Online 2013
iPads in Music Education Session 4 Katie Wardrobe Midnight Music Notation 5
App options 5
Other options 5
Tips for getting started with the Notion app 6
Creating a new score 6
Key signature and time signature 6
Inputting notes 6
Adding dynamics and articulation 6
Playback 6
Copy and paste 7
Importing scores 7
Exporting scores 7
Tutorials and manual 7
Score-reading on the iPad 7
iPad as a !ling-cabinet or portable library 7
Three types of score-reading apps 8
Lead sheet apps 8
Tips for getting “paper” scores on to your iPad 9
Ear training - pitch and rhythm drills 9
Tips for use 9
Karajan 10
Right Note 10
Ear Trainer 11
Tenuto 11
Play by Ear 11
Rhythm Sight-Reading Trainer 12
Rhythm Cat Pro 12
APS Tuning Trainer 12 Ear training - musical memory games 13
Simple Solfege 13
Melody Melody 13
Do Re Mi Ear Training 13
Literacy - note reading 14
Noteworks 14
Treble Cat 14
Treble Game (Sheet Music Treble) 15
Music theory and reference 15
Tenuto 15
Nota 15
Music Tools Music Dictionary 16
Music Theory For Beginners (Music Room/Music Sales) 16
iHarmony 16
Learning about classical music and the orchestra 16
The Orchestra 17
My First Classical Music App 17
Mozart Interactive 17
Two more creativity apps 17
Singing Fingers 18
Isle of Tune 18
Musician’s toolkit apps 18
Metronome 18
Tuner 19
An all-in-one toolkit 19
Warm-ups for singers 19
Transcription and rehearsal tool 19
Song Search 19
3 Guitar chord library 20
Ukelele chord library 20
Homework 20
4 Notation
App options There is only one decent contender when it comes to notation apps on the iPad: Notion. In the past, there was a second app available but it has since disappeared from the app store.
Notion is $15.99 http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/notion/id475820434? mt=8
Other options A second option is to use the online notation program Note!ight: www.note"ight.com
Note"ight is a browser-based app, meaning that you can use it on either desktop computer or iPad (or other tablet computers) and it doesn’t need to be downloaded or updated (which makes IT sta# very happy!). You simply open up a web browser and log in to access your account.
The bene!t of using Note"ight is that students can use the same program on both desktop computers and iPads. Because students log into their online Note"ight account to use the program, all their scores will be available to edit no matter where they are.
Note"ight is very user-friendly and they have lots of teacher-support materials including lesson plans and other materials.
Note"ight is available on a subscription basis: the basic account is free (you can set one up and test out the program on all of your devices) and then they o#er three education subscription models: http:// www.note"ight.com/info#/k12
For instructions on using Note"ight, visit their online user guide: http://www.note"ight.com/info/help
They also have a Quick Start section: http://www.note"ight.com/info/help#quickStart
5 Tips for getting started with the Notion app
Creating a new score • Tap the New score icon on the opening screen • In the next window, select the instruments you need in your score and give you piece a title. There are some free instrument options and some extra paid options (in-app purchase)
• Tap OK • Your empty score will open Key signature and time signature You can add or change the key signature and time signature once the score is open: • Tap on the Time Signature button on the toolbar • Select the time signature button, choose your settings and then tap OK Inputting notes • Tap on the bar you want to enter notes into (a green shaded area will appear)
• Tap on the rhythmic value option on the toolbar • Select the rhythmic value you need and then play the pitch of the note on the keyboard.
• If you make a mistake, tap the Undo button (circular arrow pointing left)
• Continue entering notes this way: by selecting rhythm, then pitch, rhythm, pitch
Adding dynamics and articulation • Tap a note and then tap the Articulation button on the toolbar • Choose the articulation you need from the sub-menu that appears. Playback • Press the Rewind to Start button and then the play button at the bottom of the screen to hear you score playback from the beginning
• You can also tap any note in your score and then tap the play button to hear it playback from that point onwards
6 Copy and paste In order to copy and paste music you !rst need to select a bar or two: • Tap the !rst note and then tap on the Select button on the toolbar (or double-tap on the note). A shaded purple region will appear and you can adjust the size of the selected area by dragging the handles at either end.
