Quick Start Cheat Sheet
Need a quick reminder? Here are the most common tasks:
Playing Your Parts
- Select your voice part: Tap the voice button (top left) and choose your part
- Play a track: Tap the ▶ button next to any track
- Practice with other parts: Tap the MV badge, check the voices you want to hear, adjust volumes
Practice Lists
- Create a list: Tap ☰ menu → Practice Lists → ➕ Create New
- Add tracks: Long-press a track, select tracks, tap "Add to Practice List"
- Play a list: ☰ menu → Practice Lists → tap your list
Playback Controls
- Pause/Resume: Tap ⏸/▶ in the bottom control bar
- Skip tracks: Use ⏮ Previous / ⏭ Next buttons
- Loop a track: Tap 🔁 to repeat
- Shuffle: Tap 🔀 for random order
Settings
- Change theme: ⚙️ Settings → Appearance → choose a color
- Multi-voice defaults: ⚙️ Settings → Multi-Voice → Defaults tab
Getting Started
What is ChoirPal?
ChoirPal is a web app that helps you learn your choir parts. It provides:
- Individual voice part recordings
- The ability to hear multiple voice parts together
- Practice lists to organize your learning
- Offline caching so tracks work without internet
Accessing the App
Open your web browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge) and go to your ChoirPal web address. You can:
- Bookmark it for quick access
- Add to home screen on mobile (makes it work like an app)
How to Add to Home Screen (Mobile)
On iPhone/iPad:
Open ChoirPal in Safari
Tap the Share button (square with arrow)
Scroll down and tap "Add to Home Screen"
Tap "Add"
On Android:
Open ChoirPal in Chrome
Tap the three dots menu (top right)
Tap "Add to Home screen"
Tap "Add"
The Main Screen
When you open ChoirPal, you'll see:
Top Bar
- Voice selector (left): Shows your current voice part (e.g., "Soprano")
- Concert selector (middle): Shows which concert you're viewing
- Hamburger menu ☰ (left): Links to choir information
- Settings ⚙️ (right): App preferences
- Sort button (right): Change track order
Track List
The main area shows all available tracks for your selected voice part. Each track shows:
- Play button ▶: Start playing the track
- Track title: The name of the song
- Sheet music link (if available): Opens your music PDF
- MV badge (green): Multi-voice compatible
- Lyrics 🎵 badge: Lyrics available
Bottom Bar (when playing)
- Currently Playing: Track name and pause/play
- Progress bar: Shows playback position
- Previous/Next buttons: Skip between tracks
- Playback mode icons: Loop 🔁 and Shuffle 🔀
How to Navigate the Main Screen
To find a specific track:
Use the Sort button (top right) to change order
Options: Concert Order, Alphabetical, Recently Played
💡 Tip: Just look at the track name – that's all you need! Tap the sheet music link to open your printed music.
Selecting Your Voice Part
Why Select a Voice Part?
Your voice part determines which recordings you hear. Each part (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass, Choir) has its own set of recordings.
How to Select Your Voice Part
Tap the voice button in the top left (shows current voice)
A panel opens showing all available voice parts
Tap your voice part
The panel closes and track list updates
Available Voice Parts
- Soprano: Highest women's voices
- Alto: Lower women's voices
- Tenor: Higher men's voices
- Bass: Lower men's voices
- Choir: All parts together (full ensemble)
- Concert Choir: Special concert arrangements (if available)
- Concert All: Everything playing together
💡 Tip: Most people will use their individual part (S/A/T/B) for practice, and Choir for enjoying the full sound.
Playing Tracks
Basic Playback
Playing a track is simple:
Find the track you want in the track list
Tap the ▶ button next to it
The track starts playing immediately
The bottom control bar appears
While a Track is Playing
- Track name shows in the "Currently Playing" area
- Progress bar shows how far through you are
- Tap ⏸ to pause, tap ▶ to resume
- Tap ⏮ for previous track, ⏭ for next track
How to Stop Playback
- Option 1: Tap the ⏸ pause button (bottom bar)
- Option 2: Tap a different track to switch
- Option 3: Close the browser/app
Repeating Tracks
To Repeat One Track:
While a track plays, tap 🔁 Loop (bottom bar)
Icon highlights when active
Track repeats continuously
Tap again to turn off
Random Play Order
Tap 🔀 Shuffle (bottom bar)
Icon highlights when active
Tracks play in random order
Works with Loop for endless random practice
Multi-Voice System
What is Multi-Voice?
