By: Natalie Johnson
In the heart of Brooklyn, a growing movement in early childhood education has been gradually gaining momentum—one that replaces traditional black-and-white sheet music with color, creativity, and confidence. The Musicolor Method, created by educator, composer, and former MTV Asia VJ Andrew Ingkavet, is offering a new approach to teaching music. It’s an attempt to reimagine how young children engage with learning itself.
The story begins in 2007, when Ingkavet’s then four-year-old son, Alejandro, expressed an interest in music. As a lifelong musician and educator, Ingkavet was eager to nurture this spark—but quickly found that the conventional approaches to music education weren’t always suited to children like Alejandro. “Traditional methods can feel abstract and often frustrating for little kids,” he recalls. “I started experimenting with ways to simplify what I knew as a musician, introducing color, patterns, and stories to create a more intuitive way for him to succeed right away.”
What began as a few personalized lessons in a Park Slope living room gradually evolved. At the heart of the Musicolor Method is a simple but powerful idea: that children learn best when they feel confident, capable, and engaged. Instead of relying on the rigid system of Western musical notation, Musicolor uses color-coded symbols to indicate finger placement and note sequences. Each finger is matched to a color, and musical passages are written in bright, visual blocks that a child can follow without needing to read words or numbers. This approach aims to level the playing field for all learners. Whether a child is neurodivergent, preliterate, shy, or energetic, the method is designed to meet them where they are developmentally. “It’s not about forcing kids to conform to a method,” Ingkavet explains. “It’s about creating a method that conforms to the child.”
More than just a teaching tool, Musicolor has become a comprehensive developmental system that encourages what Ingkavet calls “Superpowers Through Music.” These superpowers include essential life skills such as focus, patience, goal-setting, emotional regulation, and resilience. “The musical progress is rewarding, but it’s really the transformation in the child’s sense of self that seems most powerful,” he says. “They gain the courage to try, the patience to keep going, and the pride of seeing themselves succeed.” Over the years, the method has been refined, systematized, and scaled. Today, the Musicolor Method operates with more than 20 instructors in Brooklyn, serving over 130 active students weekly. Its impact has been particularly evident in Park Slope and surrounding neighborhoods, where families tend to stay enrolled for years, sometimes enrolling multiple children as they grow. Parents often describe the program as life-changing—not just for their children’s musical development, but for their confidence, communication, and joy.
Encouraged by this success, Ingkavet is launching a national licensing program to train educators around the world in the Musicolor Method. Ten teachers are already licensed and using the program, with more joining in summer 2025. Ingkavet is also a current participant in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program, using the resources and mentorship to scale his educational venture with intention. “Our vision is to reach as many children as possible,” he says. “Whether that’s through school district partnerships, independent studios, or digital learning tools, we want every child—regardless of location or learning style—to have access to this joyful experience.”
What makes Musicolor especially relevant today is its alignment with a broader movement in education: one that values neurodiversity, experiential learning, and emotional development as much as academic achievement. As families increasingly seek out enrichment programs that support the whole child, Musicolor offers something unique—a structured, skill-based curriculum that doesn’t overlook play, creativity, or joy. Ingkavet also envisions a future where the method is used not only in private music studios but in public schools, therapeutic settings, and at-home learning platforms. “Music is universal,” he says. “It’s a language that every child should have access to. But more than that, it’s a way of building self-esteem, community, and joy. That’s the real power of what we’re doing.”
The Musicolor Method is, in many ways, about more than music. It’s about recognizing the potential in every child and creating systems that unlock it—color by color, note by note.
To learn more about the Musicolor Method, explore licensing opportunities, or schedule an interview with Andrew Ingkavet, visit www.musicolormethod.com or contact Pietra Communications at info@pietrapr.com.
Disclaimer: The Musicolor Method is an innovative music education program developed by Andrew Ingkavet. While many parents and educators have reported positive experiences, individual results may vary. The method is designed to foster confidence, creativity, and resilience through music, but its impact on each child may depend on various factors, including their unique learning style and developmental needs. The information in this article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of success for any individual student.
