There’s An App For That: OnSong
Over the past few weeks I have been sharing some of my favorite iPad music apps for supporting hand-eye coordination, creativity, relaxation, communication, and attention to task in music therapy. Now you may be thinking, “Wow, pretty cool. Supporting therapeutic goals using technology is great, but what about me? How can the iPad support all the things I do as a music therapist?” My response, “I’m so glad you asked!” :) The iPad has proven to be an incredible tool for supporting my client’s therapeutic goals but it has also been a great resource for dozens of tasks that I do as a music therapist and business owner. So, this week’s recommendations will focus on three apps for compiling, storing, editing, reading and sharing music. First up, OnSong.
OnSong
Cost: $4.99
Read the Review: iTunes Review
Description: As a rule, I try not to spend more than a couple bucks (if any!) on apps, but I promise, this one is worth the five buckaroos. OnSong is THE must-have app for creating, organizing and editing chord sheets. Simply choose the source you want to import the song from (ie: internet, Dropbox, MobileMe, iTunes) then type in the song title and click import. Watch as the lyrics and chords appear on your screen. Need to make some changes to the lyrics or chords? No problem! Choose from an array of options to edit lyrics, lyrics size/color/font and chord size/color/font. You can even transpose or create repeats/codas with a flick of your finger. Once the song is edited to your liking share it via Dropbox, MobileMe or email. Want to see OnSong in action? Check out my demo below!
Demo Video:
Welcome to the GG Blog!
Not to mention the organizing and business aspects that technology brings! Like google calendar, etc. How do you discover all these great apps?
Great point Laura! It is easy-peasy to sync your google accounts with mail on the iPad. :) Typically, I find all my apps by reading reviews on the app store and following the app store on Twitter. That keeps me up to date on all the ‘new’ stuff that is out there. I also read the app reviews of MacWorld and Computerworld online.
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Thanks for linking my post JoAnn! =)
This is an amazing app! I have had this since I purchased my iPad in March and I have nothing but great things to say about it. It definitely made my life so much easier!
Thanks for sharing Ashley! I agree. I love it’s convenience and my muscles love schlepping one iPad versus a bunch of fake books! =)
The transposition component is awesome. Gonna play around with this one tonight!
I know! It is one of my favorite features along with the editing tools for the actual chords/lyrics. Such a time saver! =)
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Hi! I just got an iPad recently and am trying to find all the good MT apps, so I really appreciate your tips. I have a couple of questions, though. If I scan hard copy lead sheets and chord charts, would I save as a PDF or as a jpg? Would the transposing and other features still work on a song that I import from a hard copy like that? If you are playing a song and need to scroll down or to the next page, do you have to do that with your finger or is this app compatible with something like the Air Turn pedal?
Also, when you download an app for your business, how do you obtain a receipt for your tax records? I haven’t yet paid for any apps because I don’t know how to get a receipt. Thank you!
Hi Elizabeth! Thank you for stopping at the Groovy Garfoose and sharing such GREAT questions! OnSong works BEST with Word docs, but it IS compatible with PDF’s, jpegs, Tiffs and the like. However, it is limited in it’s ability to convert the files for editing purposes. It will not convert scores, handwritten chord charts or tab. I have written tons of songs in a lead sheet format on my computer, scanned them into my Dropbox app and imported them into OnSong for transposing/editing. OnSong is compatible with Air Turn…although I can’t speak to it’s usability as I have never tried it. As for receipts, start purchasing my friend! Whatever email you have set-up for your iTunes account is where your app receipts will be sent, just like when you purchase songs on iTunes. Hope this is helpful! =)
Can you still use OnSong to view songs you’ve scanned in from hard copies or scores, but just not edit or transpose them? Our songbooks are several hundred pages and I don’t necessarily need to be able to edit most of them, just view them on the iPad.
One note on the iTunes receipts – it usually takes a few days for mine to show up in my inbox. I’m not sure why it isn’t as fast as other websites like Amazon, but the receipt will eventually arrive!
Yes, you can view hard copies/PDF’s/JPG’s etc in OnSong, Emily…just as you would if you uploaded songs using dropbox. You just cannot edit those types of files in OnSong.
Thank you also for clarifying on the receipts. You are right. It does take a few days for iTunes purchases to come through. This goes for music and for apps alike.
I just purchased on song and my new IPad this week. I hear that onsong converts word docs, but I’m not learning HOW to do it. Any tips or websites to refer me to? Thank you!
Hi Esther! Sorry it took a bit to get back to you, but I think you will find this link helpful in creating chord charts in word and then importing into OnSong. http://www.onsongapp.com/interface/viewer/filetypes/ Basically you need to put the chord in brackets like this: [D#] or {D#} in order to be able to customize the song later in OnSong. Hope this is helpful! =)
Have you also tried SongSheet? (Disclaimer – I am a developer of the app). http://bit.ly/TtSVoY or http://www.songsheetapp.com
It has easy editing of chord sheets (in a WYSIWYG environment, no inputting chords in [] or clumsy chord pickers!), set list management, etc. Also, we’ve built in the ability to automatic program verse changes which is handy if you are using a backing track, and even more handy if you are showing the lyrics on an external display!
It doesn’t yet do everything that OnSong does (e.g. band follow mode), but we are working on improving it all the time and would love feedback from the community on what is most important to them to see in it next!
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I am going to buy an iPad Pro for my son who is graduating as a music therapy student. Do you think the larger 12in screen would be more useful with Onsong? The smaller 9in version may be easier to carry around so I am just wondering. Do you feel that cellular option is important or is wifi usually good enough?
Hi Tammi! Congrats to your son on graduating! The larger the screen the better with OnSong. :) Good luck to him in internship!