Multi-Voice (MV) lets you hear multiple voice parts at the same time. This is incredibly helpful for:
- Hearing how your part fits with others
- Practicing harmonies
- Getting confident with your pitch against other parts
Tracks with an MV badge (green label) support multi-voice.
How to Use Multi-Voice
Basic Steps:
Play an MV track (has green MV badge)
Tap "Currently Playing" at the bottom (shows track name)
Multi-Voice settings panel opens
Check the voices you want to hear
Adjust volumes with the sliders
Close the panel – changes apply immediately
The Multi-Voice Panel
When you open Multi-Voice settings, you see:
Current Track Tab:
- Your voice part (highlighted in green) – always plays
- Other voice parts – check boxes to enable
- Volume sliders – adjust how loud each part is
- Buttons:
- Reset recent changes: Undo changes
- These settings → Defaults: Save as your standard setup
- Defaults → These settings: Load your saved defaults
Defaults Tab:
- Set up your preferred multi-voice configuration
- These settings apply to all NEW tracks automatically
- Save changes as defaults: Makes them permanent
Understanding Voice Settings
Status Indicators (on MV badge):
- MVᵈ (white d): Using default settings
- MVᵘ (black u): Custom settings for this track
How to Practice With Other Parts
Example: You're Alto, want to practice with Soprano
Play any track with MV badge
Tap "Currently Playing"
Check ✓ "SOPRANO"
Adjust volumes:
- Keep Alto (you) at 80%
- Set Soprano to 50% (to hear them but not overpower)
Close panel and practice!
Example: Practice Your Harmony (Alto with all other parts)
Open Multi-Voice settings
Check ✓ all voice boxes (Soprano, Tenor, Bass)
Adjust:
- Alto (you): 80-100%
- Others: 30-40% each
You'll hear yourself clearly with others softly supporting
Advanced Multi-Voice Features
Link and Equalise Sliders
When adjusting volume sliders, two helpful options appear:
Link MV Sliders:
- When you move one slider, all others move by the same amount
- Preserves the volume differences between parts
- Great for making everything louder/quieter together
Equalise MV Sliders:
- All sliders move to the same position
- Makes all parts the same volume
- Good for hearing a balanced mix
How to use:
Check "Link MV sliders" or "Equalise MV sliders"
Move any slider
Watch others adjust automatically
Setting Defaults
Save your favourite multi-voice setup:
Get one track sounding perfect
Open Multi-Voice → Current Track tab
Tap "These settings → Defaults"
Confirm
ALL new tracks use these settings automatically!
Resetting to Defaults
If you've customized a track and want to go back:
Open Multi-Voice → Current Track tab
Tap "Defaults → These settings"
Track now uses your default setup
Clear All MV Settings
Start fresh by removing all saved settings:
Multi-Voice → Current Track tab
Scroll to bottom
Tap "🗑️ Clear All MV Settings" (red button)
Confirm
All tracks return to defaults
⚠️ Warning: This removes settings for ALL tracks in ALL concerts!
Practice Lists
What are Practice Lists?
Practice Lists let you:
- Group specific tracks together
- Focus on songs you're learning
- Play tracks in your preferred order
- Practice difficult sections repeatedly
Think of them as your personal "lesson plan" or "rehearsal folder".
