Let’s Talk About Note Naming Apps…Again!
A few weeks ago on the blog, we introduced the first installment of the ‘Top 10 Note Naming Apps’ series. In that blog, we covered the different types of note naming apps, different ways to answer questions, and 5 of the top ten top note naming apps: Staff Wars, Staff Wars Live, Flashnote Derby, Noteworks, and Dr Musik. In this follow-up, we’ll be continuing our favorite note naming apps and introducing you to Noteful, Treble Cat/Bass Cat, Note Rush, MusicTheory.net, and Tenuto. All of these apps have been covered in-depth in our live webinar, “Top 10 Note Naming Apps” inside the Midnight Music Community.
Members of the Midnight Music Community: Click here to view the full training!
Recapping the Main Modes of Answering
As we mentioned in the last blog, note naming apps all have different ways of answering questions. Here are the primary ways students will be able to answer a question, but the availability of these inputs varies across apps.
- TAP: identify notes by selecting an option on the screen (a note name, a letter, a place on the staff, a picture of a keyboard, or a picture of a guitar fretboard)
- MIC: identify notes by playing/singing into the mic
- MIDI: identify notes on a plugged-in device (usually a physical keyboard). To do this, plug a USB cord from your MIDI device into an adapter that connects to your iPad, or that connects to a USB such as a Chromebook, etc.
Note Naming App Considerations
In part 1 of the Top 10 Note Naming Apps for Music Teachers series, we detailed multiple considerations to keep in mind before using or purchasing an app. If you would like to read more about those considerations, the most important features to look for, and questions to consider, click here to read part 1!
5 MORE of the Best Note Naming Apps
For #1-#5, please check out Top 10 Note Naming Apps for Music Teachers, Part 1!
#6: Noteful
Noteful is a lovely all-in-one music theory and note naming app best suited for younger (primary/elementary) students.
Noteful Basic Info:
- Price: free (with optional ad-free upgrade)
- iOS/Google Play/Web
- Quiz-style games (students will tap an answer on the screen)
- Includes additional lesson material (not just quizzes)
Noteful Overview
Noteful is a beautiful app with big buttons for students to click. In the app, students will progress through different islands with different options for quizzes that take them through the app.
Students will get a mini-lesson and then the opportunity to work through the following quiz for areas like form, rhythm, ear training, staff, harmony, and terms. Here are the specific sub-categories that students will get to work through in Noteful:
#7: Treble Cat and Bass Cat
Developed in the height of the ‘Angry Birds Era’ these fun and quirky apps have some of the same design styles as Angry Birds.
Treble Cat & Bass Cat Basic Info:
- Two different apps
- Price: $7.99 each
- iOS/Google Play (click here for Treble Cat and here for Bass Cat)
- Students will tap the answer on the screen
Treble Cat & Bass Cat Overview
Treble Cat and Bass Cat are two iterations of the same app – one to test note names in treble clef and one to test note names in bass clef. Overall, it’s a pricier app, but may be a good option for you if it appeals to your students and keeps them challenged!
How to Play Treble Cat & Bass Cat
There are eight modules with levels (each with around 10 sub-levels) on which you will score 1-3 stars.
To play, notes will fly in from right to left, and students must follow the prompt at the top of the page and click on the correct notes before they hit the red line at the left side of the screen.
At each level, new notes will be introduced with letter names, and notes that have already been covered will no longer display letter names.
Here is an example of a level that no longer displays the note letter name, “D” and is also asking students to click on all C’s and E’s:
Bass Cat works in the same way with progressing levels and notes being challenged and note names being added and removed from the quiz.
#8: Note Rush
Note Rush is an app where students will sing or play into the device’s microphone to play.
Note: if your instrument is not listed, just choose a similar one and the app seems to track note accuracy very well between instruments (even those not specifically listed).
Note Rush Basic Info:
- Price: $8.99
- iOS/Google Play/Amazon
- Play via MIDI keyboard
- Play via singing or playing into mic
Note Rush Overview
To begin, you will select a pre-designed instrument. At the moment, there are only one or two pre-chosen instruments in each category. But, this is not that important as it is primarily there to help you choose ranges and clefs for your instrument.
