| David B. Williams, Illinois State University Emeritus | |||||||||
| www.coach4technology.net | |||||||||
| Note: I personally have not tested all of these and it certainly is not a comprehensive list given the enormous number of apps available. I generally try to pick apps that have received good reviews and feedback from users as indicated on the iTunes Store or on AppBrain or I have personally used or seen demonstrated. Android apps are my weak point as I don't use an Android device. Hopefully over time with feedback from music educators the list will represent the best of what is available for classroom and studio use for education. (updated Feb 29, 2012) | |||||||||
| Title | iPhone/ iPod Touch | iPad** | Android* | MIDI IN | Free/Lite Version | Cost (prices ordered by versions, left to right) | Website | Comments | |
| GENERAL & CHILDREN'S MUSIC | |||||||||
| Juno's Musical ABCs, Music Learning Adventure, Piano, The Day the Music Stopped | X | X | $ 0.99 | www.junobaby.com | A set of early childhood music learning apps all priced at $.99 except $2.99 for the Day the Music Stopped | ||||
| Genikids Orchestra | X | X | X | Yes | $ 1.99 | itunes.apple.com | Kids get to dress musicans, click on players to hear parts, set stage, etc.; Lite free version | ||
| Discover Musical Instruments | X | X | Yes | $ 1.99 | mathieubrassard.com | Multimedia flash cards with sampled sounds and images to explore | |||
| The History of Jazz | X | $ 9.99 | www.955dreams.com | Multimedia tour of jazz; rated suitable for 12+ age. | |||||
| Music Literacy Guide & Quiz | X | $ 1.19 | www.sagemilk.com | 200 music terms & definitions w/flash cards & quizzes | |||||
| Oxford Music Dictionary | X | X | X | $ 14.99 | itunes.apple.com | Comprehensive! | |||
| The History of Jazz | X | $ 9.99 | www.955dreams.com | See video on website | |||||
| Andrews UK music history apps | X | X | $ 1.99 | search iTunes store for "Andrews UK Music" | Numerous $1.99 apps on all topics of music history | ||||
| Classic Voyage | X | $ 0.99 | itunes.apple.com | Bios on composers with recorded music | |||||
| Boston Symphony Media Center (BSO) | X | X | Free | www.mobilaurus.com | BSO concert audio and video; also Mobile Web version for any device | ||||
| Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra | X | X | Free | www.instantencore.com | ISO concert audio and video; also Mobile Web version for any device | ||||
| LA Phil and Bravo Gustavo | X | X | Free | itunes.apple.com | LA Phil presents a variety of music and video for the LA Phil; Bravo Gustavo let's you conduct the Phil using the motion of your iPhone | ||||
| THEORY | |||||||||
| ClefTunes & Clef Notes | X | X | Yes | $1.99/$2.99 | bitsonthego.wordpress.com | ClefNotes for the iPhone; ClefTunes has an iPad version $2.99 | |||
| Relative Pitch, Step and a Half Melody Training, and Chordelia Triad Tutor | X | Yes | $7.99/$3.99/$3.99 | www.easyeartraining.com | Extensive ear training for intervals, melody, and chords | ||||
| Musical Ears & MelodyMelody | X | X | $1.99/$2.47 | m.currach.net/i/me/ | Melodic and chord dictation and then melodic memory game (MelodyMelody) | ||||
| Ear Trainer | X | X | Yes | $ 6.99 | itunes.apple.com | Interval, chords, chord progressions, scales and more | |||
| Theory Lessons | X | X | $ 1.99 | www.musictheory.net | Lessons from Ricci Adams theory website! Great value for $1.99 | ||||
| Tenuto | X | X | $ 3.99 | www.musictheory.net | More from Ricci Adams theory website. More advanced customizable exercises for theory, ear training, keyboard & guitar fret skills | ||||
| Karajan Beginner & Music & Ear Trainer (iPhone); Then Pro (iPad) | X | X | Yes | $14.99/$9.99 | karajan-eartrainer.com | extensive key sigs, scales, chords from guitar or keyboard in various formats for iPhone & iPad | |||
| Nota | X | X | $ 2.99 | notaapp.com | Chords, scales, and more | ||||
| Music Tool | X | X | Yes | $ 3.99 | spicyclam.com | Visual/audio reinforcement for scales and chords in many keys and modes | |||
| Scales & Modes | X | X | $ 1.99 | www.smappsoft.com | Dictionary of wide variety of scales & modes (Free Quiz add-on) for viewing and listening | ||||