How to Create a Practice List
Method 1: From the Menu
Tap ☰ hamburger menu (top left)
Tap "Practice Lists"
Tap "➕ Create New Practice List"
Enter a name (e.g., "Week 1 Rehearsal")
Tap "Create"
Method 2: While Adding Tracks
Long-press any track
Select tracks you want
Tap "Add to Practice List"
Choose "Create new list"
Name it and create
How to Add Tracks to a Practice List
Method 1: Select Multiple Tracks
Long-press any track (hold your finger down)
Checkboxes appear on all tracks
Tap each track you want to add
Tap "Add to Practice List" (appears at top)
Choose your list
Tap "Add"
Method 2: Add Current Track
Play a track
Long-press the track title
Tap "Add to Practice List"
Choose your list
How to Play a Practice List
Tap ☰ menu → Practice Lists
Find your list
Tap the list name
Your selected tracks appear
Tap Play All or tap individual ▶ buttons
Practice List Playback Controls
When a practice list is playing:
- Loop 🔁: Repeats the entire list
- Shuffle 🔀: Plays tracks in random order
- Previous/Next: Skip between tracks in the list
How to Manage Practice Lists
To Rename a List:
☰ menu → Practice Lists
Tap the ✏️ edit icon next to list name
Enter new name
Tap "Rename"
To Delete a List:
☰ menu → Practice Lists
Tap the 🗑️ delete icon
Confirm deletion
To Remove Tracks from a List:
Open the list
Long-press to select tracks
Tap "Remove from Practice List"
To Reorder Tracks:
Open the list
Drag tracks up/down using the handle (≡) on each track
How to Use Practice Lists Effectively
Example 1: Weekly Rehearsal Focus
- Create list: "This Week"
- Add the 5 songs you're rehearsing
- Play through them daily
- Update list each week
Example 2: Difficult Passages
- Create list: "Tricky Bits"
- Add only the challenging songs
- Set Loop on
- Practice until confident, then remove from list
Example 3: Concert Program Order
- Create list: "Concert Running Order"
- Add all concert songs
- Arrange in performance order
- Practice the flow of the concert
Cross-Concert Playlists
What are Cross-Concert Playlists?
While Practice Lists work within one concert, Cross-Concert Playlists let you mix tracks from different concerts.
Example:
You could create a playlist with:
- 3 tracks from "Christmas Concert 2025"
- 2 tracks from "Summer Songs 2025"
- 4 tracks from "Easter Celebration 2024"
When to Use Cross-Concert Playlists
- Preparing for multiple concerts simultaneously
- Creating themed collections (e.g., "All My Favourite Songs")
- Maintaining a "Greatest Hits" practice list across years
- Reviewing old repertoire alongside new music
How to Create a Cross-Concert Playlist
Tap ☰ menu → Practice Lists
Tap "➕ Create Cross-Concert Playlist"
Enter a name
Select which concerts to include
Tap "Create"
How to Add Tracks from Multiple Concerts
Open your cross-concert playlist
Tap "Add Tracks"
Switch between concerts using the concert selector
Select tracks from each concert
Tap "Add to Playlist"
How to Play a Cross-Concert Playlist
Tap the mode toggle icon (top of playlist area)
Changes from 🎤 Practice (single concert) to 🎵 Playlist
Select your cross-concert playlist
Tap Play All or individual tracks
To return to Practice mode:
- Tap the 🎵 icon again (switches back to 🎤)
💡 Note: When playing cross-concert playlists, the app automatically switches between concerts as needed. You'll always hear the correct recording!
Playback Controls
The Bottom Control Bar
When a track is playing, you'll see a control bar at the bottom of the screen.
Main Controls
Currently Playing Area:
- Shows track name
- Tap to open Multi-Voice settings
- Shows MV status badge (if applicable)
Pause/Play Button ⏸/▶:
- Tap to pause playback
- Tap again to resume
Progress Bar:
- Shows how far through the track you are
- Tap anywhere on the bar to jump to that point
- Drag the circle to scrub through
Previous Button ⏮:
- Skip to previous track
- If at start, goes to last track (when Loop is on)
Next Button ⏭:
- Skip to next track
- If at end, goes to first track (when Loop is on)
Mode Controls
Loop Button 🔁:
- Tap to turn on/off
- Highlighted when active
- Repeats current track or playlist
Shuffle Button 🔀:
- Tap to turn on/off
- Highlighted when active
- Plays tracks in random order
How to Use Playback Controls
To pause during practice:
Tap ⏸ (bottom bar)
Take a breath, check your music
Tap ▶ to resume
To repeat a difficult section:
Let track play to the section
Tap Loop 🔁
Practice repeatedly
Turn Loop off when confident
To mix up your practice:
Select multiple tracks (Practice List)
Turn Shuffle 🔀 on
Tracks play in random order each time
To practice one phrase:
Start the track
When you reach the phrase, tap to pause
Tap and drag the progress bar back
Resume and practice again
Settings
Access settings by tapping the ⚙️ gear icon (top right).