You can also choose to design your own level and select the clef and notes that you want to include. If you customize a level, you are also given a QR code for students to scan which will bring up that specific pre-created level:
Here is another view of the level customization screen for you to select all the notes your students will be tested on:
Note Rush Themes and Timer Customization Options:
There are lots of different themes available for your students to play with. Here are a few options for Halloween and a nature theme:
You can also choose to hide the timer at the top of the screen if your students are easily overwhelmed by the timed aspect. You can also choose to view your time at the end of the quiz, even if it wasn’t displayed during the quiz. The goal of the app is to get faster at note identification and beat your personal best score.
#9: Musictheory.net & #10 Tenuto App
Musictheory.net is a very comprehensive music theory website best suited for older students and adults. The Tenuto app is run by musictheory.net, but is an app version of their exercises. While note identification is a part of the website, it’s only a small part of a much larger comprehensive music theory platform.
MusicTheory.Net & Tenuto Basic Info
- Price: free (web) & $4.99 (Tenuto app)
- Web or iOS
- Tap or click option on the screen
- Covers a range of instruments and exercises
Musictheory.net
Musictheory.net includes lessons, exercises, and tools for music teachers and students. Here are just a few of the MANY exercise options on the website.
Musictheory.net & Tenuto Playing Screens
Here are the views that students will see on the website (left) vs. the app (right):
Musictheory.net & Tenuto Customization Options
Both the web version and the app have LOTS of customization options. You can choose the clef, the notes being tested, specific notes and placement options and more.
Note: Unless ‘Challenge Mode’ is turned on, the quiz will be infinite. Make sure to turn on challenge mode so that students can complete a quiz and receive feedback.
Musictheory.net Teacher Customization Option
One of the coolest features on Musictheory.net (unfortunately, as of this writing, it is unavailable in the Tenuto app) is the option to customize a quiz for your students which then turns it into a URL you can share with your students (to avoid students having to set up their own quiz and options).
To do this, select ‘Exercises’ and scroll down to ‘Exercise Customizer.’ Next, complete all of the settings and finally, click and copy the URL at the bottom of the screen:
Musictheory.net Teacher Code Checker
One other neat feature of Musictheory.net is the ability to check your students’ work. At the completion of their exercise, they will receive a code. You can request your students to send you their code at the end of their exercise.
As the teacher, you can copy/paste that code into the ‘Code Checker’ (located right underneath the Exercise Customizer) to verify your student did the work.
Final Thoughts
If you haven’t already, now is a great time to go back and take a look at part 1 of this series. As you have seen, there is no one-size-fits-all app or website for note naming skills. Each one requires you to know your students and choose one based on the information they need to be tested on, and the mode of input of answers. There are so many to choose from, and we hope these 10 apps and websites will help your students learn their note names in a more hands-on and interactive way!
If you want even more in-depth training on these apps, check out the 10 Top Note Reading Apps webinar available inside the Midnight Music Community. As a member, you can also ask questions about any of these apps and we’ll make sure to respond with personalized help in the forum. You can also download a free copy of our Ultimate Free Music Tech Resources Guide for even more free resources for music teachers and students!
What’s been your experience with these apps? Which one is your favorite? Leave a comment below!
Want more resources for music tech teachers?
Hello! I’m Katie Argyle – an Australian music technology trainer and consultant with a passion for helping music teachers through my business Midnight Music.
I’m a qualified teacher but no, I don’t currently teach in a school. I help teachers through my online professional development space – the Midnight Music Community– where there are tutorial videos, courses, links and downloadable resources.
I like to focus on easy ways to incorporate technology into what you are already doing in your music curriculum through a range of creative projects. I also run live workshops and have presented at countless conferences and other music education events.
If you want simple, effective ideas for using technology in music education, I would LOVE to help you inside the Midnight Music Community.
