# Read Ahead Piano Sight Reading — user reviews > 39 indexed App Store user reviews of Read Ahead Piano Sight Reading by Anacrusis LLC, rated 4.13/5 from 15 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-ahead-piano-sight-reading/id806292431/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-ahead-piano-sight-reading/id806292431.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 9 · 4★ 1 · 3★ 3 · 2★ 2 · 1★ 0 ## Newest reviews (12 of 39) ### 4/5 — Just needs a bit more polish *2023-05-18* Wishlist: *ability to choose a 2 bar read ahead length *ability to turn pages with a single tap instead of a swipe *eliminate flicker on graphics changes *contemporary examples *open score exercises (open score SATB or similar) ### 3/5 — Metronome doesn’t work *2022-05-09, version 6.0* I can’t hear the metronome in my iPad. Can this be fixed? ### 3/5 — Doesn’t assess performance *2021-01-19, version 5.1.7* The app is a brilliant idea - however it didn’t assess how well I performed the tasks set. I thought with the tech of today it would have heard my efforts and graded it in some way.... ### 3/5 — Some functions don’t work *2020-12-08, version 5.1.7* Hard to judge from a couple of weeks use (starting from prelim), but the pace of the lowest levels seems too fast. Would have liked more exercises. These levels are 5-finger jobs: if you haven’t spent a lot of time with 5-finger exercises (for young kids, mostly) or you’re used to reading note-names/values rather than the intervals within the 5-finger span you’ll have to try to start over. The introduction of two staves w/ two ‘voices’ playing independently is sort of early and sudden in Level 1. Feel like I could have used more practice reading ahead before having to check intervals on two staves even at the ‘easy’ tempo. I knocked off one star because, on my iPad Pro, none of the ‘Tapping’ exercises works reliably. There’s a blunt knocking sound but the tap hardly ever registers no matter how often I try. Contacted the developers but no response/acknowledgement. ### 4/5 — Great app for improving sight reading *2020-06-05, version 5.1.6* Well thought through approach for learning sight reading, finding it very useful so far. ### 3/5 — June 1 2020 release has problems *2020-06-02, version 5.1.5* After updating as required at the end of the open access period, I find the that timing and navigation are off. For example, it seems that there is a fixed time to finish a song and then the app goes to the next page. Sometimes an activities (songs) cannot be finished unless the fastest metronome setting is used so that it can be completed in the time given. Hopefully this can be fixed in a quick bug fix release. I’m sure this is not the intended behavior. ### 3/5 — Not bad, but buggy and limited *2020-06-02* It’s ok, but full of bugs. **Developer response:** Sorry about the new bugs. An update has been submitted to the App Store. ### 3/5 — Great concept, app can be buggy *2020-06-01, version 5.1.5* Love this app. Since updating and purchasing level 1, it randomly cuts back to the intro page “let’s go” and sometimes the activities are invisible. Currently impossible to use, hopefully will be fixed ### 3/5 — Great, but buggy *2019-12-14* Love the concept and design of this and would definitely like to use it with my students, but have noticed some issues that will make it difficult, like lag or inconsistency in the way the disappearing measures advance, particularly across page turns and repeats. Occasionally have had whole pages of music disappear then reappear as the counter advances. Also had the metronome get stuck on the tempo setting page, then when I advanced to the sight reading page, there was a second metronome for that, causing two unsynchronized clicks. If these bugs can be sorted, this would be a really awesome teaching tool! ### 4/5 — Latest update is much improved *2019-07-30, version 5.1.1* Third review! The latest update of Read Ahead makes it far better. The layout issues are all but gone and it is far more usable. There is still a glitch with sound that means for me I can hear the metronome through headphones but not the iPad speaker. I have worked around this by using a Bluetooth speaker and that solves the problem. I love the disappearing music that forces you to read ahead, my biggest weakness in sight reading. Many thanks to Travis for engaging with me and making some significant improvements. Keep at it, it’s a really good idea and a much improved app. ### 3/5 — Great concept but still plenty of bugs *2019-02-28, version 4.2.4* The app functions well enough through its basic UI, but it needs a whole heap more work really. ### 3/5 — Is it the app or my iPad 2? *2017-01-03* The app looks like it would be great, but it keeps crashing and getting hung up and is very slow to load pages. Is the app "buggy" or is it just not particularly functional on an old iPad2? I'd buy a new iPad if I were convinced the app would work. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Instructions please *2024-12-08, version 6.0* Very poor instructions for someone new to all this! ### 1/5 — Please update *2019-04-20* The app in not working anymore☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️ I paid for it.. it just hangs and not playable.. I used newer and older iPad with same result... **Developer response:** We did! ### 1/5 — Doesn't work *2016-09-18* Doesn't work as splash screen stays on for over 2 minutes. Please fix. ### 2/5 — Can’t buy new levels *2024-10-20, version 6.0* Great idea but only 2 stars. I really enjoyed playing through the first 2 days and tried to buy level 1. After being told that my purchase was successful I can’t see the rest of the level. Is this a glitch or daylight robbery? ### 2/5 — Great idea, awful implementation *2023-03-24, version 6.0* Exercises disappear maybe a third of the time, have to kill and restart several times to get them back. Unable to reset progress and start a section again, have to keep bouncing back to the pick a day screen. Shame, it seems like a great way to improve sight reading but basically unusable. ### 2/5 — Idea may be good but app not working *2022-12-31* I click to turn on the metronome and .. nothing, total silence (the intro video played just fine). That kind of blows the whole thing… This is on an iPad. **Developer response:** If you swipe down from the upper right corner of the screen to get to the control panel, you will see the bell icon. It is probably red, which means the audio is muted. Tap this and you should be good to go. For some reason, the video bypasses this. ### 2/5 — Nice concept, incomplete implementation *2022-09-30* The basic idea of Read Ahead is pedagogically good, forcing you to read ahead & develop confidence in hands & keys. But the app could well include feedback on playing accuracy to be more helpful. I have a MIDI keyboard connected and it is entirely feasible for the app to at least tell wrong notes (other apps do) and perhaps even timing. I don’t think meaningful enhancements like this are being done on it any more. EDIT: (to developer response) Thanks for the response. “Learn to hear your own wrong notes” sounds good. But the app (a) won’t record and playback MIDI which is what my piano feeds my iPad, and (b) won’t play the original correct score either. Or did I miss these functions? Hoping to be constructive & that you find some ideas for improvement! **Developer response:** I'm glad you approve of the pedagogy since this is the single most important aspect of the app. Good pedagogy includes learning to hear your own wrong notes rather than relying on a machine to point them out to you. That’s why we added the recording feature. Everyone makes mistakes when sight-reading, and no one should be graded or scored on these normal inaccuracies. On the contrary, the ability to keep going, simplify, and improvise when sight-reading should be encouraged and rewarded. ### 2/5 — Buggy since patch 5.1.3 *2020-03-28, version 5.1.3* App was working great for me on iPad Air. Since patch 5.1.3 where they made the levels free, there has been lots of formatting issues which results me not being able to start some levels at all. Please fix! ### 2/5 — Good idea but really expensive for levels beyond the basic *2017-03-08* The app includes some basic exercises for free but to get material with any depth you have to pay a lot of money ($4 US per exercise). Why not offer an upfront price to unlock all levels? ### 2/5 — Still a good idea; still crippled by bugs *2015-12-12* I've been a fan of the Read Head concept since the earlier versions of the app. Unfortunately, the app is virtually worthless due to crashing and the resulting inability to progress through the program due to subsequent levels and exercises being completely locked down. In the current version, I'm unable to get past level one because the app always crashes in the middle of the final read ahead activity. Apart from the bugs itself, this is the major issue I have with the app: everything past level 1 being locked (I assume until you complete level 1 in its entirety, but seeing as I haven't been able to I can't say for sure...). This makes no sense, for several reasons. While not a real fix, making all levels and exercises available would have left a work-around for any bugs - if a particular