It’s amazing what smart phones can do! They not only relay phone calls and email, text messages and Facebook updates, they can also make practicing better and easier. I’ve had a metronome app for awhile (an Android app, nothing against iPhone, just my carrier doesn’t support them) and have enjoyed it immensely. I had been lusting for a Dr. Beat with all its cool features, but the free app I downloaded from the Google Play store gives me all the functionality I want. I can change the tempo 1 beat at a time, and have a different sound for the first beat of the measure. It can’t make different sounds for each of the beats in the measure, but I would use that so rarely, I’m not missing it. I’m sure that will available soon, anyway!
I’m also trying out an app that will play back pieces at different tempos while keeping the pitch the same. This is really helping me with the current orchestra program, since I’m playing mostly piccolo and the pieces are requiring lots of practice at slow tempos and working them up. Too bad I can’t use both programs at the same time! (I think SmartMusic might have this capability, but it’s not available on phones, yet!) With rehearsals only once a week, it is hard for me to get a good sense of how my part fits in. My score study time has to be spent on the flute choir rep that I conduct, so being able to hear how my part fits in really helps.
I’ve even got an ear training app that tests my ability to hear and identify intervals and tonalities. I can’t imagine what life would have been like if I had had these tools when I was a student! As a musician with a day job, practice time has to be used as efficiently as possible, there is never enough time, but tools like these really help. Now if I only had an app that made my brain work faster I would be in really great shape!