We live in a world and a society where we are constantly on the move and things are all about convenience and portability. Apps have become not only a source of entertainment but things that we now rely on to complete daily tasks such as communicating with people via social media, checking the weather, staying up to date on the latest news, and countless other things. Now, some people view this shift to apps that can do or teach you anything as a negative, but I'm here to show all you musicians out there my personal top 5 favorite apps, all free of course, that can make your life a little easier! So here we go:
1. Metronome Pro
This is by far one of my personal favorite apps ever! Not only does it keep a steady beat for you, but it also lets you customize just about everything you would want to about how that beat is conveyed to you: bpm, the volume, an optional LED display on downbeats, you can tap your own beat to get a tempo marking, change your time signature, change which beat/s are accented, and much much more! As every musician knows, a metronome is essential to learning music and what's better than a good metronome? One that works well, is free, can be customized, and doesn't take up any more room in your pocket or bag than your phone does.
2. Virtuoso Piano 3 Free
A piano app that actually works! This is not one of those piano apps where the keys light up and it "teaches" you how to play the newest Katy Perry song on the piano. This is a pretty basic piano app but it does exactly what it should- it gives you a pitch. Personally, I find I use it the most when practicing things a cappella (without accompaniment) or when practicing/performing where I don't have a piano readily accessible to get a starting pitch from. I also know a few instrumentalists who will use it when working on intonation or ear training and they don't have a piano to check the pitch against.
3. Musicnotes Sheet Music Viewer
How would you like to have your 10-pound binder of sheet music at your finger tips and only taking up as much space as your phone? Well, with this wonderful app, you can upload all of your own sheet music (or buy it online) as organize it in this app. In addition to keeping all of your sheet music in one place, you can highlight, make notes, as well as transpose any music that you buy through the app to any key! The days of carrying around countless sheets of music are on their way out and electronic sheet music is becoming easier and easier!
4. Jotnot
STOP MAKING HARD COPIES OF MUSIC!!! Forget trying to align books perfectly on the copy machine or scanner and paying a small fortune to print all of your music and start scanning your music. With Jotnot, you can scan, crop, lighten, darken, and export anything as a PDF! No more making multiple copies or spending too much time and money copying things- just scan and export it directly from your phone, from anywhere, as a PDF and send it to yourself, your accompanist, other members of your ensemble, whoever you want- all from your fingertips!
5. Sound Cloud/Youtube
As a musician, putting your work out there for people to hear is critical to building your network, getting yourself out there, and having your work be heard! I'm sure that this one doesn't need much explanation other than, it's easy and free to put your work out there through Sound Cloud or Youtube (or both- whatever fits you and your art/style) and you never know who could discover you online and what could come of it!
These are just my personal favorite, free 5 apps that have made my life as a musician much easier. What are your favorite apps that have made being a musician easier for you?
1. Metronome Pro
This is by far one of my personal favorite apps ever! Not only does it keep a steady beat for you, but it also lets you customize just about everything you would want to about how that beat is conveyed to you: bpm, the volume, an optional LED display on downbeats, you can tap your own beat to get a tempo marking, change your time signature, change which beat/s are accented, and much much more! As every musician knows, a metronome is essential to learning music and what's better than a good metronome? One that works well, is free, can be customized, and doesn't take up any more room in your pocket or bag than your phone does.
2. Virtuoso Piano 3 Free
A piano app that actually works! This is not one of those piano apps where the keys light up and it "teaches" you how to play the newest Katy Perry song on the piano. This is a pretty basic piano app but it does exactly what it should- it gives you a pitch. Personally, I find I use it the most when practicing things a cappella (without accompaniment) or when practicing/performing where I don't have a piano readily accessible to get a starting pitch from. I also know a few instrumentalists who will use it when working on intonation or ear training and they don't have a piano to check the pitch against.
3. Musicnotes Sheet Music Viewer
How would you like to have your 10-pound binder of sheet music at your finger tips and only taking up as much space as your phone? Well, with this wonderful app, you can upload all of your own sheet music (or buy it online) as organize it in this app. In addition to keeping all of your sheet music in one place, you can highlight, make notes, as well as transpose any music that you buy through the app to any key! The days of carrying around countless sheets of music are on their way out and electronic sheet music is becoming easier and easier!
4. Jotnot
STOP MAKING HARD COPIES OF MUSIC!!! Forget trying to align books perfectly on the copy machine or scanner and paying a small fortune to print all of your music and start scanning your music. With Jotnot, you can scan, crop, lighten, darken, and export anything as a PDF! No more making multiple copies or spending too much time and money copying things- just scan and export it directly from your phone, from anywhere, as a PDF and send it to yourself, your accompanist, other members of your ensemble, whoever you want- all from your fingertips!
5. Sound Cloud/Youtube
As a musician, putting your work out there for people to hear is critical to building your network, getting yourself out there, and having your work be heard! I'm sure that this one doesn't need much explanation other than, it's easy and free to put your work out there through Sound Cloud or Youtube (or both- whatever fits you and your art/style) and you never know who could discover you online and what could come of it!
These are just my personal favorite, free 5 apps that have made my life as a musician much easier. What are your favorite apps that have made being a musician easier for you?
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