Suggestion Device (i.e. iPad) for having piano sheet music?

Hi everyone--

 

I have a lot of piano music spread out in individual sheets and books across my apartment.  I've seen some musicians use tablets like iPads or Ipad Minis for reading sheet music at the piano.  Is there a recommended device (i.e. iPad Pro)?  How does one upload their piano music into that device or do you need to use a software program on the iPad (and if so what is it)?  Finally, can the Ipad or another device be hooked up to a digital piano so that the page turns can be controlled electronically?  thanks for any suggestions.  Simply trying to consolidate my music into a digital device and one where notations can be made.  thank you.

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    • Dagmar
    • always curious
    • Dagmar
    • 4 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    I have an android device and use the app "Mobile Sheets". It's around 10โ‚ฌ I think. You can categorize, annotate, arrange setlists, tag things like keys, composers etc. in the database. 

    You can add PDFs or take pictures of your music. And it works with bluetooth pageturners, like the pedals of my digital piano.

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    • I suggest new iPad Air 13". for software Google ForScore. google pedal for page turning

      Like 1
    • Nick
    • Nicholas.4
    • 4 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    The particular iPad model doesn't matter as much, but depending on your eyesight you may want to consider a 13" iPad over the 11" iPad.

     

    I recently switched from using PiaScore to using forScore to manage sheet music. ForScore allows you to import and organize on your Mac directly and wirelessly sync to iPad, which makes importing a breeze if you have scores on your computer (although you can also directly import on the iPad or use the camera to scan and import). You can use electronic page turners as well, some of the models you can find here (I have the PageFlip).

    Like 1
  • I have an ipad pro.  I scan using the notes app already on the ipad (in scan a document mode) then I can have it open in my music app.  I use Forscore as it allows my digitallly purchased and my scanned music to work in the same place.  And the best part:  it has facial recognition for page turns so you can set it up to register a smile or a head turn etc.   I find it much easier to use than a foot pedal especially when accompanying singers that need me to use both feet already for soft and damper pedals.  

    Like 2
    • Ron Bulger
    • Ron_Bulger
    • 4 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    I have my digital everything on a few devices. I have an ipad pro 6th gen, a 2 in one laptop as well as a desktop and another laptop. I keep my stuff on the laptops and desktop but for versatility I also have all my stuff on what's call a Network Attached Storage device (NAS). The contents of that server can be accessed anywhere any time. I use one from a company called Asustor which is a sub of Asus. I usually use Asus motherboards when I rebuild my desktop. I would recommend the NAS for various reasons including backing up data. Along with that consider using a VPN for personal protection. The NAS by Asustor isn't too expensive. The hard drives will add up but this should be a one time purchase. I hope that helps since it's a bit more than expected but I am a retired programmer. 

    Like 2
  • When I bought an iPad 6 years ago it was strictly for piano scores and was the first Apple I'd owned since the 1980s.
    I chose it over the less expensive Windows or Android tablets because the screen's aspect ratio was a better fit to music pages.

    forScore is a beautifully designed app (Apple only).  It's obvious that the programmers eat their own dogfood (i.e., actually use the app) and that it's a labor of love.

    I download PDFs onto my Windows laptop from IMSLP or use a flatbed Canon scanner to scan in music I have physically, then transfer from the laptop to forScore on the iPad.  (I have an app on the iPad called "FE File Explorer" that connects to my laptop.)

    forScore also has a "stamps" pad of numbers that I use to put fingering on my scores.  Much neater than scrawling with a pencil or stylus.  And, being an ancient Luddite, I sometimes then transfer the so-fingered scores back to the laptop as PDFs and print them for use at the piano.  (Old age...)
     

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  • I use a 13โ€ iPad with the ForScore app and a FireFly pedal (by PageFlip) for (page turning).   Takes some getting used to but definitely worth it!  You can send downloaded music directly to ForScore, which allows you to categorize music however youโ€™d like.  I categorize by instrument (piano, violin, and whatever other instrumentalist playing with).   I subscribe to IMSLP and download those scores directly into ForScore.  There may be newer pedals than FireFly out there since I bought mine several years ago.  Anything smaller than 13โ€ is too small for complex music.  ForScore had SO many more functions that I do not use but would love to learn, e.g. multiple overlays of  the same score for making notes from various sessions.  Good luck in your search!

    Like 1
    • Steve
    • Steve.5
    • 4 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    If you mostly play piano at home I find it best to first focus on a PC (or Mac, if that's your thing) type based solution. I use the Newzik app (which works on an iPad as well as PC/Mac/Smartphone). I mostly use Newzik in a browser (chrome) running on my PC next to my piano and a 27" monitor on the music stand. Then I can see 2-pages at the same time - nice and big. (Even the biggest iPad can only reasonably show 1 page at a time). All your scores are stored in the Newzik cloud so when you go remote on an iPad or need a quick check of something on your SmartPhone, all your music is there (after a synch.). Some editing tasks I prefer to do with a mouse on a PC, others I use my iPad and the "apple pencil" type device. It's all the same back-end data so they both work and I keep my iPad close when practicing for "easier to draw with a pencil than use a mouse" type score updates. If you take lessons, Newzik allows stuff like creating a "project" you can share with others like your teacher and they can directly add annotations on a "layer" of your score. Especially helpful if you take zoom lessons. The music you play from is the same as all the other apps: PDFs of music you scan with your phone or PC/Mac-scanner and/or PDFs you buy from online providers. Hands-free page turns on any device are most often usually done with a Bluetooth pedal that links to your PC/Mac or iPad. My current favorite is made by Donner. Though some apps (maybe even Newzik for all I know now) allow you to squint your face in certain ways/wink/etc. to turn pages. The bluetooth pedal becomes second nature like any skill so I prefer that.

