Make Music Count: Turning Random Math Problems Into Melody

Learning math doesn’t have to feel like a chore. Now you can make music count by turning random math problems into melody!! So fun! Make Music Count proves that when you mash up random math problems with your child’s favorite songs, the result is magic. 

This innovative program, launched by mathematician and pianist Marcus Blackwell Jr., blends arithmetic and keyboard practice so kids can solve problems and jam along at the same time. Its STEAM‑aligned curriculum has helped students from 2nd to 12th grade build confidence and crush math anxiety.

Make Music Count was also chosen to be featured in the Toy Association’s 2026 Toy Trends presentation which is a highly selective showcase put together by Toy Association representatives! So you KNOW this is making waves! So exciting!

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Make Music Count: Turning Random Math Problems Into Melody

Make Music Count is complete with keyboards and workbooks so families can discover a great way to make maths education engaging, and dare I say it…fun! Goodness, I can’t even image saying math and fun in the same sentence, but there it is!

How It Works (Spoiler: It’s Fun Math Problems!)

Through an ingenious system of successive math problem solving to discover specific notes, Make Music Count guides kids through the math-learning process through incentivization.

Solving math problems rewards kids with a lesson on how to play segments of some of their favorite songs, that they can choose! De-mystifying math and teaching music simultaneously, that’s the brilliance of Make Music Count!

Make Music Count turns math into music and students start with a problem. For example, F + ½ = ?. Rather than just writing down the answer, they think of the piano as a number line.

Moving a half‑step from F brings you to F#. Each correct answer reveals the corresponding note on a virtual keyboard (where the heck was this when I was in school???)!

Once all the math questions are solved, those notes light up, and the student plays along while the original song streams! It’s a reward loop that feels more like a video game than a worksheet. Too dang cool!

And, kids aren’t limited to one or two ditties either! The companion app boasts a library of more than 1,500 popular songs, from Kendrick Lamar to Taylor Swift, so learners can tackle random numbers and word problems while unlocking tunes they actually enjoy.

No prior piano skills are required; the program teaches every note from scratch. By the end of a lesson, even primary school students are jamming on the keys and strengthening their math skills.

Kits & Workbooks: 3 Levels of Musical Math

Make Music Count released keyboard kits, each bundled with workbooks and the app:

*Math Maestro ($99.99) – includes addition and subtraction workbooks It’s great for primary classroom teachers or parents who want to turn 1st-grade practice sessions into a party.

*Ratio Rockstar ($129.99) – builds on Math Maestro by adding multiplication and division Perfect if your learner is ready for new questions involving ratios, fractions of numbers, and more.

*Piano Prodigy ($149.99) – the full package with workbooks for addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, and Algebra 1. Ideal for late elementary through high school students who want to explore more advanced math concepts.

If you already own a keyboard, individual workbooks are sold separately for about $9.99 each. Each kit includes stickers to label the keys (no sight‑reading needed) and step‑by‑step instructions.

The Free App & Subscription Extras

The Make Music Count app is free to download and use. Kids can work through math quizzes and play songs as often as they want. For parents and homeschool families who crave more insight, a subscription unlocks a data portal that tracks your child’s progress: songs played, time spent in the app, math quiz scores by subject, and the music that drives the best results.

Subscriptions are available monthly ($29.99), quarterly ($79.99), bi‑annually ($149.99), or annually ($299.99). Each plan supports up to four children, which makes it a great place to monitor multiple learners during study sessions.

Step‑by‑Step for Homeschool Families

Make Music Count’s creators envision the app as a versatile tool for homeschoolers.

Here’s how to get started:

*Sign up and choose your plan. Whether you use the free version or spring for a subscription, you’ll create an account tailored for your family’s needs.

*Download the app in the App Store or Google Play. It works on Chromebooks, desktops, smartboards, iPads, tablets, and smartphones – basically any device with internet access.

*Learn and play. Follow the guided lessons to solve math problems and play the corresponding notes. The intuitive interface makes it easy even for beginners.

*Track and celebrate progress. Use the subscriber dashboard to see which songs your child loves, how much time they’re spending, and which math topics are improving.

What Subjects Are Covered?

Make Music Count isn’t just about times tables. The curriculum spans Fractions, Decimals, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division, Order of Operations, Substituting Variables, Solving for X, Pre-Calculus, and Calculus. 

Whether you’re helping a child practice their number of questions in a fraction workbook or guiding high‑schoolers through algebra, there’s material for everyone. And because the lessons use music as a mnemonic, kids experience less math anxiety and more motivation.

Mission & Impact

Marcus Blackwell Jr. created Make Music Count after conquering his own fear of math. As a young pianist, he realised that understanding numbers was the key to mastering music, so he turned that insight into a program that eliminates “math‑phobia” in 3rd–11th grade students. 

Since its launch in 2013, Make Music Count has grown from community service sessions into an enrichment program that has helped over 500 schools across twelve years. 

The program now reaches learners nationwide through its app and kits, helping them see math as a creative tool rather than an obstacle. The mission remains simple: use creativity to allow every student to reach their full educational potential. In classrooms and homes alike, this approach has produced measurable results. After using the program, students increased their math test scores by 28%.

Teachers report that it reduces anxiety and builds confidence because students are learning math through songs they love. Math is often considered dry, but it doesn’t have to be. Make Music Count takes random math problems and turns them into a jam session. 

From addition and subtraction for 1st graders to algebraic concepts for high schoolers, kids get to practice math skills while playing hits from a library that would make any DJ jealous.

With affordable kits, a free app, and a supportive subscription, this program is poised to change how we teach maths education at home and in schools. It’s a great way to encourage learners to reach their full potential, and who wouldn’t prefer solving fun maths questions to the beat of Beyoncé? 

Buy

Make Music Count is available as a free app in the App Store and Google Play Store, as a supplemental educational app that school districts use in math classes, music classes, special education classes, and as after-school enrichment, and now at retail with keyboard and physical workbook bundles. You can check out and buy these fun musical math kits by visiting their website or checking out the workbooks on Amazon! 

Win

One person will win the Make Music Count Math Maestro Bundle, Which Includes:

*Product App

*49-Key Keyboard

*2 Workbooks (Addition – Subtraction)

 ARV: $99.99!

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