A Personal Journey
A few years ago, I found myself frustrated with maintaining my repertoire. I’d mastered dozens of pieces over the years, but keeping them all fresh in memory felt increasingly chaotic. I had no real system, just hoping I’d remember to revisit pieces before they faded too much.
“There has to be a better way,” I thought. And then: “What if I just… built it myself?”
Back to My Roots
I haven’t written serious code since my student days, when Java was my go-to language. But the challenge intrigued me. Just like approaching a new piece: starting with the basics, working through difficult passages, slowly building something complete.
So I dusted off those old programming skills and got to work.
What I Wish I’d Had as a Student
The core idea came from my own experience: spaced repetition. It’s the same principle language learners use with flashcard apps, but I adapted it for music. The app tracks when you last practiced each piece and suggests optimal review intervals, so nothing slips away while you’re focused on new repertoire.
This is exactly the tool I wish I’d had as a student when I was building my first serious repertoire. Back then, I had no systematic way to maintain what I’d learned. Pieces would fade, and I’d have to relearn them from scratch for concerts. Frustrating.
Building vs. Performing
What surprised me most was how opposite software development and music actually are.
Music is fluid, emotional, interpretive. Every performance is unique, shaped by the moment. There’s no “correct” solution, only deeper understanding and expression.
Programming is logical, precise, deterministic. The code either works or it doesn’t. Problems have solutions. Bugs have fixes. Everything must be exact.
Yet despite being on opposite ends of the spectrum, I found myself drawn to both. Maybe it’s the balance: spending time in the analytical world of code gave me a different kind of satisfaction than the expressive world of performance. Two completely different ways of thinking, two different instruments, both equally absorbing.
Now It’s Real
After months of development and testing (mostly on my own repertoire!), Repertoire Manager is now available. The Windows version is on the Microsoft Store, and the Mac version will launch on the Apple Store next week.
It’s a strange feeling seeing something I built for myself being used by other musicians. But if it helps even a few pianists maintain their repertoire more confidently, then all those hours of coding were worth it.
You can learn more and try it free for 14 days on my Software page.
Sometimes the best tools are the ones we build for ourselves: out of necessity, frustration, and a bit of creative energy.