Tuning App

A new tenor sax pupil talks of the ease of use and the feature of charting your progress.

TotalEnergy Tuner & Metronome

This TE tuner is a great little app for all wind instrumentalist, but particularly those not in C. At the click of a button it automatically transposes. Therefore, when you play an A on an alto (E flat) or teno (B flat) instrument it correctly displays A. It’s currently priced at £5.99, but for those getting to grips with a new instrument and wanting to build their confidence at playing long notes with accuracy this is a great tool. In the video a new pupil in his second lesson points out how it has the benefit of charting his progress from day to day.

I couldn’t resist trying to get musical notes flying from sustaining an in tune note. It’s a shame I didn’t rotate my camera whilst filming simultaneously!!

Note Reading Games & Apps

Learning to read musical notation opens up a whole world of music for the learning. Students young and old have different approaches to learning. Here’s a few apps/games that you could improve your fluency at note reading.

Cartoon character joyfully running over flowing water with musical symbol.

Tunystones - This helps pupils understand the way notes move on the stave as the pitch moves higher and lower. Love the fact it works by listening to what they play on the piano in each game/level. You can skip the improvisation level to work on your note reading. Not suitable for anyone with a fear of water.

Cartoon scene with a purple and blue winged horse flying among clouds, passing a red castle and mushrooms. A musical staff with a treble clef and a green checkmark is in the sky.

Flashnote Derby - a simple and attractive game for younger learner, available on android.

Screenshot of a musical game asking 'What is this note?', showing a treble clef and a note on the third line. Options c, d, e, f, g, a, b are provided at the bottom. Score is 5.

Name that note - a free online flash card game. Options to choose your clef e.g. treble or bass clef.

Musical staff with a treble clef and a ladybug on it, surrounded by grass and a digital timer.

NoteRush - a simple game with various options including football and space for iOS or Android.

Cartoon music notes and drum sticks with "classplash" text

Rhythmic Village - This purely focuses on the rhythm/note lengths rather than pitch. The introduction to each task uses American terminology e.g. quarter notes for crochets etc. However, I think it appropriate and supportive if the basics have been covered in the lesson or by a knowledgeable adult at home.

A game screen featuring a cartoon chameleon on a tree branch with a tongue extended toward a music note on a staff. Below are the music notes C, D, E, F, G, A, B on wooden tiles. The background includes trees and a clear sky.

Jungle Music - In the setting you can change from Do Re Me to note letters. The free element of the app may be a bit limited, but I like the way you hear the pitch of note as you select the correct note name.