Testimonials

At the end of the day, I need a device I can depend on. I highly recommend the AirTurn to any gigging musicians out there who is using the iPad. Not for just the durability, but also the fact that you can use your internal keyboard with the pedal connected. To me, that was a huge win in my book.

- Becca Wong, Ballet from the Piano

Danielle Belen and Lauren Chipman performing Martinu's Madrigals at The Colburn School with their AirTurn and GigEasy!

I just played 5 concerts in 10 days using my AirTurn. I loved it! I was afraid I would have difficulties getting used to it, but it quickly became very natural. And I can't say enough nice things about the customer service--Hugh's expertise, the communication, the shipping--every aspect is fantastic.

James Nancy, Cellist

As a career singer/songwriter about to turn 69 november 11th, I've watch my memory deteriorate over the past bunch of years to the point where both learning and remembering the songs I write has become a big issue. I down from writing 50-60 songs a year to maybe 20-30, and I just can't seem to remember not only the new ones but also lots of old ones. Sooooo...I got tired of the number of pages growing in my lyric books and decided to take the advice of a pal of mine and look into getting an iPad with an AirTurn blue tooth device that enables me to turn the pages of my lyrics with my foot. What an amazing new life I have now!!! No more worries about forgetting my lyrics. I have about 400 songs in my iPad and my really kool AirTurn BT-105 device that has turned what was a fear of forgetting into security of knowing as long as my foot works, my memory is beneath my foot :-) Thanks AirTurn for making my life much more memorable.

Bob Cheevers

Singer/Songwriter

My name is Tim Hockenberry and I just got off tour with the Mickey Hart Band. We did a short 3 week run out to Colorado and Minnesota and I used your Airturn every night and I have to tell you that your gadget is THE BEST invention since the creation of certain unmentionable female body parts!!!! I can't imagine how I would have done this gig without it! It NEVER let me down......In this band there are thousands of lyrics as most of the words come from Robert Hunter who wrote almost everything for the Grateful Dead....so lets just say that he is anything but short-winded. I could never have learned the lyrics in time. Thanks to my ipad and my Airturn, I appeared as though I had committed the whole songbook to memory. THANK YOU!!!!!

Tim Hockenberry
San Francisco
Keyboards/Singer
Mickey Hart Band
Trans-Siberian Orchestra

I have to take a moment to tell you of my experience with the Airturn BT-105. This is an awesome product. I use the pedal with Planning Center Music Stand in all of our worship services. Continuity between songs is very important in maintaining an atmosphere of worship and this is one of the most important tools in my bag. Not having to take my hands off the keys to turn pages helps maintain that continuity. Recently, I had a hardware failure with my BT-105. I had purchased the unit in February 2012 so I called Airturn immediately. I cannot tell you how impressed I was from the quality of service I received from Hugh Sung. We performed the basic troubleshooting and determined that the unit would need to be sent back. Hugh shipped me a replacement unit out THE SAME DAY even before I could place my pedal in the mail. My replacement was here within a few days and I didn't have to play one single service without it. I recommend this unit and this company without reservation for anyone who has a need for what it offers. I don't know how I played without it. Thanks AirTurn.

Tracy Pyle 
Keyboardist/Creative Designer 
Mountain Grove Church
Granite Falls, NC

Hey AirTurn folks, I just started using my new AirTurn for my iPad. This is so awesome yet so simple, thank you!
I am a worship leader who fumbles through paper lyrics all the time but I also give speeches, and that's the real reason I bought the AirTurn. I can't dive in to a TelePrompter but this is perfect and cheap! Thanks! This would be great for ministers as well, I believe. Take care, 

Kevin P. (Memphis Tn.)

BT-105…was a life saver. Been telling everyone about it as they wonder how I can control our multimedia presentation and play keyboards at the same time! I will sing your praises indeed!

Cheers,

Jeff Alan Ross, keyboardist for English rocker Peter Asher

I was so excited to have come across a great product like the AirTurn BT-105 along with the slick and highly efficient ATFS-1 pedals for wireless page turns. By now I have scanned all my music onto my new iPad2. forScore app, a small mic stand and criskenna's X-Clip complete my compact outfit. The learning curve of using this system was quick, and I can't think of playing concerts and special events without it. Going back to paper sheet music, stands and stand lights is not an option (except within my symphony orchestra.... at least not YET!) Thank you AirTurn for inventing this priceless product.

- Shimon Walt, Cellist
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Best customer service I've ever experienced. They answered my panicked telephone call well after service hours and fixed my issue. Not only that...but they gave me their cell number and said to call any time...day or night...and they were serious. A++.

