Essentials
- A piano or keyboard - Any acoustic piano or digital keyboard works
- iPhone/iPad (iOS 12+) or Android device (Android 5+)
- Sheet music files - MusicXML, MIDI, or LilyPond format
No MIDI keyboard? That's fine! Crescendo works with any piano - you tap to advance through pieces manually. MIDI just adds real-time note checking and auto-advance.
Coming soon: Microphone input for acoustic pianos.
For Real-Time Note Feedback (Optional)
Connect a MIDI keyboard for instant note detection. When you play the correct notes, the app advances automatically.
What You'll Need
For USB Connection
- Lightning devices: Apple Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter (~$39)
- USB-C devices: Apple USB-C to USB Adapter (~$19)
- USB cable (usually included with your keyboard)
The Lightning to USB 3 adapter includes a charging port, which some keyboards need for power.
For Bluetooth Connection
- A Bluetooth MIDI keyboard (like Korg microKEY Air or CME Xkey Air)
- Typical latency: 3-20ms (works well for practice)
For USB Connection
- USB OTG adapter (~$10) - USB-C to USB-A female
- USB cable (usually included with your keyboard)
Some phones require enabling USB MIDI in Developer Options. See our connection guide for details.
For Bluetooth Connection
- A Bluetooth MIDI keyboard
- Android 6.0+ for native Bluetooth MIDI support
Note: Bluetooth MIDI may require re-pairing each session on some Android devices.
Will my keyboard work?
Most modern USB MIDI keyboards (made after 2015) are "class-compliant" - they work without drivers. If your keyboard works with an iPad without special software, it will work with Crescendo.
Where to Find Sheet Music
Crescendo works with MusicXML, MIDI, and LilyPond files. Here's where to find them:
MuseScore.com (Recommended)
- 1.5+ million scores from community contributors
- Free for public domain classical pieces
- Download as MXL format (compressed MusicXML)
Mutopia Project (Free Classical)
- 2,000+ public domain pieces (Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Mozart)
- Download MIDI or LilyPond files - Crescendo converts both
- No account required, completely free
Your Own Files
Export MusicXML from notation software like MuseScore (free), Finale, Sibelius, or Dorico. Your teacher can also send you files directly.
Supported File Formats
| Format | Extensions | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| MusicXML | .musicxml, .xml, .mxl | Best quality - preserves all notation |
| MIDI | .mid, .midi | Widely available, converted automatically |
| LilyPond | .ly | Power users, open-source scores |
| Reference viewing (no practice mode) |
Maximum file size: 100MB. MIDI and LilyPond files are automatically converted to notation. PDFs can be viewed as reference but don't support practice mode since they lack structured music data.
Don't have a keyboard yet?
Any keyboard with at least 61 keys and a USB or MIDI port works well for most music.
Our Recommendations
| Budget | Keyboard | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | M-Audio Keystation 49 MK3 | ~$120 |
| Recommended | M-Audio Keystation 61 MK3 | ~$170 |
| Full Range | M-Audio Keystation 88 MK3 | ~$250 |
All these keyboards are USB class-compliant and work with iOS, Android, and desktop.
What to Avoid
- Cheap USB-to-MIDI adapters - These cause most connection problems
- Keyboards without USB/MIDI ports - Some toy keyboards can't connect
Can I practice with a PDF?
You can import and view PDFs as a reference, but practice mode (note checking, auto-advance) won't work with them.
Why? PDFs are images - they don't contain structured music data (which notes, which beats, which staff). Crescendo needs this data to check your playing.
For practice mode, try:
- Search for the same piece on MuseScore.com in MusicXML format
- Use OMR software like ScanScore or PlayScore to convert the PDF
- Enter the music in notation software and export as MusicXML
Still Need Help?
Questions about equipment or setup? We're here to help.
Response time: 2-3 business days