exercise crashes repeatedly, you can just move on to the next one. Also, this would allow you to choose the level to start your training based on your personal skill and experience. For example, I have a master's degree in piano so level one is not challenging enough; however, while I am very technically proficient, I was never actually taught sight reading and struggle immensely with reading accompaniments and standard repertoire pieces at sight (especially fast ones), so would probably slot in around level 3 or 4. I'd say perhaps there should even be some sort of initial "placement exam" you're given, but at this point I'd much rather the app actually work than see new features or more unnecessary tinkering with the interface/graphics. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Excellent learning tool. *2025-01-22* It's definitely geared toward someone who takes learning music seriously. And as an added bonus, you don't have to pay a continual indentured subscription fee to use it - like 99% of the apps on the App Store. ### 5/5 — Excellent resource for private and group instruction *2021-02-07* This app helps develop one of the most important aspects of sight reading, and does so through engaging and well-selected repertoire. I have used the app in group piano settings and student response has been very positive. I will certainly continue to include it in my teaching, and highly recommend it to anyone trying to develop or improve sight reading skills efficiently. ### 5/5 — Just so useful *2020-06-06* I had been looking for a long time a way to prevent myself from going back to double check notes while attempting to sight read. This app does the trick for me. I love it! ### 5/5 — Quietly amazing app. *2020-05-06* This app might not look as fancy as many of the other ones on the app store right now, but after downloading ten different sight reading apps and trying them all over the past week, this one is easily my favorite. You can tell this app was made by people actually trying to help others learn music. It's extrmely methodical, and its main "gimmick," erasing the measure you're currently supposed to be playing, is genius, and *forces* you to sight read ahead of where you're playing, whether you want to or not! Fantastic learning tool. My sight reading is improving significantly already. My thanks to the authors. The whole app is currently free until June because of Covid-19, but I'll still be purchasing to support such a helpful learning tool. Being able to sight read is a priceless gift to me! **Developer response:** We are so glad you are finding Read Ahead Useful. We really chose to focus our limited resources on content and pedagogy over gimmicky features and distracting graphics so it is great to hear that it is appreciated! ### 5/5 — Great app but as of now with severe bug on 10.5” iPads (as of 2019-06-17) *2019-06-18, version 5.0* This is a great app but currently on the 10.5” iPads (current air and past pro models) the buttons on most “read ahead” exercises are cut off at the bottom of the screen. In this way you can’t actually get to the most important parts of this app. I reached out to the developers and was told that they are working on an update to address this issue. Fingers crossed this can be resolved soon. I had used this app on an iPad Mini before and think it is a fantastic use of the iPad for sight reading. ### 5/5 — My piano students love this sight reading app *2017-04-06* Great app for developing sightreading skills. It's so well-sequenced and pedagogical sound. I am a piano teacher and I have tried many sightreading app and books. This is by far the best. What I like most is the "disappearing effect of the music" to encourage students read ahead. ### 5/5 — Price Clarification *2017-03-29* Each in-app purchase unlocks the full 10 day section, not just the single locked day. ### 5/5 — Amazing *2017-01-02, version 4.2* Absolutely brilliant ### 5/5 — Pitched perfectly..... *2016-08-07, version 3.0* ...for those at the start of their piano studies or for those returning after a few years out. I love the different kinds of exercises that help develop the techniques that will lead to accomplished sight-reading. I really do hope you create further levels as I'm fast running out of exercises! ### 5/5 — Best Sight Reading App *2016-06-12, version 3.0* Having searched for many sight-reading apps, this is by far the best one I have found. The options to change tempos and difficulty levels ensure that I am constantly being challenged. It's having a really positive effect on my sight-reading. A brilliant app! Yemi --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*