Settings Panel Overview
The Settings panel has three tabs:
- Appearance: Visual customization
- General: Core app settings
- Multi-Voice: Configure multi-voice system
Appearance Settings
Theme:
Choose a color scheme that's comfortable for your eyes:
- Midnight Blue (Default) – Cool, easy on eyes
- Warm Amber – Warm, cozy
- Forest Green – Natural, calming
- Royal Purple – Rich, elegant
- Crimson Red – Bold, energetic
- Slate Grey – Neutral, professional
- Ocean Teal – Fresh, modern
- Sunset Orange – Bright, cheerful
How to change theme:
Settings ⚙️ → Appearance
Tap a color name
Screen updates immediately
Close settings – your choice is saved
💡 Tip: If you find yourself straining to read, try a different theme. Midnight Blue and Slate Grey are easiest on most eyes.
General Settings
Concert Selection:
- Choose which concert to view
- Changes the available tracks
Auto-cache New Tracks:
- Automatically downloads tracks for offline use
- Recommended: Keep ON
- (See Advanced Topics: Track Caching)
Multi-Voice Settings
Two tabs: Current Track and Defaults
Current Track Tab:
Shows multi-voice settings for the track you're currently playing. Changes apply immediately.
Enable the Multi-Voice System:
- Master on/off switch for all multi-voice features
- Turn off if you only ever want to hear your part alone
Auto-apply default selections to new tracks:
- When ON: New tracks automatically use your saved defaults
- When OFF: Each track starts with no multi-voice settings
How to set your standard multi-voice setup:
Settings → Multi-Voice → Defaults tab
Check which voices you typically want to hear
Adjust volumes
Tap "Save changes as defaults"
All new tracks now start with these settings!
Advanced Topics
Understanding Track Caching
What is caching?
Caching means the app downloads tracks to your device so they work without internet connection.
Why is this useful?
- Practice in areas with poor signal
- Save mobile data
- Faster playback (no waiting for download)
- Works on airplane mode
How caching works:
First time you play a track, it downloads from the server
App saves it to your device's storage
Next time, it plays from your device (instant!)
A ✓ appears when cached
Managing cache:
- View cache status: Check for ✓ marks on tracks
- Clear cache: Settings → General → Clear Cache (frees up space)
- Auto-cache: Settings → General → Keep "Auto-cache" ON
How to Cache All Tracks for Offline Practice
Open ChoirPal with good WiFi
Settings → General → Cache All Tracks
Wait for all tracks to download
Look for ✓ marks on all tracks
Now works offline!
How much space does caching use?
- Each track: approximately 3-5 MB
- Full concert (15 tracks): approximately 45-75 MB
- Not much! Most phones have plenty of room.
⚙️ Tech Savvy: The app uses the browser's Cache API for efficient storage. Cached files persist until you clear them or clear browser data. The cache is separate for each voice part to optimize storage.
Understanding Multi-Voice Track Compatibility
Why aren't all tracks MV-compatible?
To support multi-voice, we need recordings of all voice parts for the same track. Sometimes:
- Only certain parts were recorded
- Recordings were made at different times
- Technical quality varies between recordings
How to tell if a track supports MV:
- Look for the green MV badge next to the track title
- Only tracks with this badge can use multi-voice features
What if my favourite song isn't MV?
- You can still practice with the Choir (all parts together) version
- Switch to "Choir" voice to hear the full ensemble
- Check back later – more tracks may become MV-compatible
Multi-Voice Audio Synchronization
How does the app keep multiple voice parts in sync?
When you play multiple voices:
All audio files start simultaneously
App monitors timing 4 times per second
If any voice drifts more than 0.1 seconds, it resyncs
You hear perfectly aligned harmony
Why might sync occasionally drift?