| Rhythm Sight Reading Trainer | X | X | $ 2.99 | sites.google.com | Tap along with rhythms, test for accuracy. Guitar and Bass versions also available | ||||
| Rhythm Quiz | X | Free | www.musicinreach.com | Tap out rhythms. One of several instrumental music apps from free to $.99 | |||||
| Piano Chord | X | $ 0.99 | www.nautilusproject.net | Find chords in all keys | |||||
| JCi Piano Chords | X | Yes | $ 0.99 | www.juanci.com | Find chords in all keys | ||||
| Circle Theory | X | X | $ 4.99 | www.artsiness.com | Manipulate the circle of fifths from any key, any starting note, and more | ||||
| MUSIC AIDS | |||||||||
| Metronome: Tempo | X | $ 1.99 | www.frozenape.com | Metronome on steroids; also see Steinway Metronome for free | |||||
| Mobile Metronome | X | Yes | $ 1.50 | gabrielsimoes.blogspot.com | Android Metronome | ||||
| ClearTune | X | X | $3.99/$3.99 | www.bitcount.com | Music tuner | ||||
| Fingerings for Strings | X | X | $ 6.99 | patrickqkelly.com | Fingerings for strings | ||||
| Fingerings for Brass & Winds | X | X | $ 9.99 | patrickqkelly.com | Fingerings for Woodwinds & Brass | ||||
| APS MusicMaster & MusicMaster Pro | X | X | $4,99/$11.99 | apsdevelopmentllc.com | Swiss-Army-Knife app for music educators: Tuner, PDF score reader, audio recorder, metronome, glossaries, and more | ||||
| iHeartIt | X | $ 4.99 | www.ihearit.net | Like Amazing Slowdowner software, slow down & loop recorded music for practice | |||||
| Amazing Slow Downer | X | X | Yes | $ 14.99 | www.ronimusic.com | iPhone/iPad version of the well-known software app for practicing to music recordings | |||
| TonalEnergy Tuner | X | $ 1.99 | tonalenergy.com | Developed by band director in Texas, most-talked-about app at TMEA. Curriculum materials on website. More than just a tuner. | |||||
| SoundBeam | X | FREE | www.evilwindowdog.com | Basic oscilloscope/spectrum analyzer. Free! | |||||
| Decibel | X | $ 0.99 | www.gadgetfrontier.com | Basic decibel meter for general use (not pro calibrated) | |||||
| n-Track Tuner | X | X | Yes | Free | ntrack.com | Tune strings or other instruments | |||
| INSTRUMENTS VIRTUAL AND ELECTRONIC | Note: Many, many keyboard and guitar apps to try. Just picked a few to show | ||||||||
| Pro Keys | X | X | IN | $ 0.99 | beepstreet.com | Versatile keyboard that records & has a variety of instrument samples | |||
| 50 in 1 Piano HD | X | X | IN | $ 1.99 | www.50in1piano.com | ||||
| Virtuoso Piano Free | X | X | Free | www.peterbmusic.com | Versatile keyboard | ||||
| Musical Pro w/Piano | X | Yes | $ 3.99 | www.androidmusical.com | Keyboard, metronome, drum pad and more | ||||
| iTriangle | X | X | Yes | $ 0.99 | www.nolasoft.com | Virtual Triangle | |||
| Piano Complete w/500 songs | X | Yes | $ 9.99 | www.betterdaywireless.com | Piano play along songs | ||||
| Guitar Complete w/500 songs | X | X | Yes | $ 9.99 | www.betterdaywireless.com | Realistic strumming & training with songs | |||
| iBone & iTump | X | X | X | $ 2.99 | ibone.spoonjack.com | innovative trombone & trumpet simulator; can play along with iTunes recordings; purchase additional songs for $.99 | |||
| Guitarist for iPhone | X | $ 3.99 | moocowmusic.com | Live guitar simulation; also bassist, pianist, organist available | |||||
| Saxonotes & Saxonotes HD | X | X | $.99/$1.99 | www.monross.com | Fingerings and tones for the saxophone | ||||
| Pocket Percussion Teacher | X | X | X | $ 1.99 | itunes.apple.com | Basic drum technique with more advance material in-app purchase. | |||
| Thereminator | X | $ 2.99 | www.yonac.com | Put a Theremin in your pocket! Several other iPhone instruments from Yonac. | |||||
| Various Ethnic Instruments | X | X | $.99 to 1.99 | Pocket Sitar, World Fingers, Djembe Drum, Infinite Kalminba, VuvuzelaWorld, Gangsa, Dulcimer, and more on the iTunes store | |||||
| miniDrum Pro | X | IN | $ 6.99 | www.yonac.com | Virtual drum pad | ||||
| WI Guitar & WIVI Band 15-in-1 | X | X | OUT | $4.99/$9.99 | www.wallanderinstruments.com | WI Guitar is a playable virtual acoustic guitar app with MIDI OUT; WIVI is a 15 wind instrument app (blow on mic and finger with buttons & keyboard) | |||
