The numerous mobile music apps available online have made honing one’s skills in the history, theory, composition and appreciation of classical music more accessible than ever before. Here’s a brief survey providing a taste of the wide range of possibilities out there.

Orchestra

TouchPress has designed an interactive digital book where learners can tap realistic-looking 3D instruments, listen to the sounds that they make, and learn a thing or two about playing them through expert’s anecdotes.

To give an up-close view of how an ensemble works, it contains video clips of conductor Esa-Pekka Salonan and the Philharmonia Orchestra performing several masterpieces like Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique, Igor Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite or Salonen’s own Violin Concerto.

Unfortunately, Orchestra requires 1.96GB of storage on your device. Luckily, the iPhone 5 on O2 comes with 64GB of internal memory, thus you can store this application and the rest of the apps we’re about to recommend.

My First Classical Music App

According to toymaker Fisher Price, kids have several physical limitations — like small fingers and lungs — which make some musical instruments hard to play. However, they can still learn how to appreciate them through My First Classical Music. This interactive book introduces them to the great composers like Tchaikovsky and Beethoven through fun illustrations, animations and short video clips.

It features several wind and string instruments. Another great thing about this software is that it can simplify complex concepts like absolute versus programmatic music into words that the young ones can understand.

Tenuto

This is the mobile-friendly version of MusicTheory.net’s online training course. It tests users on various theoretical aspects like chord building, note identification, interval identification and key signature identification. Every exercise is highly customizable to help assess the needs of both neophyte and savant instrumentalists.

SyncSing HD

This one turns your iPhone or iPad into a mobile songbook. It has a simple interface that allows users to easily flip through music sheets and organize playlists. It is even possible to sync data with nearby devices.

The most notable feature is a Training Mode. it allows one to loop a specific portion of a work over and over again, eliminating the need to restart the piece from the beginning when practising a difficult section. You can also associate sound files with your songs to help you play along to a certain beat.

Karajan

This app works for theory as well as ear training through learning modules to help identify basic musical elements like intervals, pitch, scale, tempo,  chords and key signature. The app also contains quizzes to help users assess their development in the training. With its user-friendly interface and stunning design, young and old students alike will surely enjoy learning these concepts.

These digital tools could help you improve if and only if you train hard and use these apps properly. If you know other apps that could greatly help our readers, feel free to mention them in the comments section.

Taylor Jennings
Taylor Jennings loves writing about the web, pop culture, modern art, gadgets and technology. In his spare time, he usually spends it playing on Xbox Live. You can always reach him on Twitter.