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iPhone Apps to Help the Busy Music Teacher

Mon April 27th, 2009 by Sarah Luebke

How many times have you been away from your main computer for a rehearsal or lesson and desperately needed to to print sheet music or upload a file you’ve forgotten?  The iPhone 3G available from AT&T Wireless for $199- $299, and is worth every penny for your on-the-go music business.  Not only does it keep you in constant contact with students, parents and colleagues, but there are thousands of apps that can keep you connected to your desk at home and on top of all your to-do’s.  Here is a handy list of apps that have been valuable to me on the road, and have kept my studio work in check!

  • Jott: (free) Just speak into your iPhone’s mic and this app converts the recordings into SMS, e-mail, or online notes.  Makes managing your memos and lists easier than ever.
  • reQall: (free) When you don’t have time to write down your next big idea or work reminder, this app is a gem. Speak or type whatever you want to remember and reQall sends you a reminder via voice, text message, instant message, email, or calendar alert.
  • Jobs- Time Tracking: ($3.99) Track your billable hours across multiple projects, everywhere your work takes you.  You can also create time sheets that can be exported and edited in almost any spreadsheet program.
  • Analytics: ($5.99) Want to see how your web site’s performing?  Analytics App shows you your site’s unique visitors, page views and other statistics using a series of customizable reports.
  • LogMeln: ($29.99) With your iPhone, you can remotely view your computer desktop over the 3G netowrk or Wi-Fi connection, and access files when you’re away from the office.
  • Quicksheet: ($12.99) Create, edit, and save speadsheet files on your iPhone.  And with over 125 functions, it works just like your computer.
  • Credit Card Terminal: ($49.99) Turn your iPhone into a mobile credit card terminal and accept customer payments when you’re on the go.  It’s the simple, secure way to ensure you are paid for your services.
  • Print n Share: ($6.99) Wirelessly access email attachments, photos, and other documents that are on your computer, and print them directly from your iPhone to a local printer.
  • Chordmaster: (1.99) 7,800 guitar chords available at your fingertips.  Displays notes on a virtual fretboard, and plays to chord in its specific inversion.
  • Tempo: (.99) An inexpensive metronome app that also computes complex compound meters.  Great buy!
  • MIZO Tuner Metronome: ($2.99) Both tuner and metronome are included in this app.  It even tells you how many cents sharp or flat you are when you play into the mic!
  • My Songbook: (1.99) This is a handy app for finding, viewing and storing your songs and lyrics.  Great for the musician performing gigs on the road, and keeping everything in one place.
Do you own an iPhone and have used these apps?  Have you found other apps that work better for your business or music study?  Have you thought about investing in an iPhone, but need to find out more about what it can do for you?  Leave your feedback, as some questions… we want to hear from you!

Posted in Music & Technology, Product Reviews |

About the Author

Sarah Luebke

Nebraska native Sarah Luebke completed her MM in vocal performance at the University of Kentucky, and her BM in vocal performance at St. Olaf College. Recently she has been seen performing the female lead, Jane McDowell, in "The Stephen Foster Story" and the ensemble of "Big River" with Stephen Foster Productions. Other performances include the soprano soloist of Bach's St. John Passion, La Fee in Massenet's "Cendrillon" at the Intermezzo Opera Festival, Najade in "Ariadne auf Naxos" at the Brevard Music Festival, Monica in "The Medium", Rose Maybud in "Ruddigore", and Fiordiligi in "Cosi fan tutte". She currently resides with her husband in Florida, teaching a studio of 40 students and auditioning and performing locally.

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12 Comments (Add Comment)

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  1. Great article, Sarah! Many people have iPhones now. I don't have one, as AT&Tis the only carrier. I heard that next year other carriers will be able to offer the phone. I do plan on getting an iPod Touch, which I have heard is like an iPhone without the phone.
    Ronnie

    by Ronnie Currey — Thu Apr 30, 2009 @ 1:59 pm

  2. Hello Sarah,

    Thanks for your post because it got me thinking that I should share some apps that I have found help me too!
    If you have not had the chance yet you should look at these. I use them in the classroom as a music teacher and in my studio privately:

    1. Guitar Toolkit (12.99): A little expensive but it has the best metronome interface, chromatic tuner and guitar reference material I have seen in the app store. I use it all the time because if its clear interface.

    2. Guitarists Reference (2.49?): This app is excellent and is getting better all the time. It holds every chord, scale, note and combination you will ever need. It also has alternative tuning options for instruments like the Oud, or Charango. It will then map any chord, scale or mode on the fretboard diagram.