- Mark D.

Love this product works so well on my iPad! Thank you.

- Paul B.

Janette McIntyre: Computerized Cruise Ship Cocktail Pianist

If you’ve ever had a chance to relax to the sounds of a live piano played by a human pianist while dining at a nice restaurant, you know what a magical experience it can be compared to the canned piped-in music that literally sounds like broken records (er, broken CDs? MP3 players?) over the speaker system. A good cocktail pianist is the epitome of cool, a musical sommelier that serves up aural hors d’oeuvres tickled on ivories. For all my 40 years of experience playing the piano, I find the role of cocktail pianist to be far more intimidating than stepping out on stage at Carnegie Hall due to one deceptively portentous word: “request”. You’ll find the better-armed cocktail pianists loaded down with stacks of fake books and overstuffed binders bulging from under the piano or splayed haphazardly over the music rack. How they know where to even begin to look for that obscure tune is a marvel of real-time information management.

Janette McIntyre provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the life of a cocktail pianist on a cruise ship, and how she managed to evolve her work into a true “dream job” thanks to her use of technology.

Janette McIntyre, Cocktail Pianist

My passion is playing the piano. After a career as an administration and executive I decided that playing the piano on a cruise ship would be just the permanent vacation from life I’d been looking for! Play the piano a few hours a day, cruise and lay in the sun in the balmy Caribbean the rest of the time. So I joined the ranks of the entertainers on a whim for Carnival Cruise Line.

 

The first five years I struggled with literally pounds of sheet music that I rolled up like scrolls so I didn’t have to turn pages. They were even taped together. As one might imagine, the system was not good. Even when a song was requested that I knew I had in my “bag” it wasn’t easy to find it. There really was no system.

 

After one contract in 2011 I had enough of the lack of organization. I knew that there was a better way and had actually talked about “inventing” something that could turn the page on the computer. One of the musicians told me about a device that would turn the page and we actually looked it up on line while on the ship. I was sold.

 

I changed my computer from a PC to the Mac world with a MacBook Pro and bought myself an iPad. All of my music was scanned – thousands of sheets of my own sheet music and books – and then transferred to the iPad using theNextPage app. The purchase of the AirTurn BT-105 page turning pedal completed the hardware setup and I was ready to go.

 

The first day back on the ship was a little tense. No paper sheet music and blind faith (again) that all would work as planned. It did! I’ve never looked back. The only hair-raising day was when I forgot to recharge the iPad and it came up with a “low battery” indication half way through a set. Yikes! I hurried through the set, went downstairs to give it a quick 15 or maybe 20 minute battery charge and finished the night.

 

On the ship many people enjoy the relaxing piano music and often they are watching your fingers. Standing behind me and seeing just the iPad and no sheet music has fascinated many. They ask how it’s done and how I turn the pages. Sometimes I’d joke and tell them that I blow on it! They actually believed me and I’d laugh and tell them the truth. I received so many inquiries that I printed business cards praising not only the iPad but the AirTurn and Next Page app as well. Also included was my email address so they could ask questions if they needed to once they were home.

 

As a musician who doesn’t want to use up much needed brain cells to memorize ANYTHING, I always had a hard time just sitting down and playing a piano when asked without music. No one carries their music everywhere they go. Now it’s rare that I leave home without the iPad and AirTurn that fit right into my small briefcase-like carrier. I can play anywhere and with the NextPage app can pull up any requested song instantly.

 

Janette can be contacted via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Caleb Overstreet on How to Conduct a Digital Revolution

Caleb Overstreet is a senior at Baylor University in Texas, and is getting ready to graduate with a Bachelors of Vocal Music Education in May 2013.  I had the opportunity to meet Caleb at the 2012 TMEA (Texas Music Educators Association) Convention in San Antonio, where he in turn had his first exposure to the possibilities of reading and working with sheet music digitally.  I will never forget the “saucer eyes of wonder” on Caleb’s face!  Very soon afterwards, Caleb dove headlong into the world of digital sheet music.  Here’s his perspective on this new technological – and musical –  journey.

Caleb Overstreet

As a musician, I am a singer first and foremost.  Additionally I play the piano and guitar. I am a member of a handful of choirs at school, two of which tour regionally as well as nationally. Apart from school, I lead worship at my church, as well as playing at special occasions such as weddings. Looking ahead, I will be a choir director, hopefully at a Texas public high school within the next few years.

