In August 2019, I introduced you to two of my favorite high-quality music theory apps for the iPad.
One of those, Waay, has added two new courses.
In this post, I’ll share a little about the new courses and introduce you to the updated music lab tracking sheet in the Piano Pantry shop designed to accompany the app.
About the Waay App
Waay is an app available on iOS that teaches music theory via four courses:
- Melodies
- Chords
- [Chord] Progressions I *NEW*
- [Chord] Progressions II *NEW*
The initial app fee is $5.99 and includes the first two courses. Progressions I and II are bundled as an in-app purchase for $4.99.
Each course is comprised of short videos and interactive practice exercises. The app specifically states that it intends to teach “songwriting.”
While the app states that it is great for beginners, the videos and concepts move quickly. In my opinion, this app is best suited for late intermediate / early advanced high school students.
(My impression is that the app is developed with the amateur adult musician in mind who is a beginner to music theory/songwriting concepts. It’s not geared toward school-age beginner music students.)
Students will do best if they’re already familiar with the concepts presented in the app. The courses build on each other and progress in difficulty. Students assigned to the first course should already be familiar with major and minor scale patterns in all keys.
The final two “progressions” courses are focused on teaching students how to use “tricks” to identify chords that fit together and identify the keys those progressions may be coming from. These are fairly challenging courses. Students assigned these courses should already understand chords built on scales degrees in all the major and minor keys.
Updates to the Music Lab Tracking Sheet
This is an app I use during my music lab time with my more advanced students (as stated above). Unfortunately, like many apps, it does not allow students to log in to track progress, so I have students use a tracking sheet.
I’ve updated the original tracking sheet that was published back in August 2019 when it only had two courses: Melodies, and Chords. Please note that if you purchased this lab sheet prior to 1/20/2021, you have already been emailed an updated version.
This new sheet now includes the two new courses (Progressions I and II) and is four pages long rather than two (one page per course). I’ve also improved the student directions and tweaked the details listed under “what’s covered.”
Rather than simply listing the description in the app, there are more specific descriptions and example questions from the exercises to help teachers better understand precisely what’s covered in that section.
Using a tracking sheet is also helpful because each course can take anywhere from 30-60 minutes to complete, depending on how many times they repeat exercises for practice.
Having students checkmark which parts of the course they have completed will help track where they are in the course so they can pick up where they left off the following week.
Add it to your cart now.
Music Labs Made Easy eBook
Curious for more details on how I run my music labs? Get this 15-page eBook that is chock full of all kinds of “pro tips.”
We’ll talk about scheduling, set-up, and organizing labs. Laid out in an easy-to-read format, this book will answer all your questions regarding music lab time!
I did enjoy this post as I enjoy all your posts…..very helpful.
I was wondering if you have any great suggestions on encouraging students to compose their own songs without taking over the composition so it stays as something the student writes rather than the teacher? After we complete all scales major sharp and flat and minor sharp and flat I generally ask what is your favorite scale and ask them to compose a song in that key using the various forms we have learned in the scale…………any further suggestions?
Thanks for entering Frances, and for your comment! In regards to your question, first of all, yea for composing – I’m so happy to hear this is something you incorporate with your students! The first thing that comes to mind is to get them composing much earlier. For example, after they’ve learned their first five finger scale, have them create a 4 or 8-measure melody including a 2-4 measure question and 2-4 measure answer. They may even take shorter songs they learn in the early days and use inspiration from that piece to create their own composition. Creating a full composition may seem overwhelming if it’s something they have not done yet. Wynn Anne-Rossi has a great series called Composition Toolbox that gets them composing short pieces using one composition “tool” per piece. You may check out that series. Good luck!
Thank you for the free pdf because of my previous purchase, Amy. I agree with you that WAAY is for late intermediate to early advanced students. I enjoy your posts!
I like using the metronome app Tempo.
And thank you again for the myriad of information you’ve shared with us!
I have a lot of students inching their way up to the info in the Waay app. I already own the first part and it’s really well done. My favorite app in the studio is Note Rush
I’m glad to know about this app! It will be a great addition to my studio when my music lab opens again.
I’m not familiar with this app but will definitely be checking it out for one of my students at the level you recommended. Thank you for the opportunity to possibly win free additions to it.
I am not familiar with this app so I appreciate your introducing it here. I use Note Rush a lot for my students. They also live The Amazing Sheep!
Thx for the wonderful information again Amy 🙂 Really helpful !!
Hi, Amy! Your blog is a gold mine! Thanks so much for everything you put into it!
Can you help me find something that I should have bookmarked and didnt? It was a link for erasable highlighters, available on Amazon. There were also other excellent “tools” mentioned that I was interested in. Thanks so much.
Hey, Jan! I think I’ve shared those multiple times so it could be one of several posts however, this is the first one that comes to mind: https://pianopantry.com/my-top-6-buy-it-again-office-products-from-amazon/ Is that the post you were talking about?