428: What’s Piano Marvel All About? With founders Heidi and Aaron Garner

Technology can’t replace the heart of great teaching, but when used well, it can supercharge our impact. Today, I’m chatting with Aaron and Heidi Garner, the founders of Piano Marvel and sponsors of this month’s podcast. We dive into their inspiring startup journey, explore how their platform supports practice, sight reading, and studio efficiency, and unpack why it’s more relevant than ever in today’s teaching landscape. Whether you’ve been curious about using tech in your lessons or are looking for ways to boost student motivation, this episode has something for you.

• Aaron shared how teaching group piano sparked the idea for Piano Marvel.
• The importance of allowing students to progress at their own pace was emphasized.
• Heidi explained how they secured early funding through friends and family.
• They discussed the challenge of early teacher resistance to technology.
• How the software helps students practice notes and rhythm accurately.
• Heidi highlighted how Piano Marvel supports teachers with time-saving tools.
• The value of using Piano Marvel during lessons to improve practice habits was shared.
• How the SASR (Standard Assessment of Sight-Reading) test tracks progress with gamified feedback.
• Tim and Aaron discussed how faster repertoire learning leads to deeper artistry.
• Heidi shared how Piano Marvel’s teacher community supports learning and tech adoption.
• The new Group Play feature allows synchronized ensemble performance across devices.
• Teachers can upload and annotate sheet music directly within the platform.
• Aaron emphasized that technology enhances, not replaces, the role of great teachers.

Special Offer for Podcast Listeners

• Piano Marvel Back-to-School Sale - Kick off the school year with 15% off an Annual Premium Subscription, plus enjoy an extra month absolutely free, and get instant access to the PDF version of the FUNdamentals Book to supercharge your practice. Visit pianomarvel.com or go directly to store.pianomarvel.com to claim your discount.

Links Mentioned

• Piano Marvel Website
• Standard Assessment of Sight Reading (SASR)

Today’s Guest

Aaron Garner did his undergraduate studies in piano performance and pedagogy, along with composition at Brigham Young University and the University of Southern Colorado. While doing his graduate studies in performance and pedagogy with a secondary emphasis in composition at the University of Northern Colorado, he taught class piano, where he faced teaching students of differing abilities simultaneously in one classroom. The difficulties of that task led Aaron to develop the Piano Marvel software. Piano Marvel was founded in January of 2008, and the first version of the software was released at MTNA in Atlanta, GA, in March of 2009. Heidi Garner helped start Piano Marvel with her husband, Aaron Garner, in 2008. Over the years, Heidi has taken on several positions within the company, and she currently serves as the Chief Marketing Officer. You might come across her on our social media platforms or at a conference! Furthermore, Heidi is a personal trainer and running coach specializing in fostering behavioral change. She obtained her bachelor's degree in Kinesiology at the University of Northern Colorado. Heidi and Aaron have four...