Drumming Apps

[deseipel]

HOD;

I'm toying with an idea for a drumming app. The idea is that there are tons of stuff out there that tells you what to practice, but nothing that helps you actively track how well you're doing against your own goals. My idea for an app would be one that let's you define what what you want to practice and then sets a benchmark (bpm & date) to that exercise. This way, it keeps you honest about your own practice habits and shows you your progress. That's the general idea. Thoughts? And does something like this exist already?

[Gaddabout]

Consider checking out MyFitnessPal. It's an amazing app for dieting that I think would be a very good model for you what you want. It includes a writable database that allows you to add your own food items. That's exactly what you'd need for your product so people could include their own workouts. What I like about this is if someone's already added what I'm looking for, it's also available in my database. So, for example, if someone already entered P. 15 or Solo #2 of Advanced Funk in your database, it would be available to all of your customers.

That app provides all kinds of metrics -- fitness, dietary, nutritional, even expected weight loss. You should consider what kind of metrics you want to provide first before moving forward.

[deseipel]

thanks.

the only metrics that I can imagine are

baseline maximum bpm for the exercise (paradiddle for example) vs current max bpm
some sort of percentage to show how far along you are to completing your goals

I hadn't really considered a 'shared database' because it would require me to setup some sort of database on the web, and I'd rather not do that. Plus, I'd rather offer expansion packs (that's complicated though).

[deseipel]

I've since changed my mind about this and it will be a combination of things: static data, such as rudiments will be central, while user specific data will be separate.

[Josiah]

It's a good idea, but basically it'd be a digital notebook. Everyone works out of different books, texts, etc... I keep a little journal but it's cryptic to what I understand.
I have students keep track of their stuff in Tempo with the setlist system. They can name the "setlist" after the book, and the "songs" for the exercises, saving as they go, keeps a great easy to use tool.

IMO though you just can't beat paper and pencil. Particularly when it comes to music text. More importantly, taking notes ON the pages you are working on out of the text. Technology is great. But it's useless if you aren't already doing what's necessary. If you aren't going to practice, you aren't going to practice. A nifty iPhone app won't be able to uphold the necessary interest level for longer enough to make a difference.

[deseipel]

thanks for your opinion, but you realize you can make the same argument for pen & paper, right? Or the same argument about any app or any tool? Useless unless used. That's a moot argument.

And the benefit of this app is that it forces you to set goals and then it will essentially provide constant metrics on your progress, pen & paper cant do that (among other countless things that pen & paper can't do, that this app will do).