Skoove
| Developer(s) | Learnfield GmbH |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 2015 |
| Operating system | iOS, Android |
| Available in | English, German, Spanish, French, Japanese, Korean, Chinese[1] |
| Type | Piano learning app |
| Website | https://www.skoove.com/ |
Skoove is a piano learning app operated by Berlin-based Learnfield GmbH. The app offers interactive piano courses for all skill levels, using AI and human expertise to provide personalized feedback and support during learning.
The Guardian and Spiegel described it as an effective and innovative tool for those learning to play the piano, while Wired highlighted its contribution to Berlin's music tech scene.[2][3][4][5]
History
[edit]Skoove was launched by Learnfield GmbH, a Berlin-based company founded in 2014 by Florian Plenge and Stephan Schulz.[6][7][8]
In 2015, the company participated in the Microsoft Ventures Accelerator,[9] and launched Skoove on the web. The app was released on iOS in 2016, iPad in 2017, and Android in May 2021.[10][11][12][13][14]
Skoove has also received several rounds of investment. In 2015, the company secured seed funding from High Tech Gründerfonds.[15][16] This was followed by a venture capital funding round in 2017, which raised 1.2 million EUR from IBB Ventures and EGORA Ventures.[17]
In 2019, additional investments totaling 2.9 million EUR were made by Ringier Digital Ventures, MGO Digital Ventures, and caparuca.[18][19][20] The company is also supported by an EU grant through the Musical Instrument Learning Experience System (MILES).
Overview
[edit]Skoove is a piano learning app that offers learning courses for beginners and advanced learners with a focus on empowering users to play independently. The app offers subscriptions and has some free content. The courses focus on key aspects of piano learning, such as music theory and sight-reading, as well as specific popular piano genres like pop and jazz. The app includes a diverse song library from classics to chart hits and uses AI to recognize the notes users play to provide real-time feedback. It is designed to connect to a piano either acoustically, via Bluetooth, or MIDI cable.[21] The app is available in English, German, Spanish, French, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese languages.[22]
Reviews
[edit]In 2018, Skoove received the Gold Stevie Award for Best App – Education & References and the Silver Stevie Award for Startup of the Year.[23]
In 2023, it was honored with the Deutsche Bildungs Award for Best Instrument E-Learning App.[24]
Chip.de, a German computer magazine, reviewed Skoove as a useful tool for learning the piano without conventional lessons.[25][26]
References
[edit]- ^ "5 start-up qui vont vraiment "augmenter" notre façon de consommer de la musique". France 24 (in French). 2018-06-08. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ Davis, Nicola (2015-10-10). "Piano app gets me playing". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ Hanford, Paul. "Berlin's love of techno has turned it into a music startup powerhouse". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ Demling, Alexander (2016-04-04). "Musikinstrument per App lernen: Wie es ist, Klavier mit Skoove zu üben". Der Spiegel (in German). ISSN 2195-1349. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ ""In China werden weltweit die meisten Klaviere verkauft"". deutsche-startups.de (in German). 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ Shead, Sam. "The 30 coolest tech companies in Berlin". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ Walter, Andrea. "Interactive piano lessons on an online learning platform". KfW Stories. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ Media, Advertising Vertical (2019-04-16). "Berliner E-Learning-Startup Skoove sammelt drei Millionen ein". Business Insider (in German). Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ "8 neue Start-ups heuern beim Microsoft Accelerator an". deutsche-startups.de (in German). 2015-03-09. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ "Skoove bringt Ihnen mit dem iPad Klavierspielen bei". Mac Life (in German). 2017-03-08. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ Ravanetti, Alessandro (2018-06-25). "5 promising startups we saw and liked at Sónar+D in sunny Barcelona". EU-Startups. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ Davis, Nicola (2015-10-10). "Piano app gets me playing". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ Sawers, Paul (2015-09-16). "Skoove launches to help you play the piano, backed by Microsoft Ventures". VentureBeat. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ "Mit Skoove spielend leicht Klavier lernen". deutsche-startups.de (in German). 2015-04-15. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ FinSMEs (2015-09-22). "Skoove Raises Seed Funding from High-Tech Gründerfonds". FinSMEs. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ "HTGF investiert in Skoove und isaac10". deutsche-startups.de (in German). 2015-09-21. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ FinSMEs (2017-03-09). "Skoove Raises €1.2M in Funding". FinSMEs. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ "6,5 Millionen Euro von der Silicon Valley Bank für Unternehmen aus Walldorf - Alle Deals des Tages". deutsche-startups.de (in German). 2019-04-16. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ Redaktion (2019-04-16). "Klavierspiel online lernen: Start-up bekommt 3 Mio. EUR" (in German). Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ Media, Advertising Vertical (2019-04-16). "Berliner E-Learning-Startup Skoove sammelt drei Millionen ein". Business Insider (in German). Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ Davis, Nicola (2015-10-10). "Piano app gets me playing". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ "5 start-up qui vont vraiment "augmenter" notre façon de consommer de la musique". France 24 (in French). 2018-06-08. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ "2018 Stevie Award Winners". Stevie Awards. 2018-05-02. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ "Bildungs-Award - DISQ". disq.de. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ "Skoove: Klavierspielen lernen leicht gemacht". chip.de. 21 March 2016.
- ^ "Die CHIP Redaktion sagt: Mit der Web-App Skoove verwandeln Sie Ihren PC oder Mac in einen Klavierlehrer". chip.de. 21 March 2016.