The decision to switch from paper to digital sheet music was more of a mental decision and desire to change long before I was actually able to due to the strain and rigor of being in college and working. I switched, however, due to the convenience and the longevity of digital music. Anytime I have my iPad, I always have my entire choral library, all my worship songs, as well as any other music with me! In just the few months I have had my music digitized, I cannot count the amount of times that I have benefited from the convenience of digital music!

I use a combination of things in addition to my digitized music. I use my 64GB 4G+WIFI Apple iPad in addition to my old and aging Toshiba Satellite laptop to transfer files from my hard drive to my iPad. Additionally, as I continue to expand my digital library, I plan on getting an external hard drive to store the original files so I can have everything backed up just in case something were to happen to my iPad. I have an ever-increasing amount of full choral scores, a handful of full orchestral scores, about 30 or so voice and piano solos, along with a hundred plus chord charts – all of which is increasing slowly. I get this music from various places. Most of my music right now is scanned in by myself, however I am beginning to use digital downloads from various places online.

I do not have any particular case for my iPad, simply because it stays in my backpack or briefcase as I go to rehearsals or performances. However, while I am playing worship, I have gotten quite a bit of use out of a product called “TheGigEasy”. It is a mount that is custom built for the iPad that clamps on the side, or it can be attached to the top of a normal mic stand. It makes performing in smaller spaces very convenient, and I have even come to prefer it over the much larger music stand. After all, when it is attached to the side of a mic stand, it makes for one less music stand clogging up space on the stage.

Lastly, I make great use of the AirTurn BT-105 foot pedal, particularly used for turning pages while playing or conducting. It certainly turns heads of others who realize that I am not turning pages while I am conducting off of my iPad, which turns enough heads by itself, but they are even more impressed when I show them how convenient it is with the AirTurn pedal system. Additionally, it works perfectly in the worship setting. There are several times when I need to look ahead for seamless transitions from one song to the next.  I can do so without having to stop playing to turn the page with my hand; instead, I simply tap the pedal with my foot without having to stop playing. Also, there are times where I feel I want to go back and repeat the chorus of a previous song, in which I simply tap the back pedal and it turns back the page! I truly cannot express to you how amazing and seamless this one pedal can make playing and conducting!

Caleb conducting from his iPad and turning pages hands free with an AirTurn

I am very grateful for all the people who helped me along the path and make this transition possible for me. I look forward to continuing my musical career as a pioneer to the digital music world, and am excited about where it is heading!

Sharyn Byer: A Forward-Looking Flutist

Sharyn Byer, Flutist

Sharyn Byer, Flutist, is another example of a forward-looking musician who enjoys a very active performing and touring life.  Here’s a look at Sharyn’s 4-C setup for her digital sheet music needs.

1. What do you do as a musician?

I graduated from the University of Miami School of Music and am Principle Flute of The Capital City Symphony in Washington, DC. I teach at Columbia Institute of Fine Arts and direct The Columbia Flute Choir (www.columbiaflutechoir.org). I tour with the International Flute Orchestra, and have performed in Europe, Russia, China and South America. I also play in First Light Ensemble and have performed locally in the DC area including at The White House.

2. Why did you switch from paper to digital sheet music?

I love having all my music available on one device, my iPad, and being able to easily take it all with me when I travel. Page turns are no problem with the AirTurn Bluetooth foot pedals! I can keep both hands on my flute at all times!! Dark stages are not a problem, either. I don’t even need a stand light because the scores are back-lit on the iPad! Also, I don’t feel like I’m hiding behind a big music stand because the iPad is so small. I can even position the music as close to me as I want and still see the conductor or the audience!

3. What are your “4-C’s”?
a.Computer (for reading music)?

iPad 2

b. Content (what kind of music do you read and where do you get it from)?

I scan music into my computer and transfer to the forScore app on my iPad through iTunes. I can also open emailed PDFs with the forScore app. Once in forScore, I can store music by title, composer, genre, or keyword. I can even annotate the music and create setlists for different ensembles or performances.

c.Container (do you use any special holders for your computer)?

TheGigEasy & iPad vs. Music Stand

I have two holders that I like.The Gig Easy Mic Stand Mount is very secure and sturdy. I also like the CrisKenna Xclipwhich is actually the one I travel with because it is less bulky. When I play C flute in First Light Ensemble, I am seated and use the iPad holder on a Mic Stand Concertino. When I play in a symphony orchestra, I use the Mic Stand Concertino with a goose neck extension because I need the iPad a little higher so I can also see the conductor. When I play the Contrabass flute, I need to stand to play so I use both the 13” and the 6” goose necks on the Concertino stand and that works great! I can fit the Concertino and both goose necks in one of my old folding music stand cloth cases and it goes easily in my gig bag. That’s what I used in Croatia this past May with the International Flute Orchestra! If I am playing locally, I can also just use a mic stand but that won’t fit in a carry-on bag for flying!

d. Controller(s) (do you use any special controllers for reading or working with your
digital sheet music)?