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    • Don Calvert
    • Germany/Austria Desk Officer, U.S. Commerce Department
    • Don_Calvert
    • 4 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    Great feedback everyone; much appreciated!  I am a MacBook Pro user and my piano is a Yamaha Clavinova CVP 809GP digital piano.  These are very good ideas for including an iPad 13 (i'm age 55 and my eyesight is not great.  thank you again!

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    • Dan
    • Dan.10
    • 4 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    I bought the Onyx Boox Max Lumi e-ink tablet with the MobileSheets app (they have a version designed for e-ink tablets). Below are my reasons...

     

    The screen size was the largest at the time at 13.3"

    The e-ink display is easier on the eyes than tablet screens

    The battery life is extremely long (many days)

    I wanted a dedicated device I could leave at the piano

     

    I also looked at PadMu, which is essentially two Onyx Boox tablets. I didn't see think the cost and hassle of an additional tablet was necessary. The page turning with the MobileSheets app is quick enough.

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      • Ken Locke
      • Hanon survivor
      • Ken_Locke
      • 4 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Dan I have the onyx tablet too. I believe it is the largest e-ink device available. It's pretty amazing at conserving battery! I went 3 weeks before recharging it, while using it 1 or 2 hours a day. This is with the brightness turned down a fair bit, which helps reduce eye strain for me. 

       

      One interesting marketing angle I saw for this device, which would be similar for any e-ink device.... The promoter states that this is a perfect solution for budding young musicians (children, adolescents) because the only apps that look good in it are the sheet music or text document/e-book ones. Just try going to instagram or tiktok etc on the grayscale, slow fps screen, it would be terrible. No distractions for the kiddies!

       

      I just got the Donner Bluetooth pedal, have yet to sync it up. 

       

      I am using the IMSLP app as a music library, just reading the scores directly from it - don't know how well it handles page turning devices though.  

      Like 1
  • I find Android devices much better, more flexible, less restricted then Apple devices and the software I use, MobileSheets (https://www.zubersoft.com/mobilesheets/) is extremely good and has a lot of features that make it easy to import, share, use, backup etc. scores, combine them with audio, use a metronome, use a Bluetooth pedal to turn pages, even have two players sync their tablets while reading e.g. the Primo and Secondo scores.

    The device is a Samsung Galaxy note pro with 14" screen and a pen that lets me add fingerings, markings etc to the scores.

    If you rather prefer Apple, the MobileSheets software is also available for iOS.

    Like 1
    • Steven L
    • Steven_L
    • 4 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    After years of my music rack looking like a yard sale  (sheet music lined up for all the pieces I was currently studying PLUS all of the daily exercises and sight reading) ... I transitioned to ForScore Pro and use a 13" iPad.  The advantage that the "Pro" version of ForScore offers is the ability to advance music/change pages with your facial expressions (no pedal .. and your fingers never have to leave the piano).  It DOES take a bit of getting used to.. but since I've incorporated it into my daily practice, it has become second nature.  Also, you can use the iPad in a landscape orientation; the music is larger and easier to read.. especially helpful for those passages that have lots happening (ie 16th notes or ornamentation).   Highly recommend these 2 products.  Good luck making your decision.

    Like 1
      • Roger Ward
      • Roger_Ward
      • 4 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Steven L Hi.  What facial expression do you use to change pages?  A friend jokingly suggested I stick out my tongue.

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    • Steven L
    • Steven_L
    • 4 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi Roger.. I use the mouth/nose.  Initially, I was using the eye gesture.. but pages were turning involuntarily due to looking "the wrong way"..so I changed to using my mouth/nose.. On a comical note, I if I have a cold or sinus issues (or anything that affects my mouth/nose area used for turning pages.. sniffling or twitching your nose ), pages will turn quite rapidly!!!!

    Like 1
  • I have a Huawei MatebookE hybrid, i.e. a PC that can become a tablet.  I use the Mobilesheets app which is easy to use (can import any pdf or jpeg sheet music, file it,, allow notations on it, allow you to attach recordings so you can play along etc. ).

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  • ForScore has a nice feature that displays scores across two iPads. I have a first-generation iPad Pro that is partially damaged but works fine as that second device. It doesn't seem like ForScore requires the latest hardware, so you might consider getting older device(s).

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    • Bhakti
    • Bhakti
    • 4 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi Don Calvert , I digitize my music so I can play it on my iPad Pro (I used to use a Microsoft SurfaceBook which could detach and had a large screen, but the battery life wasn't great).

    To scan: What I do is I use my phone to take photos of the music. I spread the books flat, or if they can't lie flat, I hold one side of the book at a slightly larger than 90-degree angle with the other side pressed flat, and take a photo of the flat side, then repeat for the other side/hand.

    To crop and make B&W: I used to use the app GeniusScan, but that was before they turned into a subscription service that I can't afford. These days I use the Microsoft Lens app which is free. After making it into a nice B&W pdf, I then export it to my iPad using AirDrop, or export to Google Drive.

    App to play from: ForScore (as many others have mentioned, this is the best app to use for Apple devices).

    Page turning device: one of the best out there for years IMO is still this butterfly page turning pedal, which connects with bluetooth. It can connect to the iPad or any other device, including your laptop. It has three modes: scrolling mode, up/down mode, left/right mode.

    Like 1
      • Don Calvert
      • Germany/Austria Desk Officer, U.S. Commerce Department
      • Don_Calvert
      • 4 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Bhakti Very helpful. thanks!!! Dominic Cheli Hope you are doing well.  May i ask which device/tablet you use for reading music digitally rather than the old school sheet music? thank you.  Have a nice weekend everyone! Don

      Like 1
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