session and then put the screen aside—or even turn it off—while they use their instrument. They can also use other apps for things such as backing tracks or a metronome without stopping their session.
Pip keeps track of the session and is ready when they return to move to the next activity or wrap up their practice session. If they don’t return for a while, Pip assumes they may have stopped practising and caps that period at 10 minutes. Students should always return to Pip and finish their session to ensure their practice time and Pips are counted.
What can parents see?
Parents can see their child’s practice plans, activity and progress.
This includes current and previous plans, any resources shared by the teacher, when their child practised, where they spent their time, and their reflections on their practice. The purpose is to help parents provide encouragement and support without needing to supervise every practice session.
What if I have more than one child learning an instrument?
One parent account can be connected to more than one child.
Parents can see each child’s practice plans and activity separately, helping them provide encouragement and support without needing to supervise every practice session.
Is Pip suitable for younger children?
Yes. Younger children can use Pip with support from a parent or guardian.
Parents can help them check their teacher’s plan and begin practising, while Pip supports greater independence as they grow in confidence.
Is Pip suitable for older or more independent students?
Yes. Older students can use Pip to manage their practice more independently.
They may particularly value having clear priorities, resources, practice history and a way to reflect on what is working between lessons.
A connected parent account is still required for students under 18.
How much does Pip cost for families?
Families can use Pip Free for as long as they like, while the full version of Pip begins with six weeks free.
No payment details are required to start. After six weeks, families can choose an early-access membership for £4.99 a month or £49 a year—or continue with Pip Free.
These early-access prices are guaranteed for your first 12 paid months. Membership is per student, with all their instruments included.
For teachers
Will Pip create more work for me?
Pip is designed to fit into the lesson, not create another administrative task afterwards.
Create the first practice plan with activities, priorities, notes and resources. From then on, simply update it as the student progresses—there’s no need to start from a blank page after every lesson.
Many teachers find the most efficient way to use Pip is to keep the student’s practice plan open during the lesson and make changes as they teach.
What do teachers need to use Pip?
Teachers need an internet-connected computer, tablet or phone to use Pip.
Pip works in a web browser and does not require special equipment. Teachers should, of course, follow their school or organisation’s device policies. A physical keyboard can make updating plans faster when using a tablet, but it is optional.
Is Pip really free for teachers?
Pip is free for music teachers, forever.
Teachers can create an account, invite students, share practice plans and follow their progress without paying a subscription.
Do families have to pay for a teacher to use Pip with them?
No. Every family can use Pip Free for as long as they like.
Families who want the additional motivation, accountability and progress features can choose a paid membership. Your teacher account remains free whichever option a family chooses.
Can parents see what I share with students?
Yes. Connected parents can see the practice plans, notes and resources you share with their child.
They can also see relevant information about their child’s practice and progress. This keeps the teacher, student and parent working from the same information.
What can teachers see about students’ practice?
Teachers can see the practice plans they have shared and information about how each student’s practice is going.
This can include how the student used their practice time, anything they flagged for help in their next lesson, and their reflections on their focus, enjoyment and progress.
This helps teachers begin the next lesson informed. Teachers cannot see activity unrelated to the students they teach, and students’ practice recordings remain private: teachers cannot see or hear them.
What is the Pip Partner Programme?
The Pip Partner Programme recognises and rewards teachers who use Pip with their students, help shape its development and introduce it to other teachers.
To become a Pip Partner, add at least five students and use Pip with them for a few weeks. Once you’ve sent each student three practice plans, you’ll qualify and receive a £10 voucher as a thank-you.
Pip Partners will have opportunities to share feedback, help shape new features and try some improvements before they’re released more widely. There may also be occasional thank-yous and invitations as the programme develops.
You’ll also receive a further £10 voucher for every teacher you refer who goes on to qualify as a Pip Partner.
Can I use Pip in more than one school or teaching setting?
Pip can be used with students taught privately, in schools or through other organisations.
Teachers who work across several teaching settings can manage those students through one account.
Can I use Pip for remote lessons?
Yes. Pip can support both in-person and remote music lessons.
Because plans, notes and resources are shared online, students and families can access the same guidance wherever lessons take place.
Can I use Pip for teaching groups or ensembles?
Pip is currently designed primarily for one-to-one music teaching.
We’re interested in how it could support group lessons, ensembles and other forms of music education too. If you teach music to groups and would like to use Pip, please get in touch—we’d love to learn more about what you need.
Privacy and safety
Is Pip safe for children?
