Notelings is a new website devoted to helping learners of all ages practice and master their music reading and theory skills.
Background
When you dive into web design and development, you quickly learn two things: there are a million different skills to pick up, and they all draw on many of the same skill sets. So it was only natural that learning to code would lead me back to one of my other digital interests: playing and designing video games.
For some time, I’ve wanted to build a project that combines video games and music learning. The market for online music tools is vast and crowded, but I’ve always felt something was missing. Most tools either teach a concept once without giving you a reason to come back and practice it, or they lock their best features behind an expensive subscription. Many feature-rich programs also fall short of what musicians actually need to be practicing.
Who is it For?
I designed Notelings for anyone currently studying music. It isn’t meant to replace lessons so much as to help you build consistency in your practice. That said, there are tools and tips along the way if you need a refresher or are jumping into something you haven’t covered in a lesson yet. The people who will likely benefit most are those learning to read music and building their understanding of basic theory.
Games take just a few minutes, so they fit easily into a practice routine on desktop or phone, and you earn achievement badges and unlocks as you progress. Think Duolingo, but for music fundamentals.
As a side note, I tried Duolingo’s new music path. It tries to teach piano from a phone screen, which seems problematic in more ways than one. Notelings focuses on the reading and theory skills that actually translate to your instrument.
For Teachers
Teachers can already use Notelings as practice homework: assign a game or skill, and students can show you their progress and badges at their next lesson. A dedicated teacher-friendly interface is also in the works to make assigning and tracking practice even easier.
Features
Choose from five learning games:
Clef Quest: read and identify notes on the staff [LINK]
Key Sprint: master key signatures and the circle of fifths [LINK]
Timekeeper: tap along to rhythm patterns and sharpen your timing [LINK]
Interval Leap: spell intervals by placing them on the staff [LINK]
Ear Detective: identify rising and descending intervals by ear [LINK]
Just as important, there are zero ads on Notelings, and you don’t even need an account to start playing. Your progress is saved in your browser, and most of the content is completely free.
Premium is a one-time $10 purchase that syncs your progress across devices and unlocks the hardest challenges. It also gets you access to all future free and premium content for as long as Notelings exists. I figured the world didn’t need yet another subscription service.
The Arcade
A recent addition is The Arcade. These games are more, well, game-like, and they offer a more casual way to practice musical skills. The debut game is Staff Runner, which turns the musical staff into an obstacle course. More are on the way, so stay tuned!
Why I’m Sharing This Here
New Classical Design is aimed at my fellow musicians, many of whom teach privately. While I’d love for you all to consider updating your website, at the very least I can provide resources you can share with your students.
I also want to hear from you! What tools or games would make your job easier? Leave a comment below and let me know.
Try Notelings free at notelings.app. No account required.
Happy practicing!
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