Theme Options
Choose the right visual theme for your practice environment. From bright rooms to evening sessions, accessibility needs to personal style—find the theme that works for you.
Quick Reference
Standard Themes
- Auto — Follows device setting
- Light — Bright environments
- Dark — Evening practice
- Sepia — Long sessions
- High Contrast — Accessibility
Access
- Location — Settings > Appearance
- Applies to — App + sheet music
- Persists — Across app restarts
Choosing the Right Theme
The right theme depends on your environment, practice duration, and personal needs. Here's a guide to help you decide.
| Situation | Recommended Theme | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bright room or daytime | Light | Matches ambient brightness, reduces contrast strain |
| Evening or dimly lit room | Dark | Less screen glare, easier on eyes in low light |
| Long practice sessions (1+ hour) | Sepia | Warm tones reduce eye fatigue over time |
| Vision difficulties or accessibility | High Contrast | Maximum readability, WCAG AAA compliant |
| Practice at different times of day | Auto | Auto-switches with your device settings |
| OLED device, battery concerns | Dark | Saves 30-47% battery on OLED/AMOLED screens |
Tip: Try all five themes during your first week. Many users discover preferences they didn't expect. What feels right for sightreading new pieces may differ from what works for polishing familiar ones.
Theme Details
Light
White background with black notes. The classic printed sheet music appearance.
Best for: Well-lit rooms, daytime practice, outdoor use, traditional appearance.
Cursor color: Magenta (visible against white staff)
Dark
Dark background with light interface. Reduces screen brightness for low-light environments.
Best for: Evening practice, dimly lit rooms, reducing eye strain, OLED battery savings.
Cursor color: Bright yellow (visible against dark background)
Sepia
Warm cream background with brown tones. Like reading from an antique book.
Best for: Long practice sessions, reduced blue light exposure, classic aesthetic.
Cursor color: Deep blue (contrasts with warm tones)
Note: Research shows warm colors have ~25% lower visual strain than pure white.
High Contrast
Pure black background with white text and notes. Maximum readability.
Best for: Low vision users, photosensitivity, maximum clarity, accessibility needs.
Cursor color: Bright yellow at 70% opacity
Accessibility: WCAG AAA compliant with contrast ratio of 7:1 or higher.
Auto
Automatically follows your device's light/dark mode setting.
Best for: Users who switch environments frequently, those who already have device schedules set.
Behavior: Switches between Light and Dark based on iOS/Android system setting.
What Changes With Each Theme
When you change themes, both the app interface and the sheet music display update together.
| Element | What Changes |
|---|---|
| App interface | Background, text colors, buttons, navigation |
| Sheet music background | White (Light), black (Dark), cream (Sepia), black (High Contrast) |
| Notes and staff lines | Black (Light), default (Dark), brown (Sepia), white (High Contrast) |
| Cursor | Color optimized for visibility in each theme |
| Fingering annotations | Colors match theme text for readability |
Accessibility Considerations
High Contrast Mode
High Contrast is designed specifically for users who need maximum visual clarity. It uses:
- Pure black and white — No gray tones that can blur together
- Thicker borders — 2px instead of 1px for better definition
- 7:1+ contrast ratio — Exceeds WCAG AAA standard
- Bright yellow accents — 21:1 contrast ratio for maximum visibility
Who Benefits
- Users with low vision or visual impairments
- Users with photophobia or light sensitivity
- Those experiencing migraines or eye strain
- Anyone practicing in high-glare environments
Screen Reader Compatibility
All themes work fully with VoiceOver (iOS) and TalkBack (Android). Theme changes are announced to screen reader users.
Note about astigmatism: If you have astigmatism (affects ~50% of people), you may find dark mode harder to read due to "halation"—white text can appear to blur against dark backgrounds. Try Sepia as an alternative that's easier on eyes without being as stark as Dark.
Secret Themes
Beyond the five standard themes, Crescendo includes 10 secret themes that unlock as you practice. These are discovered organically—no progress bars or hints. Just keep practicing, and you'll find them.
When you unlock a secret theme, a celebratory message appears. Once unlocked, the theme appears in a new "Secret Themes" gallery in Settings > Appearance, below the standard theme picker.
What We Can Tell You
- Each secret theme has a unique color palette and aesthetic
- Themes unlock based on your practice habits and achievements
- Some themes are seasonal or time-based
- There's at least one hidden easter egg theme
- Your unlocked themes persist across app updates
Discovered Themes
The secret themes gallery shows how many you've discovered out of 10. Here are some hints about what you might find:
80s vibes
Minimalist
Cyberpunk
Jazz club
Northern lights
Concert hall
Deep sea
Seasonal
Vintage
???
The best way to unlock themes is simply to practice regularly. The more you play, the more you'll discover.
Tips for Long Practice Sessions
Match your theme to room lighting
Experts recommend keeping screen brightness within a 3:1 ratio of your surroundings. If your room is bright, use Light. If it's dim, use Dark or Sepia. Mismatched brightness forces your eyes to constantly adjust.
Consider Sepia for extended reading
Sepia's warm tones have been shown to reduce visual fatigue compared to pure white backgrounds. E-readers like Kindle popularized this for a reason—it's easier on the eyes for long periods.
Use the 20-20-20 rule
Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This helps prevent digital eye strain regardless of which theme you use.
Dark mode and OLED battery
On OLED/AMOLED screens (most modern phones), Dark theme can save 30-47% battery because black pixels are truly off. If you practice on battery power, Dark mode extends your session time.
Troubleshooting
Theme not applying to sheet music
The sheet music display updates when you return to the practice screen. If you changed themes while viewing a score, go back to your library and reopen the piece. The new theme will apply.
Auto theme not following device setting
Ensure your device's appearance setting is correctly configured:
- iOS: Settings > Display & Brightness > Appearance
- Android: Settings > Display > Dark theme
If you've set a schedule on your device, Crescendo will follow it when set to Auto.
High Contrast still not high enough
High Contrast uses pure black and white with maximum contrast ratios. If you still need more visibility:
- Increase your device's screen brightness
- Use the zoom feature to enlarge the score (Settings > Practice > Zoom)
- Enable your device's built-in accessibility features (iOS: Bold Text, Android: High Contrast Text)
Secret themes gallery not appearing
The Secret Themes gallery only appears after you've unlocked at least one secret theme. Keep practicing—your first unlock will happen naturally as you use the app.
Theme resets after app update
Theme preferences are stored locally and should persist across updates. If your theme resets:
- This is a known issue on some Android devices after major OS updates
- Simply reselect your preferred theme in Settings > Appearance
- Your unlocked secret themes are not lost—they'll still appear in the gallery
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Still Need Help?
Can't find the right theme for your needs? We're happy to help.
Email: support@crescendopiano.app
Response time: 2-3 business days