Pip is designed with children’s privacy and safeguarding in mind.
A parent or guardian is connected to accounts for students under 18, and parents can see relevant communication between teachers and students.
Pip has no advertising, public student profiles, social feed or direct messaging between students. Any student contribution shared through a Sunday Squeak requires appropriate consent.
Who can see my child’s information?
The student, their connected parent or guardian, and the teachers linked to their lessons can see the information relevant to their roles.
Pip does not sell children’s personal information or use it for advertising. The Privacy Policy explains what information is collected, why it is needed and how it is protected.
Who can see a student’s recordings?
Only the student can see and listen to their recordings.
Recordings are not shared with teachers or parents. Students can revisit their recordings through the Progress tab.
Does Pip use advertising or sell children’s data?
No. Pip does not include advertising and does not sell children’s personal information.
Further information about how Pip collects and uses data is available in the Privacy Policy.
Does Pip use AI to assess students’ playing?
No. Pip does not listen to, analyse, grade or score a student’s playing using AI.
Pip’s role is to help students follow their teacher’s guidance and reflect on their own practice. The teacher remains central to the student’s musical development.
How can I request or delete my family’s data?
Parents and account holders can contact Pip to request access to or deletion of their personal information.
Email support@playwithpip.com. Further information is available in the Privacy Policy.
Pricing and membership
How much does Pip cost?
Pip is free for teachers, forever.
Students and parents can use Pip Free for as long as they like. The full version of Pip is free for the first six weeks, with no payment details required.
After that, families can choose the early-access price of £4.99 per month or £49 per year, or continue with Pip Free.
Paid membership is per student, with all their instruments included.
What is included in Pip Free?
Pip Free gives students clear practice plans and access to all the resources shared by their teacher.
Paid Pip adds tools for motivation, accountability and visible progress, including practice tracking, Pips, Squeaks, recordings and reflection.
What happens after the first six weeks?
Before the six weeks end, we’ll invite you to choose monthly membership, annual membership or Pip Free.
If you do not choose a paid membership, you’ll move to Pip Free. No payment will be taken unless you actively choose a paid plan.
Do I need to enter payment details to start?
No. You can begin the six-week full experience without entering payment details.
We’ll explain the membership options before the free period ends, and you will not be charged automatically.
Can I get Pip half-price by inviting my child’s teacher?
Yes. If you invite a teacher who isn’t already using Pip and they join, your family will receive its first year of paid Pip half-price.
Your six-week free trial comes first, followed by the discounted annual membership. To make sure we can identify your invitation, ask the teacher to mention your name or email address when they sign up.
What happens when I invite my child’s teacher?
The invitation button opens a ready-written message that you can review, copy and share by email, WhatsApp or however you normally contact your child’s teacher.
If they join and mention your name or email address during signup, your family will receive its first year of paid Pip half-price, after the six-week free trial.
Will the early-access price change?
The current prices apply while Pip is in early access, and the price that will apply afterwards has not yet been set.
Early-access members are guaranteed the price they join at for their first 12 paid months, whether they choose monthly or annual membership. After that, members will receive at least 30 days’ notice before any price change takes effect.
Do you offer a family plan?
Membership is currently priced per student, with all instruments included.
We are exploring family pricing for households with more than one student, but have not yet confirmed how this will work.
What does “all instruments included” mean?
One student can use Pip for all the instruments they are learning without paying for separate memberships.
Each instrument must be connected to a teacher who uses Pip to create and update the student’s practice plan. The same teacher can support more than one instrument where appropriate.
Does Pip donate part of its revenue?
Yes. Pip donates 10% of subscription revenue to organisations helping more children access music education.
Further information about the organisations Pip supports will be shared as the programme develops.
Support and early access
Why is Pip in early access?
Pip is in early access so that it can be developed with the people who use it.
The core experience is working, but some features are not yet ready and others will continue to improve. Feedback from teachers, students and families helps Pip understand what works, what causes frustration and what should be built next.
In particular, early access is helping Pip learn:
- whether teachers can create and update plans without adding unnecessary administration;
- whether students practise more confidently and consistently;
- whether parents experience greater clarity and less conflict around practice.
What should I do if something isn’t working?
Use our feedback form and tell us what happened.
Including your device, browser and any screenshots will help us investigate. You can also email us at support@playwithpip.com.
How can I suggest an improvement?
We love to hear ideas from teachers, students and families!
Email support@playwithpip.com or use the feedback form.