Morton Subotnick’s Pitch Painter:
Music Composing for Preschoolers
Educational iPad app for Kids
Challenge
Expedition PR was selected by Morton Subotnick, the author of the highly acclaimed educational CD-Rom series Making Music, to introduce his latest endeavor Pitch Painter, a musical painting iPad application designed for children ages 3 to 5.
Using finger painting as a metaphor, children can compose, erase, edit, save or load their creations with Pitch Painter. They can hear their musical creations played back exactly as they drew them, or as a normal piece of written music, from left to right, or upside down, backwards and even scrub them like a DJ. Also, while enjoying creative play, they will experience a variety of musical instrumental sounds and authentic scale tunings from four regions of the world.
The client tasked the agency with a two-week introduction and review placement program in May 2012. Then, once again in April 2013, Expedition PR was asked to introduce the updated application, which features an improved user interface design and button layout that is more intuitive for kids to create music. In addition, Expedition PR announced a prestigious industry award, which was submitted for by the agency during the launch.
Strategy & Program
Expedition PR utilized preview codes and giveaways to drive coverage along with social media to redistribute reviews
- APP REVIEWS:
Expedition PR approached key outlets with preview codes to drive reviews - MOMMY BLOGGER OUTREACH/GIVEAWAY:
The agency targeted mommy bloggers with preview codes for review and giveaways - SOCIAL MEDIA PUSH:
Social media outlets were leveraged to redistribute application reviews and to approach media with large Twitter followings - INDUSTRY DISTINCTIONS/RANKINGS:
The agency targeted key outlets that review and recommend learning apps to educators and parents
Results
2013
- Received “ON for Learning Award from Common Sense Media” Pitch Painter was just one of 50 apps, games and websites that received the distinction from the national nonprofit dedicated to helping parents and teachers manage the media and technology in kids’ lives
- Named “Top 5 Apps for Kids” by Mashable
- Included in “New and Noteworthy Kids App” by Best Apps for Kids
- Called “Best iPad Apps for Kids” by Firstpost
- Included in “Top 10 Educational Apps for Kids” by Just Mommies
- Included in “Best iPad Apps for Music Teachers” on Pininterest
- Appeared in “Top 50 Learning Apps 2013 for Children & Teens” on Baby Smiles
- Reviews appeared in CNET, Mobile Apps Review Online, Apps4iDevices, App Annie, App Shopper, WebVudu, Just Gadgets, Apps for Children with Special Needs, iPad Apps for Autism, Montessori at Home, Motherhood Moments, ByronMom, Peanut Butter and Whine, Digital Playground/School in Toronto, 440 Software, among others
2012
- Placed in top paid apps in iTunes for U.S. market day of launch
- Appeared in the ‘Best Apps from Around the World’: The 50 Best Childrens Apps according to The Guardian/Observer
- Included in “Back-to-School: Top 50 Learning Apps for Students” on news.com.au and Courier Mail
- Appeared in Best Apps for Kids “New & Noteworthy”
- Featured in Apple’s “New & Noteworthy” section
- Reviews appeared on Apps Rush, Apps Playground, Best iPad Apps for Kids, Best Apps for Kids, Apps for iDevices, Best10Apps, Appsational, Making Music Mag, 148 Apps, iKidApps, TechWeb, and others
- Apps Rush review picked up globally
- Apps4Devices named Pitch Painter a “Killer App”
- Apps Playground included in the “Top 20 Apps” released in May 2012
