Note Reading App

Learn to Read Music with Note Rush

Note Rush boosts your note reading speed and accuracy, building a strong mental model of where each written note is on your instrument. Now even better with Note Rush: 2nd Edition! What’s New in 2nd Edition?

hero-img

What makes Note Rush different?

Play On Your Instrument

Note reading is best learnt in the context of how you play each note - on your acoustic or MIDI instrument.

Designed for Teachers

...and not as a replacement for them! Create fully customizable note sets and easily send them home to students.

Fun Themes

Engage with fun themes that don't get in the way of learning, or opt for traditional notation.

feature-image-shape feature-image feature-image-shape

How it Works

Note Rush is like a virtual flash card deck for all ages that listens to you play each note, giving instant feedback and awarding stars based on speed and accuracy.

Race against the clock to improve your performance or hide the timer to gently engage those just starting out with the staff.

Includes built-in levels for piano and a range of other instruments as well as custom level design.

Landmarks: The best way to learn your notes

Note Rush fits with all teaching methods, whether you favor a purely intervallic approach or use traditional mnemonics! We promote learning key landmark notes then reading adjacent notes intervallically for the best results in learning to read piano notation.

Note Rush features a unique landmarks-based hints system (optional) that highlights nearby landmark notes to read intervallically from. Over time students naturally move from reliance on landmarks to a more intrinsic staff-to-keyboard association.

feature-image-shape feature-image feature-image-shape
feature-image-shape feature-image feature-image-shape

Preset and Custom Levels

Use preset note ranges or create your own set of levels to suit your teaching style. Create a personalized level to target a particular student’s needs.

  • Individual Note Selections

  • Sharps and Flats

  • Treble, Bass or Grand Staff (alto and tenor coming soon)

  • Up to Six Ledger Lines

  • Send using App Links or QR Codes

Screenshots

slider-frame

Frequently asked questions

Yes! Note Rush automatically adjusts to whatever tuning your instrument uses by listening to the precise pitch of the first note played every game, and auto-transposing accordingly.

This means it will automatically calibrate to instruments that are off concert pitch by a few semitones, or a whole octave transposed as is the case with guitar.

As long as it is more or less in tune with itself, Note Rush should be able to automatically adapt to it. It does this by listening to the precise pitch of the first note played every game, and auto-transposing accordingly.

Note Rush is designed to work with a wide variety of instruments, but may not work in all cases. Instruments that are pitched within an octave or so of concert-pitch and that have a clear tone should generally work.

Note Rush has been tested with and has built-in levels for the following instruments:

  • Piano + Keyboard
  • Guitar
  • Violin
  • Flute
  • Trombone
  • (more coming soon!)

If your instrument isn’t listed above, you can still make custom levels yourself with appropriate note selections for your instrument.

Check the Support page for suggestions on improving note detection.

Yes! Note Rush now supports MIDI instruments on both iOS and Android! A wired connection is currently required but Bluetooth MIDI support should be coming soon.

To connect your MIDI-enabled keyboard you will need the right adapters and cables to suit your devices. Modern keyboards typically have a USB HOST (square USB-B) connector which allows a USB AB cable to be plugged in, the same cable often used with printers. This is generally more reliable than the classic circular MIDI IN/OUT connectors, which require a separate USB-MIDI adapter.

For Android devices, you will also need an OTG (‘On The Go’) cable for whatever kind of data/charging port your device has (typically USB-C or micro-USB) which then allows connection of the USB-A end of whichever cable you are connecting to your keyboard with (per above).

For iPhone/iPad, you will similarly need a lightning-to-USB (or USB-C to USB) adapter. Apple call these ‘Camera Connection Kits’ and I recommend using a genuine Apple adapter for best results.

Stars are earned based on your average time per note (including any penalty time). To earn:

  • 1 Star: Complete the level in any time.
  • 2 Stars: 3.5s per note or better.
  • 3 Stars: 2.5s per note or better.
  • 4 Stars: 1.5s per note or better.
  • 5 Stars: 1s per note or better.

Earn 1-3 stars and they will be shown out of a possible three. The 4th and 5th stars are considered bonus extension stars so are shown only if earned.

Note that this setup means you get 3 stars for completing Piano-Classic Level 3 (Whole Staff) in one minute or less, which many piano teachers use as the requirement for entering the ‘One Minute Club’.

Recent Posts

See all posts

Teachers Love Note Rush

Real reviews from real music teachers.

Note Rush has quickly become my favorite app for piano teaching. ... Tell your students to buy this app instead of a box of flashcards.

Joy Morin

colorinmypiano.com

Note Rush is a motivating app that engages students to improve quickly with their note reading skills. It is definitely one of my top favorites and will be used often!

Jennifer Foxx

musiceducatorresources.com

Note Rush is a great way to review notes for the One Minute Club.

Susan Paradis

susanparadis.com

A blockbuster hit with teachers and students... I especially like using it at group lessons.

Leila Viss

88pianokeys.me