• Once you’ve selected a region, tap the Copy button • Double-tap the bar you want the material to go to and choose Paste
You can use the same method to delete a passage of music.
Importing scores • Notion can open the following !le types: .notion, MIDI, MusicXML. • You can import !les from Dropbox: open the Dropbox app, select the score and choose “Open in Notion” from the menu
• You can also use the !le-sharing area in iTunes to import scores from your computer. Once you have synched your iPad, the score/s will appear on Notion’s homescreen
Exporting scores • You can get scores o# your iPad by emailing them to yourself as a Notion score, a MIDI !le, a PDF or a Music XML !le (Music XML is the best format for transferring !les between Sibelius/Finale and Notion)
• You can also save your scores directly into Dropbox and then access them in Dropbox on your computer
Tutorials and manual There are a few tutorial videos on Youtube which can be accessed from with the app. There’s also a manual within the app as well.
Score-reading on the iPad iPad as a "ling-cabinet or portable library • Store electronic versions of scores • Carry your music library with you at all times • Use during rehearsals/gigs: create set lists, setup “cuts” and repeats • Play your scores: transpose, mute parts, change tempo (some apps only)
7 • Play along with a backing track Three types of score-reading apps • Proprietary notation apps by Sibelius (Avid Scorch), Finale (Finale Songbook) and MuseScore (MuseScore Viewer)
• Specialised PDF score readers such as forScore • Lead sheet apps such as Onsong and iReal b
Proprietary apps (ie. ones that are made by notation software companies) are only useful for viewing scores created in those desktop programs. For instance, you can only view Sibelius scores using the Avid Scorch app. None of these apps allow editing of notes in any way. They only allow playback of the score and parts, although there is some "exibility and playback options.
These apps are de!nitely worth getting if you create a lot of your own arrangements in any of those programs. • Avid Scorch (for Sibelius scores), $1.99 http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/avid-scorch/id436394592? mt=8
• Finale Songbook (for Finale scores), Free http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/!nale-songbook/ id529531809?mt=8
• MuseScore Viewer (for MuseScore scores), $2.99 http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/musescore- sheet-music-viewer/id442702245?mt=8
Specialised PDF score readers allow you to view any score that is in a PDF format. They allow annotation, set up of repeats for ease of page turning, import of audio !les and more.
The app best option here is forScore (see right) $5.49 http:// itunes.apple.com/au/app/forscore/id363738376?mt=8
Lead sheet apps Lead sheet apps allow you to view lead sheets. You can use provided content, or create your own. • Onsong $10.49 https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/onsong/id502344938?mt=8 • iReal b $8.49 https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/ireal-b-music-book-play-along/id298206806?mt=8
Onsong is a lead sheet app which allows you to view lead sheets that are available for free online, or create your own lead sheets from scratch. It has some nifty features, such as: • transpose the chords with the touch of a button
8 • set the song tempo so that lyrics and chords scroll automatically down the screen • tap on a chord symbol to see how to play it on guitar, ukelele or keyboard • save songs in Set Lists • play backing tracks - songs from your iTunes library • download new songs via the app • enter your own songs from scratch • share Onsong format !les with your band members • project scrolling lyrics for your own karaoke show! iReal b is a collection of chord charts for jazz standards, other songs and exercises. You can play along with a “Band-in-a-Box” style accompaniment (you can choose to mute certain instruments if desired) and you can create your own charts from scratch. When you !rst download the app, you won’t have much content but the main collection of charts is available for free from the iReal b forums online and they have instructions on how to add the content to your iPad.
