Building A Unified Music Theory Learning Resource
Scope
I owned the concept, design, and testing of a music theory app that turns theory into color and sound, helping musicians practice by eye and by ear. I validated the problem with musicians across disciplines, then tested the design with musicians and educators from Berklee College of Music. Their feedback shaped the product, which I built with Claude Code.
Role
Timeline
Product Designer
3 Months
Contributions
Claude Code
UX/UI Design
Usability Testing
Outcomes
Tested with Berklee educators
Shared by educators with students
Sound added to every page
Problem
Too Many Sources,
No Single Solution
In my research, I kept struggling to connect music theory across a variety of resources, and discussions with fellow musicians across disciplines showed I wasn't alone. Every source showed isolated and indistinguishable diagrams, leaving musicians to make the connections themselves.
Solution
A Visual Language
Built On Color & Sound
I combined those resources into an interactive app built around a consistent system of color and sound that runs through every chord, key, scale, and progression. Musicians see and hear the theory relationships instead of memorizing diagrams.
User Testing Turned Every Page Into An Ear Trainer
The app started silent, until testing with musicians revealed the opportunity for sound across every page. Now every key, chord, and scale plays when tapped, turning a memorized diagram into ear training practice.
User Testing
Adding Guitar Doubled The Scope
The app was initially built for piano only. Educators wanted to share it with the students who play guitar.
"I have students who don't play piano, they play guitar. I can only share this with half my students."
— Ben, Music Educator
User Feedback
“My guitar students found the scales easy to follow. They can actually see where they are soloing on the neck.”
— Ben, Music Educator
From Basic Keys To Advanced Theory
Key pages differentiate this app from the rest. They start with the basic chords in a key, then go deeper into intervals, modes, and borrowed chords for advanced theory.
A Progression Library You Can Play By Ear
With over 50 progressions, I added filters by chord count, letting beginners start with 2 chords and build to 4. Each chord plays when tapped, turning any progression into ear training practice.
Next Phase, An AI Teacher Inside Search
Musicians ask theory questions in their own words and get answers drawn from the app. Conversation design shapes each answer to teach the why, not just the rule. Ready to build when the app scales.
Conclusion
Validated By Educators,
Shared With Their Students
Color, sound, and consistent patterns turned scattered theory into one place to learn it. The educators who tested the app shared it with their students. Designing and building in one project let their feedback become shipped changes, the AI-driven design workflow I'm bringing into client work.