Accessibility Features
Crescendo Piano is designed to be accessible to users with different visual, motor, and cognitive needs. Here's what's available and how to use it.
Quick Reference
High Contrast Theme
WCAG AAA compliant (21:1 contrast)
Zoom & Magnification
50% to 200% with pinch gesture
Touch Targets
48x48dp minimum (WCAG AA)
Haptic Feedback
Vibration for wrong notes
Screen Reader Navigation
VoiceOver & TalkBack for UI
Dynamic Text Scaling
Respects system font size
High Contrast Theme
Maximum visual clarity for users with low vision
What High Contrast Provides
- Pure black background (#000000) with pure white text (#FFFFFF)
- 21:1 contrast ratio — exceeds WCAG AAA standard (requires 7:1)
- Bright yellow accents (#FFEB3B) for cursor and highlights
- Thicker borders (2px instead of 1px) for better definition
- White notes on black staff — sheet music inverted for visibility
How to Enable
- 1 Open Settings (gear icon in navigation)
- 2 Tap Appearance
- 3 Select High Contrast
Tip: High Contrast applies to both the app interface and sheet music display. You don't need to configure them separately.
For more theme options, see Theme Options.
Screen Reader Support
Navigate the app with VoiceOver or TalkBack
Important: All buttons, menus, and controls are labeled for screen readers. Theme changes are announced automatically. Sheet music notation itself is visual by nature, but you can practice using MIDI keyboard input with audio feedback (see Audio Feedback below).
Essential VoiceOver Gestures
| Gesture | Action |
|---|---|
| Swipe right | Move to next element |
| Swipe left | Move to previous element |
| Double-tap | Activate selected element |
| Two-finger swipe up | Read all from top |
| Three-finger swipe | Scroll page |
Navigating Crescendo with VoiceOver
-
1
Opening a piece
Swipe right to navigate through your library. VoiceOver announces piece titles and composers. Double-tap to open.
-
2
Starting practice
Swipe to the "Practice" button and double-tap. VoiceOver announces "Practice mode started."
-
3
Adjusting settings
Swipe to Settings. All options (Theme, Hand Mode, Zoom) are labeled and announce their current values.
Essential TalkBack Gestures
| Gesture | Action |
|---|---|
| Swipe right | Move to next element |
| Swipe left | Move to previous element |
| Double-tap | Activate selected element |
| Drag one finger | Explore by touch |
| Two-finger swipe | Scroll page |
Navigating Crescendo with TalkBack
-
1
Opening a piece
Swipe right to navigate through your library. TalkBack announces piece titles and composers. Double-tap to open.
-
2
Starting practice
Swipe to the "Practice" button and double-tap. TalkBack announces "Practice mode started."
-
3
Adjusting settings
Swipe to Settings. All options (Theme, Hand Mode, Zoom) are labeled and announce their current values.
Haptic Feedback During Practice
Feel when you play a wrong note
When you play notes on your MIDI keyboard, Crescendo provides haptic feedback (vibration) to help you know when something is wrong without needing to look at the screen.
What You'll Feel
Correct Note
No vibration. The cursor advances to the next note automatically.
Incorrect Note
A strong vibration (heavy impact) alerts you to the error. The cursor waits for the correct note.
Note: Haptic feedback requires your device to support vibration. Most phones and tablets do, but some older devices may not.
For MIDI setup, see Connecting Your MIDI Keyboard.
Zoom & Magnification
Enlarge sheet music for easier reading
Zoom Range
| Level | Best For |
|---|---|
| 50% | Overview of entire piece |
| 100% | Default comfortable reading |
| 150% | Low vision accessibility |
| 200% | Maximum magnification |
How to Zoom
- Pinch gesture — Spread two fingers apart to zoom in, pinch together to zoom out
- Tap percentage — Tap the zoom percentage display to reset to 100%
Recommendation: For low vision users, combine 150-200% zoom with High Contrast theme for maximum readability.
For more zoom strategies, see Zoom & Navigation.
Touch Targets & Motor Accessibility
Designed for users with limited dexterity
All interactive elements in Crescendo meet or exceed accessibility standards for touch target size.
Touch Target Standards
- 48x48dp minimum — All buttons and interactive elements
- WCAG AA compliant — Meets accessibility guidelines
- Adequate spacing — Buttons are spaced to prevent accidental taps
The fingering toolbar uses large 48x48dp buttons specifically designed for repeated tapping during fingering entry.
Dynamic Text Scaling
Respects your system font size preferences
Crescendo automatically respects your device's font size settings. If you've increased text size in your device settings, the app's interface text will scale accordingly.
Enable Larger Text on iOS
- 1. Open Settings on your iPhone/iPad
- 2. Go to Accessibility → Display & Text Size
- 3. Tap Larger Text
- 4. Drag the slider to your preferred size
Enable Larger Text on Android
- 1. Open Settings on your device
- 2. Go to Accessibility → Font size (or Display size)
- 3. Drag the slider to increase text size
Note: Sheet music notation size is controlled separately using the in-app zoom feature (50%-200%), not by system font settings.
Who Benefits from These Features
Low Vision Users
High Contrast theme + 150-200% zoom + haptic feedback provides an accessible practice experience.
Users with Photophobia
Dark theme or Sepia reduces light emission. High Contrast inverts for those who prefer dark backgrounds.
Users with Limited Dexterity
Large touch targets (48x48dp) and adequate button spacing reduce missed taps.
Screen Reader Users
Full VoiceOver/TalkBack navigation for menus, library, and settings. Haptic feedback indicates wrong notes.
Troubleshooting
VoiceOver/TalkBack doesn't announce an element
Some visual elements (like decorative icons) are intentionally excluded from screen reader announcements to reduce noise. If you find a button or control that should be labeled but isn't, please contact support so we can fix it.
High Contrast causes eye strain
Pure black and white at 21:1 contrast can cause visual fatigue for some users, especially those with astigmatism (affects ~50% of people). White text may appear to "blur" against dark backgrounds (halation effect).
Try: Dark theme (softer contrast) or Sepia theme (warm tones, less blue light).
Zoom resets after reopening the app
Zoom level is saved globally across all pieces and persists between app sessions. If your zoom is resetting, try:
- Ensure you're not force-quitting the app (which may interrupt saving)
- Check that your device has sufficient storage space
Haptic feedback isn't working
Check the following:
- Your device supports haptic feedback (most modern phones/tablets do)
- System haptics are enabled in your device settings
- You're in Practice mode (haptic feedback only triggers during active practice)
- You're actually playing a wrong note (haptic only triggers on errors)
Related Articles
Still Need Help?
If you have accessibility needs that aren't addressed here, please let us know.
Email: support@crescendopiano.app
Response time: 2-3 business days