MusicFirst Student App 4+

This is just a glorified web browser on an “app”. It is not even optimized for iOS devices. The layout and format needs a major overhaul. Text is too small to read and the whole interface is not user-friendly. Opening an app brings up another smaller window with a “tap to close” message on top. I would have preferred it taking the whole display of the iPad.

I see a lot of potential for this app and I hope that the developers consider making it suitable for mobile devices. I feel that this app launch was too rushed, therefore the interface feels half-baked. There are many app suites out there (Piano Adventures Coach, for instance) that make use of a similar platform. I suggest for developers to look at these and study it, so that they can apply it to this app.

I also haven’t experienced any app crash issues...yet. I hope to change my review to 5 stars, if I see a remarkable improvement of the app.

Usually, content that can be accessed through your phone‘s browser is not optimized for a mobile screen. Companies that offer an app realize this and optimize the interface for their product for the smaller screen of a phone when using said app. That is not the case with this one. When I am in this app it feels like I’m in a browser, I have to constantly zoom in on my screen to be able to accurately read and select the items I want, and constantly have to scroll back and forth up and down to find where I need to go. In addition it would be nice if I didn’t have to download separate apps for the different features of music first. There is a lot of potential here, but this is clearly in the early stages of app development. I look forward to their updates.

This app has major problems. I used it for All-Region, and it has crashed consistently upon attempts to record, requiring a relaunch of the app. On one occasion it just froze and deleted my finished recording.

In addition, it has major mic problems. I cannot adjust gain with this app even though my mic has a physical gain switch, and it creates random popping noises in addition to cutting off or distorting my sound. I tried my computer, my iPhone 11, two different external mics (AT2100X and a Blue Yeti), and both work fine with other software, but not this app.

This app has potential to be great software, website included. It could be a huge advancement for music education, and I appreciate what they’re trying to do. However, in its current state, I cannot recommend this app in any manner for any online music education or recordings at the moment.