Tips for getting “paper” scores on to your iPad
Step 1: Make sure your score is in a digital format. Options: • Scan your paper scores – make into PDFs • Save Sibelius, Finale or MuseScore !les as PDFs • Sibelius !les: use the Scorch app to view and playback Sibelius scores
Step 2: Transfer scores from computer to iPad/iPhone • Option A: Plug the iPad into your computer, open iTunes. Select your device on the left. Go to the Apps tab, scroll down to !le sharing area. Select the appropriate app in list on left, then use Add button to add !les, or drag !les onto !les area
• Option B: Use Dropbox – install Dropbox on your computer and install the Dropbox app on your mobile device. On your computer, drag !les into Dropbox. They will magically appear in your Dropbox app on your iPad (you need to be connected to the internet for them to sync). View the !le in Dropbox and then use the “open in” button to select an appropriate app.
• Dropbox, Free http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/dropbox/id327630330?mt=8
Ear training - pitch and rhythm drills
Tips for use • If you are working in a one-iPad classroom, some of these apps are suitable to use with the class as a group
• You can also use in rotation with other activities or while students are waiting for something
9 • If students are working on a communal set of iPads, be aware that not many apps allow you to set up and track multiple users
• Always check the app settings: by default, many are set to a medium or fast playback speed which maybe too fast for younger or inexperienced students. Also check content settings and choose the most appropriate input options
Karajan Price: $15.99 http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/karajan-music-ear-trainer/id284444548?mt=8 • One of the most extensive (and expensive!) ear training apps
• Enter answer by tapping the multi choice option on left, or play answer in using keyboard or fretboard
• No option to sing or play instrument to submit answer. On-screen buttons only
• Has pitch testing (no orientation key is given) and tempo testing, plus intervals, chords, scales and key signatures
• Tempo testing only gives 4 beats (sounds) before you are expected to answer • Practice mode available • Multiple levels: beginner through to pro!cient • Can create customised levels • Some incorrect spelling issues (chords - see image above: minor triad on D "at...) • Uses “prime” for unison intervals Right Note Price: $7.49 (Lite/free version also available)
http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/right-note-ear-trainer/id427276222?mt=8 • Pretty good - I tested the Lite version • Categories of exercises include identify intervals, intervals in context, pitch (repeat a given pitch), melody (repeat a melody)
• Feedback: if you give a wrong answer, the app plays your version so you can hear the di#erence between it and the correct version. There is a “retry” option and a “show answer” option too
• You can play or sing answers via microphone input,
10 or submit answer using on-screen buttons or keyboard mic input,
• Includes lessons as well as drills Ear Trainer Price: $7.49 (Lite/Free version also available)
http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/ear-trainer/id358733250?mt=8 • Multiple choice answers only - ie. tap a button on the screen to identify the largest interval out of two options
• Gives visual feedback on stave and on keyboard • No option to play or sing answers • No option to play answers on on-screen keyboard
Tenuto Price: $4.49 http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/tenuto/id459313476?mt=8
• Theory and ear-training exercises from Ricci Adams’s Music Theory Online website • Very limited ear training exercises • No pause between each exercise • Slowest setting is still pretty quick for some exercises (intervals) • No feedback about incorrect answers Play by Ear Price: Free http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/play-by-ear-ear-training/id361203621?mt=8 • Imitation of intervals, chords or melodies • Can play in answers on your instrument using mic input (includes transposing instruments)
• Doesn’t work well with singing • No clef given on stave • You can show or hide the !rst note • Indicates wrong/right notes but doesn’t show correct answer or play it again
Rhythm&Lab 11 Price: $2.99 https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/rhythm-lab/id589129345?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D2
• Play notated rhythms by tapping on pads at the bottom of the iPad screen
• 10 levels of di$culty • Includes single-line and double-line (two-hand) rhythms
Rhythm Sight-Reading Trainer Price: $2.99 https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/rhythm-sight-reading-trainer/id396302174?mt=8
• Play in practice mode or assessment mode • Many options/levels • Slightly annoying metronome and playback sound! • Gives feedback on whether notes were played in time, early or late • Can choose to keep the beat in one hand while the other hand plays the rhythm
Rhythm Cat Pro Price: $2.99 (non-HD version only at the moment; Lite/Free version also available) http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/rhythm-cat-pro/id502479679?mt=8 • Play a notated rhythm by tapping a button on iPad • Looks attractive - nice graphic design • Quality songs and instrumental pieces to play along with
• Some oddities - time sig on every system (maybe I’m overly fussy!)
