Set Criteria

Before you check out this Apps for Piano Teachers Index, it’s good to consider how any app will serve you and your students.

The following list of apps I’ve discovered over years of piano teaching with the assistance of the iPad has passed through a three-pronged filter.

The apps included on my app list have passed these THREE criteria:

Is it easy to use?
Does it add value to precious lesson time?
Is it customizable to suit my needs?

Determine Educational Requirements

My must-have apps for educational purposes must meet one more requirement. They must contribute to students’ learning processes or stages of learning. I stumbled upon these stages of learning while listening to a podcast featuring the creators of Hyperdocs from The Cult of Pedagogy. Here’s how I’ve modified the stages so they serve as filters for apps that I use in my studio.

Engage = Does the app grab pianists’ attention with fun, interesting, quirky or gamification features?

Explore = Does the app allow opportunities for pianists to get curious and explore options that lead to a fresh perspective or deeper understanding?

Explain = Does the app introduce, describe, or teach a concept and help pianists relate the known to the unknown?

Apply = Does the app allow pianists to show what they know?

Share = Does the app give pianists a chance to share results or what they’ve learned?

Reflect = Does the app encourage pianists to think beyond the obvious and help them see how concepts sound, feel, and connect to each other?

Extend = Does the app maximize and further learning by putting a new twist on old concepts?

Apps that Meet the Criteria

Click on the titles to see this filter in action with a few of my favorite apps.

Index Organization

Click on the buttons below to jump to your desired category.
If you have an app to recommend for this index, contact me HERE.

Rhythm

Theory