Simply Apps Review: Piano, Guitar, Sing and Draw at Home

Music and art give children a way to make something of their own: play a tune, sing a song or put an idea on paper. Guided lessons can make the first step easier to understand and give the next practice session a clear purpose. That is the appeal of the Simply apps in a homeschool day.

Simply brings piano, guitar, singing and drawing into a group of learning apps. These are resources I have loved having in our homeschool. For a family considering them, I would first look at how the lessons lead into making music or drawing, then choose the plan and materials that fit those activities.

One detail deserves attention before you subscribe: the current Simply Family Plan includes up to five premium profiles, not an unlimited number of learners.^[1] We have six children. A product called a Family Plan still needs to be checked against the number of people who actually need separate progress records.

The Four Apps Have Different Jobs

Simply’s current family page groups Simply Piano, Simply Guitar, Simply Sing and Simply Draw. They cover different creative skills rather than four versions of one music course.^[1]

Simply describes Piano as teaching songs with immediate feedback. Guitar listens as the learner plays and provides step-by-step lessons in chords, timing and songs. The learner can play the lesson material, use the feedback and try the passage again.^[1]

Sing works with the learner’s vocal range and teaches pitch, keeping time and breath control. Draw moves from on-screen guidance to pencil and paper, with drawing techniques to apply to the picture. The value is in practicing the creative skill the learner wants to use, with guidance for what to try next.^[1]

For planning, that difference matters. A piano lesson needs time at a keyboard or piano. Guitar needs the instrument ready to use. Singing needs space to hear and use your voice. Drawing needs a surface and materials. Putting all four into one subscription does not make their practical requirements identical.

Simply Draw’s own equipment guidance says an ordinary pencil and paper are enough to start.^[2] You can inspect the lessons before assuming you need a large art-supply order.

Where the Apps Fit in Our Homeschool

The Simply apps are part of the resources I have loved having in our homeschool. Piano, guitar, singing and drawing each give us a different kind of creative activity to make room for.

I homeschool before leaving for second shift. I want music and art to have a usable place beside the academic subjects, rather than always waiting for a spare afternoon that may not exist.

An app can help provide a clear activity to begin. The adult still needs to decide whether the learner understands the task, has the materials and knows when to ask for help. I would not promise that installing it makes every child independent.

Individual, Duo and Family Plans

Simply’s current plan comparison describes an Individual Plan with one premium profile and one app. Its Duo Plan provides two premium profiles for Simply Piano and is limited to Piano subscribers. The Family Plan provides five premium profiles and access across its apps.^[3]

That is worth checking before choosing the cheapest-looking offer. Two people using Piano and several people using different apps are different purchasing situations. A plan that fits one may not cover the other.

Adding a profile does not automatically upgrade a subscription. Simply’s profile help explicitly tells families to check that their plan supports the profiles they need.^[4] If access looks wrong, establish the current plan before purchasing another subscription.

Does One Subscription Include All Four Apps?

Not every subscription does. The current Simply Draw help says cross-app access comes through a Family Plan purchased through Simply Piano or Simply Guitar. A Draw-only or Sing-only subscription should not be assumed to include that bundle.^[5]

Before changing anything, check the subscription you already have and where it is billed. Follow the publisher’s instructions for that account. Buying again without checking could leave you paying for access you already own or for a plan that still does not cover what you meant to buy.

How Much Does Simply Cost?

The publisher’s subscription help says pricing varies by country, purchase platform and selected plan. It directs readers to the current in-app or online subscription options.^[6] I would compare the actual offer shown to your account rather than quote one promotional price as universal.

Look at the full charge, the billing period, any introductory period and the renewal terms. A number presented as a monthly equivalent can represent a larger payment collected at once. Read the total before subscribing.

Setting Up Profiles Without Mixing Progress

Simply’s current help says family members use the subscription account and select their own profiles. It recommends choosing the correct profile before a session so progress saves to the right learner.^[4]

That can become part of the starting routine: open the right app, confirm the right learner and return to the intended lesson. You do not need a complicated checklist, but the profile step matters when devices are shared.

Have the device charged and the lesson’s sound or microphone ready before practice. This keeps the planned time available for the activity.

What Parent Help Still Looks Like

At the beginning, stay close enough to understand the activity. Notice whether the learner is following the instruction or simply tapping through to the next screen. Ask them to show you the skill they were practicing.

For music, the useful result is something the learner can do with the instrument or voice. For drawing, look at the work on the paper and the part of the instruction they were trying to apply. Finishing an app screen is information, but it is not the whole activity.

If something is difficult, make the next task small and clear. That might mean returning to a short section of a lesson or trying the same drawing step again.

Making Creative Practice Work Before Second Shift

In a household with several learners, think about the resources that can only serve one child at a time. A shared piano and a shared tablet may create different bottlenecks. Plan around the actual instruments and devices you have.

You can also look at the whole week rather than asking every morning to contain every app. Choose a realistic activity and give it a place. A definite opportunity to practice is more useful than a long list of creative subjects with no time left for them.

I explain our wider routine in Homeschooling While Working Second Shift. It includes the meals and household work around teaching because those affect the time and attention available for lessons.

Where the Suite Makes Sense

I would consider the suite when several people want the specific skills it teaches and the plan actually covers those learners. Cross-app access can be useful when one person wants guitar and another wants drawing, rather than buying an unrelated program for every interest.

The tradeoffs are profile limits, subscription terms, device access and the need to make room for practice away from merely watching a screen. Check those details against your own household before choosing a subscription.

I have loved these resources. The best purchase decision still starts with a concrete question: which learner will use which app, on what device and at what time? If you can answer that, you can judge the plan against something real.

Choose the Plan Around the Learners

Start with the official Simply overview and the current plan comparison. Check the apps, profile count and total subscription charge together. Then give the first activity a place in the week when the needed device and materials are available.

My Kids’ Morning Routine Chart is listed in the WFLI Shop. A simple written plan can show which learner is using the instrument or drawing space next.

For printed piano materials, see my Faber Piano Adventures review. My Duolingo review covers the separate job of language practice.

References

1. Simply: Why Simply Works for Families. Four apps and five-profile capacity, checked October 15, 2026.
2. Simply Draw Equipment Guidance.
3. Simply: Individual, Duo or Family Plan.
4. Simply: Multiple Family Profiles.
5. Simply Draw and Other Simply Subscriptions.
6. Simply Piano Subscription and Pricing Help. Plan and platform pricing explanation.