• Doesn’t always register a correct answer when you’re tapping
APS Tuning Trainer Price: $1.99 http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/a.p.s.-tuning-trainer/id552848024?mt=8
12 • Practice hearing and identifying sharp/"at sounds • A functional app, but not particularly pretty to look at!
Ear training - musical memory games
Simple Solfege Price: $0.99 http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/simple-solfege/id491080309?mt=8 • Progressive memory game (“Simon” style). Listen to a sol-fa melody and play it back by tapping on- screen buttons. Loss of life for incorrect note
• Only one octave of notes. Uses a system of pushing an icon up for the upper octave and down for the lower octave which can be o# putting for melodies that span more than one octave
• Terrible playback sound • Pitch only, no rhythm involved • Can add own melodies (again - pitch only, no rhythm) Melody Melody Price: $1.99 http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/melodymelody/ id315759556?mt=8 • A simple “pairs”-style game using melodic snippets • Choose settings: the number of notes in each melody, range, speed, number of cards
• Sound quality is not good
Do Re Mi Ear Training Price: $5.49 http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/do-re-mi-ear-training/id317228469?mt=8 • Untested by me (not great reviews) • Another memory/imitation app
13 Literacy - note reading
Noteworks Price: $5.49 http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/noteworks/id546003758?mt=8
• Very attractive looking • One of the only apps that allows you to set up multiple users within the game • Second chance for incorrect answers • Lots of customisation possible (treble or bass clef, solfege, note names, keyboard - see image, right) Treble Cat Price: $2.99 http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/treble-cat-hd-1/id513764898?mt=8 • By the makers of Rhythm Cat - similar in look and feel
• In each level: “for the next 60 seconds, collect all the _ notes”
• Shows note names the !rst time they’re introduced. Note names don’t show on subsequent levels
• Higher levels have two staves in operation at once
Also available: Bass Cat $2.99 http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bass-cat/id556522531?mt=8
14 Treble Game (Sheet Music Treble) Price: $5.49 (but redemption available for teachers via email) http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/sheet-music-treble-game/ id384121287?mt=8 • Not worth the money. Plain and boring screen, layout not good
• Turn the annoying sound o# before you play • Would be OK if free • Also available: Sheet Music Bass
Music theory and reference
Tenuto Price: $4.49 http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/tenuto/id459313476?mt=8
• As above (see ear training apps) • Theory and ear-training exercises from Ricci Adams’s Music Theory Online site
• Theory drills (silent) - key sig, intervals, notes, chords, fretboard
• Calculators - accidentals, intervals, chords, analysis, 12 tone matrix
Nota Price: $2.99 http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/nota-for-ipad/id365724129?mt=8
15 • Fairly basic • Chords, scales and notes reference (ie. choose major add9, play a C and it will show you C add9 chord)
• Includes a dictionary (not great de!nitions) • Quiz for note names on sta#
Music Tools Music Dictionary $2.99 http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/musictools-music-dictionary/id344920107?mt=8 • Untested by me • Basic music dictionary Music Theory For Beginners (Music Room/Music Sales) Price: $2.99 http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/music-theory-for-beginners/id435161137?mt=8 • Aimed at young students • Very attractive, bright • Includes lessons (teaches concepts) and quizzes • 22 lessons in total - text-heavy, but presented well • Teacher mode allows you to unlock all levels iHarmony Price: $0.99 http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/iharmony/id292413210?mt=8 • Reference for chords and scales
Learning about classical music and the orchestra
A few good apps that are useful when teaching students about classical music and/or the orchestra:
16 The Orchestra Price: $14.99 https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-orchestra/id560078788? mt=8 • For students of all ages • Excellent quality audio and video recordings of Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting the Philharmonia
• View video from di#erent angles, the conductor, the score (in both traditional notation and graphic notation styles), see 360-degree views of orchestral instruments and watch instrumentalists explain and demonstrate their instruments. And there’s more!