| nLog MIDI Synth & nLogSynth Pro | X | X | IN/OUT | $4.99/$14.99 | www.temporubato.com | MIDI synth with record, effects, and more; Pro version greatly expanded features | |||
| Sampletank | X | X | IN/OUT | Yes | $ 19.99 | www.ikmultimedia.com | Pro-level sound and groove app with full MIDI record and control options; included with iRIg interface purchases | ||
| iKoassilator, iMS-20, iElectribe | X | X | IN/OUT | $ 19.99 | www.korg.com | KORG hardware now software apps; audio can be directly exported to Garageband | |||
| NOTATION | |||||||||
| Symphony Pro | X | $ 14.99 | www.symphonypro.net | The first iPad app for realtime notation; import/export musicXML | |||||
| Notion for iPad | X | $ 14.99 | www.notionmusic.com | Multi-featured notation based on desktop Notion software; import/export musicXML | |||||
| eSCORE Readers | |||||||||
| eScore: Readers Only | |||||||||
| forScore | X | $ 4.99 | forscoreapp.com | One of the highest reviewed and rated score apps for iPad | |||||
| Medley | X | $ 4.99 | sixthcorner.com | ||||||
| MusicNotes | X | X | Free app; pay for scores | www.musicnotes.com | Reader for online library | ||||
| Sibelius AVID Scorch | X | Free | www.sibelius.com | Reads Sibelius scores with playback, transposition, etc. like Scorch for the web | |||||
| Chromatik | X | Unknown | chromatikmusic.com | To be released; comprehensive music library system for music education iPad based | |||||
| MusicReader PDF | X | $.99/$3.99 | www.musicreader.net | Reads PDF scores for free; pay for software to encode music score with advanced featuers; extensive e-score performance options | |||||
| eScore: Play along | |||||||||
| Home Concert Xtreme | X | IN | $ 39.99 | www.zenph.com | MIDI file based music player that responds to your playing. Use as an accompanist, rehearsal tool, or music tutor. It keeps up with your playing with the MIDI file. Additional MIDI songs available. | ||||
| iReal b | X | X | X | $ 7.99 | www.irealb.com | Works from chord charts; collect charts, use the charts provided, buy extra song charts; perform charts or play along; save as WAV or MIDI files. Also works with Kindle Fire | |||
| Jammit | X | X | FREE | jammit.com | Music-minus-one style jamming as you play along with the songs; free version has demos; purchase full songs to play along | ||||
| Yamaha NoteStar | X | FREE | notestarapp.com | Score reader from songs purchased from Yamaha website; change tempo, key, advanced page turning options, record performance with backing tracks | |||||
| MuziBook Publishing | X | X | Some free | $.99/$3.99 | www.muzibook.com | Library of music apps of a score & performance (one song per app) | |||
| SEQUENCERS AND LOOPING | |||||||||
| GarageBand | X | X | $ 4.99 | www.apple.com | Keyboard, guitar, drums, and amp to laydown recorded or performed music along with loops for backing music. Some like the interface better than GB for the desktop. | ||||
| BeatWave | X | X | Free | collect3.com.au/beatwave | loop-based pattern generator and mixer | ||||
| GrooveMaker | X | X | Yes | $7.99/$9.99 | www.groovemaker.com | Various styles from $3.99 to $9.99 w/pre-composed work | |||
| ShapeMix | X | X | FREE | www.shapemix.com | Unique interface for remix and mashups from loops and samples; Add-on music for $1.99 ea. | ||||
| TonePad and TonePad Pro | X | Yes | $ 0.99 | www.tonepadapp.com | Simple 16x16 matrix layout for creating tone sequences and sharing creations. Ideal for young children and just music enjoyment for anyone | ||||
| The Drum Machine (DM1) | X | IN | $ 4.99 | www.fingerlab.net | |||||
| Electrum Drum Machine | X | Yes | $ 4.99 | www.nikotwenty.com | Basic drum machine for Android | ||||
| Looptastic HD | X | X | Yes | $9.99/$14.99 | www.soundtrends.com | GarageBand for iPad w/900+ loops | |||
| ReLoop | X | $ 4.99 | www.nikotwenty.com | Android loop sequencer | |||||
| Music studio | X | X | IN/OUT | Yes | $ 14.99 | www.xewton.com/musicstudio | Full-blown sequencer | ||
| NanoStudio | X | IN | $ 14.99 | www.blipinteractive.co.uk | Highly rated iPhone DAW also available for Mac and PC. Reported to use MIDI in. | ||||
