Need to know a fingering for your instrument? There’s an app for that. Want the latest DCI scores? There’s an app for that too. Former band director Daniel Ferland has produced a number of iPhone applications to aid young musicians and fans of Drum Corps International (DCI).
The Music In Reach iPhone applications provide fingering charts, trill charts, a music dictionary, video practice guides and audio files of popular etudes specific to that instrument. Each instrument is sponsored by a professional musician who serves as a virtual instructor. Currently the app is available for flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet and trombone.
“I was a band director for eight years and am an assistant band director,” says Ferland, head of project development.
“I got into the technology field and when they released the ability for people to create their own apps, I just put two and two together and thought it might be a good opportunity to create more tools for music education.”
Also in this series of apps are Instruments In Reach, a fingering chart app, and Rhythm in Reach, an educational music game to help develop rhythm reading skills.
Ferland has also partnered with DCI and The Blue Devils to create their own apps. The DCI app will include a full schedule, real-time scores, the official DCI news feed and “Field Pass”—the DCI podcast. The Blue Devils app will work in conjunction with its Mediabox program, providing fans with video, audio and pictures dating back to the 1970’s. A schedule, scores and news from The Blue Devils, DCI and Drum Corps Planet will also be included. Users will be able to submit photos, videos and messages to the corps.
Currently all of these apps are available for iPhone only. The Music In Reach apps vary in price from $0.99 to $1.99. The DCI and Blue Devils apps are free.
