FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Virtunity. If you have a question that isn't answered here, email hello@virtunity.io.
General
What is Virtunity?
Virtunity gives band students a daily practice plan, tracks what they actually worked on, and keeps their teacher in the loop between lessons. Built by a band director. Not a general music app — it's built around audition prep and fundamentals.
What instruments does Virtunity support?
Ten instruments: Bb clarinet, flute, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, French horn, and percussion (timpani, snare, mallets). More coming based on demand.
Is Virtunity free?
The current early access rollout is free. Planned public-launch pricing is $15 one-time for the student app, and Pro is planned at $9.99/month for more personalized teacher-connected planning and reporting.
How is Virtunity different from a tuner or metronome?
A tuner checks one note. A metronome keeps time. Virtunity logs your whole session — what you worked on, how it went, what your teacher said to focus on — and builds your next session around what still needs work. It's a practice system, not a single tool.
For Students
How does the daily practice plan work?
After your first few sessions, Virtunity figures out where you are and starts building daily plans (15–20 minutes) focused on what needs the most work. The plans pull from 11,000+ tagged exercises — so if your intonation needs help, you get exercises tagged for intonation on your instrument. Your teacher's notes shape the plan too. Get better at something? The plan moves on.
What does session feedback look like?
Play your exercise. When you finish, log it — rate how it went, leave a voice note, mark your good and bad reps. You see your consistency over time and the daily plan adapts. Right now, the system learns from your logging and your teacher's input. As our audio tools develop, you'll also get scored on pitch, rhythm, and timing automatically.
Can I use Virtunity without a teacher?
Yes. You'll improve faster with a teacher handling the artistry and interpretation side — the stuff Virtunity can't coach — but plenty of students use it on their own and still see real progress.
Does Virtunity work offline?
You need internet to download your daily plan and sync results. Recording and playback work offline, so you can practice in a car, garage, or anywhere quiet without cell service.
What's the difference between the download and Pro?
The $15 download gives you the full exercise library, structured plans based on your level, session scoring, and progress tracking. Pro at $9.99/month adds teacher-connected planning: your teacher's lesson notes feed into your plans, the plans adapt as you improve, and your teacher sees what you worked on between lessons. Parent reports are coming later.
For Teachers & Directors
Can I see my students' practice data?
Private-instructor teacher access is in limited release with invite codes, lesson review snapshots, lesson mode, and assignments. You see the practice story, not the student's raw recordings.
How does the teacher dashboard work?
Right now, it's built around connecting with your students, reviewing what happened between lessons, and carrying your lesson notes into the next practice plan. Broader class analytics are still in development.
Can I assign specific exercises to students?
Private-instructor assignment workflows are part of the current early access rollout. Broader section-wide and director-level assignment workflows are still in development.
Does Virtunity replace private lessons or teacher feedback?
No. Virtunity handles the objective stuff — time, rhythm, pitch — so you can spend lesson time on phrasing, expression, and artistry. You shouldn't have to check every note. That's what Virtunity does. Your job is to make musicians.
How many students can I track?
We're not charging teachers during early access, so there are no seat limits right now. Teacher and school pricing will be published before public launch.
For Parents
Can I see my child's progress?
Yes, if your child gives permission. You'll see practice streaks, weekly scores, and improvement trends — not recordings. You'll know they're practicing, and you'll know if it's working.
Is my child's data private?
Yes. Recordings stay on the device and are encrypted in transit. Virtunity never sells data. Only your child, their teacher (if permitted), and you (if permitted) can see anything.
How much does Virtunity cost compared to private lessons?
A private lesson runs $50 to $150 per hour. Virtunity is a $15 download, and Pro is $9.99/month. It doesn't replace lessons. It makes the practice between lessons more focused, so the lesson time goes further.
What if my child plays multiple instruments?
All 10 instruments are included with the $15 download. No instrument limits on any plan. Switch between instruments instantly.
Technical
What devices does Virtunity work on?
iPhone only right now. Android and web are planned after the iPhone and teacher rollout is solid.
Do I need a special microphone?
No. Your iPhone's built-in mic works fine. If you're somewhere loud, earbuds with a mic (AirPods, etc.) help. You don't need studio conditions.
How accurate is the pitch detection?
Within 5 cents (roughly 1/20th of a semitone). Built on the YIN algorithm — same tech used in professional tuning and recording software.
How much storage and data does Virtunity use?
App is ~200MB. Recordings store on your phone (roughly 2–5MB each). Syncing is lightweight — cellular or WiFi. It won't burn through your data plan.
About Virtunity
Who built Virtunity?
Justin Berchtold. Clarinetist — Concertmaster and Principal Clarinet of the Marine Forces Pacific Band, BM from DePaul, band director in Chicago. He built Virtunity because he kept seeing the same problem in his own students.
Why did you build this?
His students — beginners through conservatory-bound seniors — couldn't all afford private lessons. They had the drive but not the feedback. Virtunity gives them data on pitch, rhythm, and timing so they can improve on their own and get more out of whatever lesson time they do have.
How do I report a bug or suggest a feature?
Email hello@virtunity.io. Justin reads every message personally. Honest feedback makes the product better.
How often do you add new instruments?
Based on demand. We only ship an instrument when the pitch detection and coaching logic actually work well for it.
Still have questions?
Email us at hello@virtunity.io. Justin reads every message personally.
Or join early access to get started.