Payam Music, a piano school based in Bothell, Washington, is set for national expansion under the leadership of Hadi Partovi, the founder of Code.org. Partovi was recently appointed as the new CEO and aims to leverage investments from notable figures including Mark Cuban and Dara Khosrowshahi, the CEO of Uber.
The innovative teaching method at Payam Music, known as the Payam Method, focuses on using letters and numbers to teach students their favorite songs before introducing traditional music notation. This approach has led to a remarkable retention rate, with approximately 97% of students continuing beyond the first year, a stark contrast to the 15% to 20% retention seen in conventional lessons.
Partovi's personal connection to music began in Iran, where he and his twin brother learned piano during their childhood. His experience in education and technology will influence his vision for Payam Music, which currently operates eight locations across multiple states, including California and New York. The school has secured seed funding in the single-digit millions to support its growth.