| iSequence | X | X | IN/OUT | Yes | $ 4.99 | www.beepstreet.com | Good economical solution now that it has been discounted. May allow MIDI in. | ||
| Jasuto Pro | X | X | X | $.99/$4.99 | www.jasuto.com | Innovative synth for sub, add, & granular synthesis; unique interface. | |||
| AudioTool Sketch | Tablets | $ 0.99 | market.android.com | Full-featured Sequencer/Drum Machine | |||||
| Synthronica | X | $ 4.99 | synthtronica.com | ||||||
| Dingsaller | X | Yes | $ 4.99 | timbolstad.com/dingsaller | Patch synth & effects to create your own synth sounds and patterns. Max/MSP for iPad | ||||
| reactable mobile | X | X | X | $ 9.99 | www.reactable.com | modular synth building blocks | |||
| gbTouch 3 for GarageBand | X | X | $2.99/$9.99 | www.delora.com | Use your iPad to control GarageBand on your Mac | ||||
| AC-7 | X | X | $ 7.99 | saitarasoftware.com | Wireless controller for DAWs like Sonar, Cubase, Live, more from your iPhone or iPad | ||||
| DIGITAL AUDIO | |||||||||
| iProRecorder | X | $ 0.99 | www.iprorecorder.com | Created by BIAS makers of Peak Studio software; will WiFi bounce recordings to Mac running Peak; nice shuttle control for any CD quality audio recording. | |||||
| Hi-Q MP3 Recorder | X | Yes | $ 3.99 | market.android.com | CD quality one-track recorder | ||||
| FourTrack | X | $ 9.99 | www.sonomawireworks.com | Four Track recorder w/16-bit 44.1kHz recordings | |||||
| Meteor Multitrrack Recorder | X | IN/OUT | $ 19.99 | www.4pocketsaudio.com | Full-featured DAW with 12-Tracks of CD audio quality audio and mixing; add-on effects from $1.99 available. Export WAV files or send to SoundCloud | ||||
| Auria | X | NA | auriaapp.com | Full-featured DAW with 24-tracks of CD audio quality audio, mixing, and digital editing. | |||||
| SMARTPHONE and TABLET HARDWARE | |||||||||
| Microphones | X | X | Microphone built into iPhone/iPad; most Android devices; USB camera connector on iPad allows USB mics and several commercial mics made for iPad | ||||||
| Tascam iM2 microphone | X | X | $ 70.00 | tascam.com | Stereo mic that plugs into iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch connector | ||||
| IK Multimedia iRigMIDI, iRigMic, Amplitube iRig | X | X | IN/OUT (iRigMIDI) | $65/$60/$30/ | www.ikmultimedia.com | Various iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch interfaces for MIDI, Mics, or Guitar. iRigMIDI includes Samplitude for iPad | |||
| iConnectMIDI | X | X | IN/OUT | $ 180.00 | www.iconnectmidi.com | Hardware MIDI interface for iPhone, iPad, iPodTouch | |||
| Apogee JAM for Guitar & iPad | X | X | $ 99.00 | www.apogeedigital.com | Guitar and bass interface for iPhone, iPad. Works nicely with GarageBand | ||||
| Tascam IU2 Audio/MIDI | X | X | IN/OUT | $ 150.00 | tascam.com | Audio/MIDI interface for iOS devices; 2 line phone/XLR inputs; A/D conversion; audio or S/PDIF out. Also works with USB to any computer. | |||
| Alesis iPad I/O Dock | X | IN/OUT | $ 160.00 | alesis.com | Audio/MIDI docking bay for iPad | ||||
| Behringer iStudioDock | X | IN/OUT | NA | www.behringer.com | Audio/MIDI/Video/Guitar docking bay for iPad | ||||
| AirTurn Foot Pedals | X | X | X | $ 130.00 | airturn.com | Wireless pedals for page turning; works with iPad & Android eScore apps noted above; uses Bluetooth wireless | |||
| IK Multimedia iKlip | X | X | X | $ 37.00 | www.ikmultimedia.com | Clipyour iPhone or iPad to your music stand for music reading. | |||
| The GigEasy iPad Stand Music Holder | X | X | $ 85.00 | hegigeasy.com | Mount your iPad to mic stand or other music stand | ||||
| Bretford iPad Cart | X | X | NA | apple.bretford.com | Classroom carts for storing/charging iPads and iPo | ||||
| AppleTV (to mirror to screen) | $ 99.00 | www.apple.com | Use Apple TV to connect iPads to classroom proje | ||||||
| * Used AppBrain.com to search for Android music apps | |||||||||
| ** All iPhone apps run on iPad, but in smaller iPhone format; only apps specifically designed for iPad checked in this column | |||||||||
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