Here are our picks for the seven best apps to get you started on your way to piano virtuosity.
Use Your iPad as a Piano: GarageBand
Apple
Download free instruments from the Sound Library.
Connect a MIDI keyboard for the full piano teacher experience.
Apple
Piano lessons are built in.
App customization options are limited.
Lacks many options for woodwind instruments.
This free download from Apple turns an iPhone or iPad into a digital audio workstation.
If you’re just starting out and using the on-screen keyboard, you’ll learn only the basics.
The good news is that GarageBand can connect aMIDI keyboard to your iOS rig.
A MIDI keyboard is an electronic keyboard that has MIDI IN and MIDI OUT ports.
A lot of great MIDI keyboards are available, including keyboards with only 29 keys.
These smaller keyboards can be great for practicing while away from home.
The Best Music App for Teaching Kids: Piano Maestro
Organize exercises by level or genre.
Great for young and adult learners.
Progress reports let you know how you’re doing.
Hide songs or save favorite songs.
Can’t search for songs.
The app is free, but to get the most from it, you need a subscription.
The ONE Smart Piano
Can’t print sheet music.
The app is broken into a series of chapters that focus on a specific skill.
The Best Music App for Adults: Yousician
Makes learning the piano a game.
Progress trackers give real-time feedback.
Videos provide visual examples of notes and chords.
The app doesn’t always “hear” you play correctly.
Can get a bit crowded on smaller screens.
Yousician is a fantastic way to learn piano, guitar, bass, or even ukulele.
It follows a Rock Band-like process of gamifying learning.
One area where Yousician shines is determining your current skill level through a quick test.
Best App for Learning Songs: Synthesia
Choose from more than 100 instrument sounds.
Notes fall down from the top, or you could view traditional sheet music.
Comes with 20 songs; you need a subscription to get more.
Sounds aren’t realistic.
There’s a lot to be said about this method.
Synthesia can also slow down the music, so you could learn at a more relaxed pace.
Add new songs by importing MIDI files.
Thousands of videos on YouTube are simply Synthesia versions of songs.
Best App for Sheet Music: Musicnotes
An awesome way to organize and take sheet music anywhere.
Music is saved as PDF files that can be transferred to and from Dropbox via iTunes.
Automatic transpositions save time.
Licensing means that each song can be printed only once.
Doesn’t support file uploads from iCloud.
If you play guitar, Musicnotes also supports guitar tablature.
Choose from 128 instrument sounds.
Free app has tons of sheet music and more than 100 videos.
Additional songs require in-app purchases.
The keys aren’t weighted.
Are you looking for an all-in-one package to learn piano?
Want the real thing but still need an iPad backup?
The best part about these keyboards is their support for MIDI.
Use them with the other apps on this list, including using the keyboard in conjunction with GarageBand.
The Best Metronome: Pro Metronome
Programmable playlists.
Choose from three pitch options.
Automatic speed-up is a huge bonus for musicians.
May take beginners a while to figure out the interface and options.
Some useful options require in-app purchases.
A metronome is a perfect companion to practice.
