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A new piano tutor requires one to tinker with a computer keyboard before toying with the black and whites. At a touch of a button, Internet users can access more than 50 piano lessons at various difficulty levels. Zebra Keys (www.zebrakeys.com) was created by DC-residents and brothers Mondul Keree and Anand Kao, and combined each of their piano and Web design talents.

By day, Keree, 27, works as a video game maker and Anand, 23, is a freelance Web developer. They both maintain the website as a side job, and think of it as “play time” for themselves. They recently expanded the online resource to include a piano keyboard and feedback site for regulars.

In the course of one day, the brothers reach hundreds people from different cities worldwide; the Web site garners visitors from distant countries, such as Hong Kong. Zebra Keys offers in-depth diagrams and descriptions on how to read notes, and how to understand music theory and chords.

“Zebra Keys helps people learn as fast as possible,” Keree said. “Once you understand the basic ideas of piano, you can get started on learning right away. You don’t need to study and read notes for a year before you play your first song.”

The Kao brothers say anyone can pick up piano as a new hobby. “It doesn’t matter what age you are,” Anand said. “We wanted everyone to know that if you’re young or old it’s never too late to start. Another benefit is that people can learn on their own pace and that there’s no rush – you can take your time.”

Students don’t even need to own a piano. The Zebra Keys piano keyboard plays notes and chords with interactive Flash online.  Anand said their keyboard is different from other Web sites in that it can play multiple keys at one time by clicking a mouse and pressing down on the computer keyboard.

The brothers chose to leave the website free to all users, even with their traffic increasing every week. “We want to be accessible and available to many people,” Keree said. “We want to give people the gift of piano. The more people who read it, the more satisfied we are. If they learn this skill, they’ll have it for the rest of their lives. I believe that learning piano enriches your life; you can sit down and play anytime.”

            Keree has been teaching piano privately since high school, and uses his classically trained background to provide insight in much of the website’s content, including the music theory section. He said that music theory should be a requirement for people learning piano, so that they can internalize the lessons they learn instead of just copying someone else.

            Keree has taken piano lessons since he was six and along the way he has picked up pop music, country and the blues – other music styles that are part of the repertoire of songs available online. As he manages the website content, Keree said his overall musicianship improved.

“As a person who plays an instrument, you’re always learning,” Keree said. “By making lessons and researching, I definitely picked up more things as I went along. Because of the website, I began listening closely to different types of music and started picking them apart. The great thing about piano is that you can learn basics, and you can only improve. It’s hard to get bored with it.”