iPad for Sheet Music (2024)

[@mainstreetquilter]

Very helpful !

[@annependergraft7380]

Thanks for great info on iPad choices. I play flute for a small church choir. Sheet music is overwhelming and I’m thinking iPad is the way to go. App choice is ForScore even though transposing scores is not an option. I’m getting more proficient at reading a score down a step. Thanks much for excellent advice.

[@ashquackk]

I am not even a musician. I still watched your entire video because of your voice.

[@mariatrotter6889]

Excellent… I’ve been wondering about this … I haven’t taken this leap yet … extremely informative

[@TraderGary-42]

I preordered the 13" iPad Pro with 1TB storage and picked it up at the Apple Store the day it was released. I upgraded from my original 12.9 iPad Pro that was some 5 years old. For my "old" eyes the brighter OLED screen was well worth the cost. After using the new OLED screen for the past few months, I would definitely do it again. I'm more than pleased. I use the Henle App and over the years have accumulated most of what Henle has available for the piano. I also use the forScore app, but Henle is used the vast majority of the time.

[@key-notes]

That’s an important consideration-thanks for sharing. If you have a compelling health-related need, then it’s worth the asking price. Here in Europe, due to exchange rates, import fees and taxes, Apple products are around a third more expensive, so the price is really out of reach for most people.

[@arneely65]

Thank you for mentioning the 13 inch ipad AIR

[@LoudnessWarsSurvivor]

Another thing to consider is the 13" Air doesn't support face recognition so if you're looking to turn pages with face gesture, you're out of luck. You have to go for the current or previous gen Pros for that. Apple sells refurbished 5th and 6th gen iPad Pros though but they may disappear over time.

[@aaronlinsdaupiano]

Thank you for helping to clarify this question.

[@kafandrich]

I'm an organist. The facial gesture feature is one of the big reasons I use a tablet for sheet music. I need all both hands and both feet to play my instrument, so using gestures to turn pages is game changer! This feature is still only available on the Pro iPad versions. This feature was non-negotiable for me. I much prefer the Zagg keyboard cases over Apple's versions. The Zagg cases protect the iPad even when it is removed from the keyboard. The Zagg cases are also less expensive. Thanks for making great videos!

[@key-notes]

Thanks for the tip and for your kind words! Happy to hear forScore’s facial gestures is a great solution for turning pages. I’ve tried it a couple times, though I haven’t spent enough time with it to get it to work reliably. I’ve reverted to Bluetooth page turning pedals or the old fashioned way of turning pages by hand. Will give the facial gestures another try!

[@kafandrich]

@@key-notesI have found the month movement gesture is reliable for me. Camera proximity is also important. Some instruments have a high music ledge, so positioning the iPad upside down puts the camera closer to my face and is more effective.

[@key-notes]

@@kafandrich Thanks for the helpful tip! For longer practice sessions I have the iPad upside down in order to charge it while practicing. Maybe my piano’s music rack gets in the way of the camera? I’ll try it right side up. Turning pages reliably always seems like Mission:Impossible no matter which method I use, whether it’s digital or paper!

[@MrDcrules]

Fantastic video. thank you. May I ask what softtware you use on your iPad to read your sheet music? What software is needed to change the sheet pages on the iPad while playing? thank you again. Best.

[@key-notes]

Thank you! My favorite apps are the Henle Library for top-quality classical sheet music editions, and forScore for PDF sheet music. For page turning I use a Bluetooth pedal. There are quite a few on the market, and which one you use is really a matter of taste. forScore Pro has facial gestures built in, so you can wink or move your mouth in a certain way to turn pages. I haven't gotten used to this, but other musicians find this method effective.

[@konstantinoskonstantinidis7323]

that was extremely useful and well thought of. THanks for sharing!

[@trevorjohnwilkinson]

Thank you

[@noponder]

I was just considering getting an iPad when I saw your video. Good information and advise. The price is a big issue for me, even the 13" air which is the one I'm pondering.

[@key-notes]

A few stores still have the 12.9” M2 iPad Pro in stock. I’ve even seen the 2 TB model for half the retail price-that’s quite a deal!

[@rinafleisch7655]

I am wanting to upgrade my 11” iPad Pro (1st gen) to a larger screen. I thought I would get the iPad Air 13”, but today I found a 2022 IPad Pro 12.9” for the same price. I almost pulled the trigger, but one issue I have is that it is only compatible with the Apple Pencil 2 (and the USB model). That’s great from the point of view that I already have the Apple Pencil 2, but it is already 5 years old and it looks like Apple doesn’t sell it anymore. I would hate to be stuck with a USB Pencil if this one ever failed. There’s always a catch 😢.

[@key-notes]

Just checked and it’s still available! www.apple.com/shop/product/MU8F2AM/A/apple-pencil-2nd-generation I’d definitely get the 2022 12.9” Pro over the new 13” Air. It’s a great device that should last you years.

[@jack15390]

what do you think would be the best option for a classical singer who would use it for solo sheet music, choral work, etc / but also as a music education student?

[@key-notes]

I’d look for a 12.9” M2 iPad Pro from 2022 personally. You should still be able to find one new at a big discount. If not, I’d probably go for the 13” Air, unless you want to splurge on the new Pro.

[@andrescorrea3821]

hi, which case and screen protector do you recommend for pianists? Thanks

[@key-notes]

I can’t really recommend any in particular, to be honest. I use Apple’s Magic Keyboard, which acts as a case, although it doesn’t protect the sides. As for screen protectors, I can’t actually use one on my 12.9” because I have the original version of the Magic Keyboard and the M2 iPad Pro is very slightly thicker to accommodate the display technology, so there’s literally no room even for a very thin screen protector!

[@bradsmith7208]

NOTE TO SELF: The Apple Pencil ( 2nd generation) that you bought only 3 months ago, is NOT compatible with iPad Air 13" 2024.

[@key-notes]

Sorry to hear! It's gotten pretty confusing to figure out which accessories are compatible with which iPad.

[@bradsmith7208]

@@key-notes Yeah its the nature of technology terrain, these blind spots. But I'm not sure it would have changed my purchase, just an unpleasant surprise after such a recent purchase of apple pen. Your review was very helpful, gave me confidence to go with the Air 13", and put the money towards 1TB size. Thanks!

[@key-notes]

@@bradsmith7208 Enjoy your new tablet… hope it helps you play lots of music!

[@_Arthur-]

Or just buy a Lenovo tab p12 for a fraction of the costs. Or a Samsung Galaxy tab s8 ultra for less money and a bigger 14,6 inch screen.

[@key-notes]

Hopefully these excellent Android tablets will drive Apple to rethink their pricing model. I couldn’t help but notice that Apple retained its $300 price difference between the 11” and 13” iPad Pro, even though there is now no longer any difference in their screen technology. (The smaller M1 and M2 Pro lacked the MiniLED screen and Apple charged an extra $100 compared to previous models that used the same regular LED screen for both sizes.) I also wish Apple would be forced to change their usurious storage and RAM upgrade prices, which are several times the average market prices. Apple may make great products, but so do their competitors now, and consumers with applications like music may start to look elsewhere. You can get an excellent Lenovo P12 Pro tablet for less than the price Apple charges to upgrade to 1 TB of storage!