    3. Karajan: Now this is one cool app. The ultimate in ear training for the iPod or iPhone. It covers pitch recognition right through to intervals, chords and key signatures. A app well worth buying!

    4. Rhythm in Reach - Instruments: this app has saved me many times. In band rehearsal or with students privately I forget the fingering for the trumpet or clarinet. Well don't fear this app has them all graphically pictures for you and your student to keep on playing.

    5. iHarmony: This app I use with my theory students. It has all the scales, chords and modes that you will ever need in every key with their spellings in roman numerals or in letters (c,d,e,f,gb etc).

    I hope this helps someone with their teaching :)

    by Samuel — Fri May 1, 2009 @ 10:41 pm

  3. iTick is a handy little metronome! Just give it a second to get accustomed to a new tempo - it jumps a bit at first but evens out after a second. You can adjust it either by metronome markings (quarter note = 96) or broad markings (andante, allegro, etc).

    by Samantha — Fri Jul 3, 2009 @ 5:26 pm

  4. Dear Sarah: We have just published a new iPhone app with string teachers and students in mind. MonaMusic (TM) is the iPhone app from Mona Lisa Sound. It lets you listen to the song as recorded by Grammy nominated, Juilliard trained The Hampton (Rock) String Quartet and follow along on the sheet music score and parts (V1, V2, Va, Vc). The application has a "Teach" function that indicates whether you are ahead or behind of the audio, in addition to the manual, page and auto functions. Playing difficulty, outstanding solos, key, playing tips are all included, as well as a detailed "Help" section.
    The application is from Mona Lisa Music, publishers of rock string music, cited by "Strings" magazine as one of the top independent music publishers. Available initially with "Scarborough Fair" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem," the app will soon have rock titles from The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Hendrix and more. Stay tuned for new titles for the most exciting new app for string teachers and players!

    by Janna Glasser — Thu Aug 13, 2009 @ 10:56 am

  5. "Chordmaster: (1.99) 7,800 guitar chords available at your fingertips. Displays notes on a virtual fretboard, and plays to chord in its specific inversion."

    This is exactly what i needed, downloaded this app and it works great, thanks for the list

    by iphone accessories — Fri Aug 28, 2009 @ 9:13 am

  6. Thanks for you comments on this site.

    by bonus dei casinò in rete — Fri Sep 18, 2009 @ 1:21 am

  7. Wow great and interesting entry man. I really enjoyed reading your post about iPhone apps which could help the music teachers. I think that these apps are really great and useful. Thanks a lot for sharing this interesting information and I will be waiting for other interesting entries from you in the future. Btw I will definitely bookmark your blog!

    by mobile development — Sun Nov 29, 2009 @ 4:43 pm

  8. What counts as an essential iPhone app changes all the time, and so should our guide: If we've missed anything huge, or you've got a much better suggestion for a particular type of app, let us know, or say so in the comments. We'll be updating this thing pretty frequently, and a million Gizmodo readers can do a better job at sorting through the app mess than a single Gizmodo editor. Enjoy!

    by natural remeides — Sun Dec 13, 2009 @ 6:07 am

  9. I'm a musician and iphone developer. I was trying to learn musical
    intervals "head-wise" (vs. instrument-wise) and I was having trouble.
    I tried to make flash cards for every interval (e.g. minor third
    ascending and descending from c, db, d, etc) and there were just way
    too many.

    So I decided to build an iPhone app to help me learn these. It is called Tritone.

    It just got approval this week and is available to download starting
    today. itms link: http://bit.ly/info/7dLxBD .

    The app is free. My hope is that it will be a useful resource for musicians trying to learn this material.

    Nate

    by Nate Murray — Thu Dec 24, 2009 @ 7:57 am

  10. I have bought this cell and I can tell that it's a great telephone

    by casino — Tue Jan 26, 2010 @ 1:22 pm

  11. Apple designed iPhone basically for people who are unable to cut any time for recreation. With iPhone 3G users can store huge amount of data including pictures, music, notes and can even create their own to-do list. With all these features an ultimate variety of iphone accessories is also available to the users to enhance the functionality of their iphone. The most useful and handy iphone accessory includes Apple iphone 3G 10-in-1 accessory kit offering 5 silicon cases, screen protector, sports armband, audio cable and car and home chargers, this seems to be a complete package for your iphone.

    by iphoneaccessories — Thu Feb 4, 2010 @ 4:05 pm

  12. Customers who own a previous version were allowed a discounted price but this may not be the case anymore. Some Minor updates on iPhone are free but new major version can now add a tag to their release.

    by alabama web design — Sun Mar 7, 2010 @ 12:18 pm

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