I use the AirTurn BT-105 Bluetooth transceiver and 2 ATSF-2 foot switches for hands free page turning (I need to keep both hands on my flute!) It works great on any floor surface and I am amazed how long the charge lasts! It is so easy to recharge with the iPad charger, even overseas!

Sharyn Byer, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sharyn Byer and the Columbia Flute Choir at The White House

Steve Hoover: Multi-Musician & His Digital Sheet Music Setup

When I was a youngster, I dabbled with a bunch of different instruments. I tried my hand at playing a little guitar, fooled around with the harmonica, took some lessons on the french horn and even studied the violin semi-seriously for a few years. Frankly, I stuck with the piano because it was the easiest instrument to make a decent sound out of, and I was super lazy about practicing. So when a one-trick pony like me hears about a multifaceted musician like Steve Hoover, my envy streak makes Kermit the Frog look like an albino gecko! Here’s a guy who can do EVERYTHING – he plays the keyboards, bass, trombone, tuba, and he even sings for crying out loud! And that’s just the performing side of his talents!

Here’s a look at Steve Hoover and his 4-C setup for being a digital sheet music musician.

Steve Hoover

1. What do you do as a musician?
I have a degree in Music Ed. From SIU-Edwardsville and I taught music in MO public schools (University City & Ritenour) for 17 years prior to becoming a full-time musician 14 years ago. I am the keyboardist / bassist / MD for the Bob Kuban Band in St. Louis –bobkuban.com – I play keys/bass in a PW band at First Christian Church in my hometown of Edwardsville, IL– and I have my all-Beatles-all-the-time project – The Abbey Road Warriors – abbeyroadwarriors.com – I play bass, keyboard, trombone and sing in that group. I play occasional brass quintet gigs on trombone or tuba. I also write and arrange music for other artist/bands – I’m an avid user of Sibelius – and I have access to a project recording studio.

2. Why did you switch from paper to digital sheet music?

The convenience factor is huge! And being able to turn pages hands-free withAirTurn makes performance so much easier and less stressful. Sometimes it’s tough to get a hand free to physically turn a paper page – AirTurn eliminates that hassle. I keep all the music for my performing groups on my iPad as well as a large library of fake books to cover requests that come up. I also don’t need a music stand light when using the iPad since it provides it’s own illumination. I’ve been using DeepDish GigBook and I’m very happy with it – it does everything I need and in an elegant and logical way.

3. What are your “4-C’s”?

a. Computer (for reading music)?

iPad 2

b. Content (what kind of music do you read and where do you get it from)?

I create my own PDFs from charts I do in Sibelius (a very popular music notation program for Mac and PC computers) – I also scan music to PDF. I sometimes purchase music from Musicnotes.com as well.

c. Container (do you use any special holders for your computer)?

I use TheGigEasy – it’s been awesome – I can place the iPad at the optimum spot and it stays put.

Steve uses TheGigEasy to turn his iPad 2 into a digital sheet music stand.

d. Controller(s) (do you use any special controllers for reading or working with your digital sheet music)?

I use the AirTurn (a wireless page turning pedal for the iPad) – wow, is this thing well built! I have used it 3-4 times a week since I got it – on everything from hardwood, to carpet, to concrete, and it still looks fantastic! And I step on it repeatedly! It has never let me down and has always worked the way it should.

Steve Hoover and the Abbey Road Warriors Band

Hands free - and feet free - page turning solution for organists

The AirTurn at TEDxAsheville

The AirTurn at Carnegie Hall

Ray Chen, Violinist, on the iPad, AirTurn, and Social Media

Keyboard Wizard Discovers The Magic Of Hands-Free iPad Page Turns

 

 

 

 

The AirTurn BT-105 comes with an internal rechargeable battery, capable of up to 100 hours of use per charge. It uses the latest Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR protocol for fast, easy pairing with the iPad and Bluetooth-equipped Mac and PC computers. The AirTurn BT-105 comes with 2 ATFS-2 silent foot switches, designed to be the quietest of its kind in the consumer market with no moving parts aside from the high strength plastic hinge and a proprietary neodimium magnet and rhodium reed switching system.

 

 

AirTurn, Inc. was formed in 2008 to develop and market technologies to enhance the study, practice and performance of music, and is based in Boulder, Colorado.