Why do so many of us give up on learning music? The answer has nothing to do with talent and everything to do with how we’re taught.
Music is often viewed as a form of entertainment. But in a recent episode of Compassiviste Dialogues, Ali Horriyat (host) spoke with Patrick Boylan (co-founder of MuseFlow), about how learning and expressing ourselves through music is one of the most powerful practices for compassion in action.
The conversation went far beyond music education. It explores how musical fluency becomes a pathway to empathy, healing, activism, and human connection.
Meet Patrick Boylan
Patrick isn’t your typical music educator. After eight years of uninspiring piano lessons left him grounded (literally…because his parents punished him for not practicing), he taught himself through curiosity and experimentation. That journey led him to co-found MuseFlow, a revolutionary platform often called “the Duolingo of music education.”
MuseFlow lets us reimagine how we learn, express, and connect through music. By combining neuroscience, flow psychology, and gamified learning, Patrick helps people discover something powerful: musical fluency as personal freedom.
“Music is the language of emotion. If we can translate that meaning to another person through what we’re playing, we have succeeded. That’s the goal—to affect others emotionally and create connection.” — Patrick Boylan
Frolick Your Own Way
One moment from the conversation captures everything: Patrick described teaching students about a piece called “Frolicking in the Forest.” He asked: “How do you like to frolic?”
Your frolic isn’t my frolic. Your interpretation of a song carries your story, your emotion, your DNA. When you learn music as memorization, you never get to express yourself. You have no freedom. You’re enslaved to the song.
Patrick’s work gives people the freedom to make music theirs. And in doing so, gives them a more powerful voice for connection, healing, and change.
Why This Matters for Compassion
At Compassiviste, we believe creativity and empathy are inseparable. Here’s how we can embody that connection:
Freedom Over Replication. Traditional music education often turns students into parrots by just memorizing songs without understanding the language. Patrick’s approach gives learners the tools to express themselves, not just replicate. When you understand the language, you’re free to make it yours.
Music as Activism. Throughout history, music has powered social movements and preserved cultural memory. Bob Dylan’s songs brought unknown stories to global consciousness. Indigenous communities pass down millennia of wisdom through chant. Patrick recognizes that giving people musical fluency is giving them a tool for expression, connection, and change.
Technology as Bridge. Many people fear technology disconnects us from art’s soul. Patrick shows how thoughtfully designed technology can deepen our connection. By handling the technical heavy lifting, it frees teachers to focus on what matters most: the why and how of musical expression, the coaching of artistry and emotion.
At it’s core, this work serves a larger purpose: helping people recognize our shared humanity. Music is a language that transcends words, borders, and barriers.
Closing Thought
Patrick shared how MuseFlow helps learners enter a true “flow state,” making progress feel natural and inspired—so music can return to what it’s meant to be: a bridge between people and a reflection of something deeper.
What stands out the most is the human core of his approach. MuseFlow doesn’t replace teachers or the soul of musicianship. It frees learners from memorization so they can feel, interpret, and communicate meaning. Music, in this sense, becomes more than art; it’s empathy in action - a gentle form of healing, activism, and freedom.
Explore MuseFlow
If this speaks to you, try MuseFlow (iPad and web) and experience a more compassionate way to grow.
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Listen to the Full Conversation
Patrick reminds us that learning doesn’t have to be oppressive. That technology, when used wisely, can help us connect more deeply, not less. That music is a pathway to empathy, understanding, and transformation.
Every person who discovers their musical voice is one more person ready to express, connect, and create positive change.
We hope this inspires you to find your own voice and use it to bring more compassion into everyday life.
With Compassion,
The Compassiviste Team
