Staff Note Identification Games
Flashnote Derby ($2.99)(An)($4.99)(iP) – A fun way to do flash cards. As you guess which note is on the staff, your horse will progress or decline in the derby. The app allows the user to choose the range of pitches and will give a review after the game. Adjust Setting for letter names, on-screen piano or “listening” to play on your own piano. Good for any level once staff reading has been introduced.
Noteworks ($4.99)(An)(iP) - Super fun and challenging staff note identification. Identify the correct note before getting eaten by the machine! Adjust Setting for letter names, or on-screen piano. Semi-customizable levels. Good for any level once staff reading has been introduced
Note Rush ($4.99)(An)(iP): Staff note identification with set levels or choose your own notes designer; fun because changes the normal note into fun objects (soccerball, ladybug, etc) Good for any level once staff reading has been introduced. (no in-app keyboard - MUST be played on own piano)
Staff Wars ($.99)(iP) – This fun and blood pumping game gives you notes on a staff scrolling like a marquee. The musician has to “zap” the note by selecting the correct letter name that corresponds with the note. The speed and range of notes get harder as the user continues to get correct notes.
NinGenius ($4.99)(An)(iP) – A fun way to do flash cards. Ninja kick each card as you name the notes. Choose setting for fingering or note name. You can set criteria for which notes on the staff to study. Good for any level once staff reading has been introduced.
Treble Cat Lite (free)(iP) Tap correct notes on the staff to move up through first 2 levels. Good practice for treble clef lines and space note staff identification.
Treble Cat ($4.99)(An)(iP) Includes 8 levels to practice treble clef lines and space note staff identification. Not customizable. (Try Treble Cat Lite first to see if you like it!) (Save $ and get the bundle - 4 apps for $10)
Bass Cat ($4.99)(An)(iP) Includes 8 levels to practice bass clef lines and space note staff identification. Not customizable. (Save $ and get the bundle - 4 apps for $10)
Piano Notes! ($2.99)(iP) Quickly moving natural and accidental notes on staff identification with on-screen keyboard. Best for intermediate level students.
Music Flash Class ($3.99)(iP) Extremely customizable flashcards. Not really a game. Practice note identification for time.
Beat/Rhythm Practice
The Most Addicting Sheep Game ($.99)(iP) – It’s an engagingly simple rhythm platform where jumps and rolls must be perfectly times to the music to complete the increasingly complex levels with maximum score. Great for keeping steady beat with music and developing coordination for all levels.
Rhythm swing ($3.99)(iP) - Outwit the nasty crocodile by tapping rhythms correctly in time with the music. Appropriate game for students in levels primer through 2B.
Woodchuck rhythm (free)(iP) Super fun way to get more fluent with rhythms. Uses up to 16th note patterns. Appropriate for all levels - beginners become familiar with complicated rhythm patterns long before they need to play them, higher level students can be challenged to tap complicated rhythms with Hands Together.
Rhythm Cat ($4.99)(An)(iP) Includes 6 levels to practice tapping rhythm patterns to the beat of a song. (Not customizable). (Save $ and get the bundle - 4 apps for $10)
Rhythm Cat 2($4.99)(An)(iP) Includes 6 levels to practice tapping more complicated rhythm patterns including 8th notes, 16th notes and dotted rhythms. (Not customizable). (Save $ and get the bundle - 4 apps for $10)
Rhythm Lab ($3.99)(iP) Practice tapping simple to complicated customizable rhythms hands separately and hands together. Not a game, but great practice for middle school age and up.
Music Creation
MusiQuest (free, In-App Purchase Monthly Subscription)(iP) Create layers and textures of rhythm with various instruments. Free version is limited but still fun to try a few times.
Tune train (free)(iP) Create and edit melodies through a fun line drawing mechanic. Great for teaching direction of a melodic line and comparing to staff notation. Appropriate game for younger students.
Ear Training
Blob chorus (free)(iP) Fun for matching pitches by ear. Appropriate game for all ages.
iMimic (free, In-App Purchases)(iP) Challenge your memory of pitches with a flashback to the 80s Simon Says light up game. Appropriate game for all ages.
Music4kids ($1.99) (An)(iP) Practice notating a melody after seeing and hearing it once, then hearing it again as needed. Good for any level once staff reading has been introduced.
Playing Songs:
Music Crab (free, In-App Purchases)(An)(iP) - play short melodies with on-screen piano as crab moves up and down either treble or bass staff. Great for practicing note identification of ALL treble lines and spaces or ALL bass lines and spaces. (Not adjustable.) Unlock levels to pick a new crab! Good for students who are studying notes of entire staff (like level 2A and up)
Princess Piano ($2.99)(An)(iP) Super fun for little girls! Play short songs on in-app keyboard and unlock items to dress the princess.
Multi-use Apps
Tenuto ($3.99)(iP) A collection of 24 customizable exercises in flashcard format, including staff and keyboard identification, ear training and staff construction. Not a game, but great practice for middle school age and up.
Perfect Ear - Ear Trainer (free, In-App Purchases) (An)(iP)– Basically anything a musician would want to learn on ear training is in this app: Intervals, Scales, and Chords. Each come with various kinds of exercises. The microphone will even listen to what the user sings or plays and tell them how they did. Not really a game, but really great practice - perhaps best for middle school age and up.