Students who practise, stay.

Children can't practise for a reward that's a year away. Chenko gives them a reason to practise today, so more of your students keep going.

Join the free testFree from January, while we test
Sofiia

Made by Sofiia, a piano teacher in London

Lesi, a little orange dragon, waving
The problem

The loop every teacher knows

A child starts lessons full of excitement. Then practice slips to once a week. They can't hear themselves getting better, so practice feels pointless.

One day a parent messages to say they're stopping. Often it's only a few months before the pieces they'd have loved.

For you

Every student who stops is a gap in your week, and a child who gave up on music just before it got good.

For your students

Practising alone is boring. "You'll play really well one day" means nothing to a nine-year-old.

Chenko is built to break that loop.

The answer

A reason to practise today

Lesi is a little dragon who lives in a painted garden. Every time a child opens Chenko, he's waiting with your homework and this week's practice goal.

Each practice moves his story on, so children have something to look forward to every single day.

Lesi's tip for todayBefore you play, look through your music. Spot the tricky bits, like Lesi spotting puddles!
Chenko's home screen: Lesi in his autumn garden with this week's practice goal
How it works

Three steps, every week

The teacher's homework screen with two pieces and a voice message attached
1

You set the homework

Write it in seconds and add a video, a voice note, a photo or a PDF. It's also an easy way to send a makeup lesson.

Lesi waving above his tip for today, with an I'll try it button
2

Lesi shows them how

Before the timer starts, Lesi shares a tip on how to practise well: slowly, in small sections, listening carefully.

Lesi's adventure: a painted picture of Lesi resting in a flower garden
3

Lesi brings back a story

While they practise, Lesi goes on an adventure and comes back with a story for their Journal. Sometimes he finds a rare treasure.

Lesi grows up as they practise. The more weeks a child reaches your practice goal, the more Lesi grows, from a baby dragon to a grown-up one.

More than practice

What lessons have no time for

At music school in Ukraine, Sofiia had music history, listening and theory every week. Chenko brings a little of that home, in a few minutes a week.

Learn: this month's composer is Chopin. Children listen to the Minute Waltz, hear a short story about him, then take a quiz
This month's composer
Frédéric Chopin
Poland · 1810–1849
  1. Week 1Meet ChopinListen · Story · Quiz
  2. Week 2The Romantic pianoListen · Story · Quiz
  3. Week 3Polish folk dancesListen · Story · Quiz
  4. Week 4What is a nocturne?Theory made fun
Learn

A composer every month

Each week brings a short piece to listen to, a little story and a fun quiz. Over the year children meet composers from many countries, including women composers and music they might never hear otherwise.

Imagine: Lesi asks what the music makes you imagine while a Chopin nocturne plays
Imagine

Feeling the music

Children listen to a piece, choose how it makes them feel, then draw or write what they imagined. They can send it to their teacher, which starts lovely conversations in the lesson.

Learn and Imagine are part of the free test from January. Pictures show the planned design.

Teachers

Why teachers are joining

"I lose a couple of students every year and it's nearly always the same story. They stop practising, they don't feel like they're getting anywhere, and then mum emails to say they're giving up. So I'm really curious to see if Lesi gets my kids practising more. Can't wait to try it in January."
Laura, piano teacher, UK
"Honestly, keeping students is the hardest part of the job. If this helps even a few of mine stay, I'm in."
Anastasia, piano teacher, US
"My little ones get bored practising on their own, and most parents have no idea how to help them. I think the dragon will really work for them. Plus I'd actually know who practised before they walk in, which would be really useful."
Dennis, music teacher, Canada
"My students would loooove this, I'd be happy to test it out!"
Christina, piano teacher, US
What you get

Practice you can see, and parents in the loop

For you

  • See who practised before the lesson starts
  • Homework with video, voice notes, photos or PDFs
  • A weekly practice goal for each student

For parents

  • They see their child's practice days and progress
  • They know exactly what to practise this week
  • Less nagging: Lesi gives children their own reason to practise
Made for children

Safe, calm and kind

Chenko is made for children, so it's careful by design. Teenagers and adult learners can use it too.

  • Children use their first name only
  • No adverts, and nothing to buy
  • Children's data is never sold or shared with advertisers
  • Families give permission before anything is shared
  • Lesi is never sad or disappointed when a child doesn't practise
Sofiia, the piano teacher who made Chenko, sitting on a garden bench
From a piano teacher

Hi, I'm Sofiia

I teach piano in London, and I grew up going to music school in Ukraine. There it was never just my piano lesson. Every week we had music history, theory and choir with the same group of friends. We cheered each other on, listened to each other play, and somewhere along the way, music stopped being homework and became something we loved.

Since I started teaching here, I've seen the same thing happen again and again. A child starts out excited. Then they practise one day a week, then not at all. They can't hear themselves getting better, the excitement slowly fades, and one day a parent messages to say they're stopping.

I made Chenko for those children, and for every teacher who doesn't want to lose them.

Sofiia
Founding teachers

Try Chenko free with your students

I'm looking for 40 teachers to use Chenko with their students from January (late January in Australia and New Zealand).

  • Free from January, while we test
  • A set-up pack in December, so you're ready on day one
  • Shape what I build next in a small Facebook group of founding teachers
  • A special founding price when Chenko launches

Save my place

I'll reply to you myself. Your email is only used for Chenko, never shared.

Questions

Good to know

Which instruments does it work for?

Any instrument. You set the homework, and Lesi's practice tips work for piano, strings, wind, guitar, singing and more.

What do my students need?

A phone or tablet, their own or a parent's, Android or iPhone.

What does it cost?

It's free for founding teachers while we test. Founding teachers get a special price when Chenko launches.

Is it safe for children?

Yes. First names only, nothing to buy, no adverts, and families give permission before anything is shared.

What if I have more questions?

Email hello@chenko.app. I answer every email myself.

Join the free test