My iPad Pro changed my life
am asked this question all the time: how do you like using an iPad for all your music?
We live in a digital society. We use social media everyday on our phones without thinking about it. Students are walking around schools with their laptops and using them for everything. COVID changed the context in how we learn and Zoom or Microsoft Teams meetings have become commonplace. I even went my whole Bachelor’s degree with only purchasing a single textbook. Even then, I learnt I was only one of very few who did go out of their way to buy a physical copy of the book. I considered myself late to the game when I first began debating whether an iPad was worth it to me because I knew several people who lived their entire musical lives on their iPads. Yet I am still asked about my iPad all the time. And I’m happy to help!
Considerations:
Before I jump into why I love my iPad and think it was a worthwhile purchase, I have to preface with a few considerations. Firstly, Apple products are expensive. If you don’t have the money then it isn’t even worth thinking about. I have the iPad Pro which is the most expensive, but there are other options. I got the bigger screen so it is very similar to the size of an A4 page for when I’m performing or using music in the practice room, but others find a smaller screen just as doable. Just remember to factor in the cost for other equipment when making your decision (more on equipment below). When making my decision on which iPad to get, I thought about what I was going to use it for - so for me I already had a laptop meaning I wanted it mainly for music to get rid of the piles and piles I used to carry around, including teaching books, performing on stage with the ease of page turning with a pedal, and taking notes. If you only perform as a soloist then maybe this isn’t an essential purchase for you, but read more about how my iPad Pro changed my life below!
Other essential equipment for musicians:
Apple pencil - this is a must for writing in fingerings, dynamics, ensemble directions
Bluetooth page turner pedal - for musicians this is so handy. As a guitarist it is so easy to turn pages with my feet and continue playing. I’ve even seen pianists using them but I think they must have special skills for this 😅
iPad case
iPad screen protector
forScore - the music sheet music app
Bluetooth keyboard - I don’t actually have a keyboard for my iPad. That’s why I am a laptop, but for some this can easily take on the functionality of a laptop.
So, how has my iPad Pro impacted my life?
I have been using my iPad Pro for about 2 years now. I use it for all of my music, teaching, taking notes at university, and the odd email. I no longer have to carry my sheet music and teaching books everywhere I go, making my bag much lighter than it has ever been. This was one of my biggest concerns which influenced me to make the purchase. As I was teaching more and more, the sheer number of books I was carrying was increasing also. I had beginner student books, AMEB books for those sitting exams, other books of more advanced pieces, student ensemble books, not to mention all my own music for quartets, large ensembles and at the time my Honours recital. All of a sudden this fit into the slim and lightweight iPad - and I never want to go back!
In terms of actually using the iPad for music, forScore is a must. This does come with an additional cost, but the functionality and features of the app are incredible. Paired with my Apple pencil, I can write fingerings, musical ideas, counting all over my score in different colours. If multiple students are learning the same piece at once, I can even move between different versions of the annotated piece at the click of a button. This is also helpful if you ever need a blank copy of the music (thinking back to how I used to write all over my music and require blank copies for exams or competitions 😬). The built in metronome feature is also useful so you don’t have to jump between different apps.
Since I got my iPad and Bluetooth page turner pedal most of the other guitarists in my ensembles have began using them also (if they didn’t already use them before). Page turning has never been easier and gone are the days of working out page turning before a concert and stressing about losing sheet music all over the floor mid-performance.
All the best for now - see you in the next blog!