My First Classical Music App Price $5.49 https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/my-!rst-classical-music-app/id470865535?mt=8 • Good for primary school students • A lovely interactive version of the bok • Includes historical information, instrument examples, audio examples and beautiful illustrations
• Also available: My First Orchestra App, $5.49 https:// itunes.apple.com/au/app/my-!rst-orchestra-app-hd/ id568583429?mt=8
Mozart Interactive Price: Free https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/mozart-interactive/ id499372535?mt=8 • By the makers of the Melody Street website • Good for young primary school students • Interactive video in which you “arrange” Mozart’s Rondo All Turca by choosing di#erent instruments
• Limited use...
Two more creativity apps
I’m mentioning these here, simply because they haven’t !t in anywhere else during the course!
17 Singing Fingers Price: free https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/singing-!ngers-hd/id424724387?mt=8 • draw something while you sing, talk or make other noises • when you run your !nger along your drawing, it will play back whatever sound you created
• di#erent pitches = di#erent colours on the screen
Isle of Tune Price: $1.99 https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/isle-of-tune-mobile/ id430845597?mt=8 • Create a musical city • Build a road, add some trees, bushes and houses and drive a car down the road
• When the car passes each object it makes a sound • Great for reinforcing ostinatos (you can make roads in a square shape where the car returns to the beginning and plays the rhythm or melody over and over)
Musician’s toolkit apps
A basic set of apps that every musician needs!
Metronome Metronome+ $1.99 http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/metronome+/ id434136233?mt=8 • Adjust tempo, meter, playback sound, accents, subdivisions of the beat
18 Tuner Cleartune $4.49 http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/cleartune-chromatic-tuner/id286799607?mt=8
An all-in-one toolkit APS MusicMaster Pro $9.49 (sale price) http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/a.p.s.-musicmaster-pro/id441595661?mt=8 • Perfect for ensemble directors • Includes a metronome, tuner, !ngering charts, instrument ranges and transposition, a note !le, internet access from within the app, pitchpipe, stopwatch, circle of 5ths and a PDF viewer.
Warm-ups for singers Vocal warm-ups $5.49 http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/vocal-warm-up-by-musicopoulos/id467571560?mt=8
Transcription and rehearsal tool Anytune Pro HQ $15.99 http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/anytune-pro-hq-slow-down-music/id478293637?mt=8 • Import an MP3 !le from your iTunes library • Play it back slowly or quickly without losing pitch • Wave form is visible • Can set up short looped sections for transcribing or practice purposes • Free version available so you can test it out • I think the other app that’s similar to this one - the Amazing Slowdowner - pales into comparison
Song Search Shazam, Free http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/shazam/id284993459?mt=8
Soundhound, Free http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/soundhound/id355554941?mt=8
19 • both of these apps identify songs that are playing on the radio and give you the title and artist (and purchasing link)
• Soundhound will also identify songs that you sing into it!
Guitar chord library 7 Chords, $1.99 http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/7-chords/id291618376?mt=8
Ukelele chord library Chords4Ukes, $0.99 http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/chords4ukes/id419970097?mt=8
Homework
Choose a few apps and download them and have a play!
It can get expensive checking out lots of apps. It’s a good idea to Google the app name and the word “review” at the end to see if you can !nd feedback about it before you purchase. Check the date of the review though - anything older than the current year is probably irrelevant by now.
You can also go to Youtube and see if there are videos of the app you’re considering. A video gives you a much better idea than static images in the iTunes store.
Good luck!
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