- Device under heavy load (many apps open)
- Very slow internet connection (during initial load)
- Device low on memory
How to fix sync issues:
Pause and resume playback
Close other apps
Ensure tracks are fully cached
Try a different browser
⚙️ Tech Savvy: The app uses a sophisticated sync monitoring system that checks
currentTime of all <audio> elements against the main voice. When drift exceeds the threshold (100ms), it performs a hard sync by setting currentTime directly. This creates seamless playback even on modest devices.
Data Usage and Performance
How much data does streaming use?
- Per track (3-4 minutes): approximately 3-5 MB
- Per hour of practice: approximately 40-60 MB
- Multi-voice (3 parts): approximately 12-15 MB per track
Tips to reduce data usage:
Cache tracks on WiFi before mobile practice
Use Practice Lists (already cached)
Turn off auto-cache on mobile data
Performance tips:
- Close unnecessary browser tabs
- Restart browser if sluggish
- Clear cache periodically (frees up space)
- Use Chrome or Safari for best performance
Browser Compatibility
Recommended browsers:
- ✅ Chrome (Desktop & Mobile) – Best performance
- ✅ Safari (iOS/Mac) – Native iOS support
- ✅ Edge (Desktop & Mobile) – Modern and fast
- ⚠️ Firefox (Desktop & Mobile) – Works but may have minor issues
Features that require modern browsers:
- Audio caching (offline playback)
- Multi-voice synchronization
- Progress bar scrubbing
- Auto-play between tracks
⚙️ Tech Savvy: The app requires ES6+ JavaScript support, Web Audio API, Cache API, and HTML5 audio with MP3/AAC codec support. It's built with progressive enhancement, so core features work even on older browsers, but advanced features require modern capabilities.
Troubleshooting
Common Issues and Solutions
Track Won't Play
Problem: You tap play but nothing happens
Solutions:
Check your device volume (not muted)
Check if other apps can play audio
Refresh the page (pull down on mobile)
Clear browser cache and try again
Try a different browser
Tracks Keep Stopping
Problem: Playback starts then stops after a few seconds
Solutions:
Check your internet connection
Let the track fully cache before playing
Close other apps/tabs
Clear cache and re-cache the track
Multi-Voice Out of Sync
Problem: Voice parts don't line up, sound messy
Solutions:
Pause and resume playback
Ensure all voices are fully cached
Close other apps to free up device memory
Reduce number of simultaneous voices
Can't Hear Certain Voice Parts
Problem: Checked boxes in Multi-Voice but can't hear some parts
Solutions:
Check volume sliders aren't at 0%
Ensure "Enable the Multi-Voice System" is checked
Try playing track again from start
Check device volume is up
Practice List Doesn't Save
Problem: Created a list but it disappears
Solutions:
Ensure you tapped "Create" or "Save"
Don't close browser immediately after creating
Check if browser allows local storage
Try creating in a different browser
App Looks Strange/Broken
Problem: Layout is weird, buttons missing, colors wrong
Solutions:
Refresh the page (Ctrl+R or ⌘+R)
Clear browser cache
Try a different browser
Check your theme (Settings → Appearance)
Report issue if persistent
Getting Help
If problems persist:
Check the App User Guide (this document)
Ask your choir's tech support (if available)
Contact your choir administrator
Try on a different device to isolate the problem
Reporting Bugs
If you find a bug, please provide:
- What you were trying to do
- What actually happened
- Your device type (iPhone, Android, PC, etc.)
- Your browser name (Chrome, Safari, etc.)
- Any error messages you saw
Tips for Effective Practice
Getting the Most from ChoirPal
1. Start with Just Your Part
- Listen to your part alone first
- Get confident with the melody and rhythm
- Then add other parts gradually
2. Use Multi-Voice Strategically
- Add one part at a time
- Start with the part that harmonizes closest to yours
- Gradually add more parts as confidence grows
3. Create Focused Practice Lists
- Group similar songs (same key, tempo, style)
- Focus on 3-5 songs per session
- Update lists weekly as you improve
4. Practice in Loops
- Use Loop for difficult phrases
- Repeat until confident
- Then move to the next section
5. Mix It Up with Shuffle
- Prevents "auto-pilot" singing
- Keeps practice fresh and engaging
- Tests if you really know the song
6. Balance Your Volume
- Keep your part loud enough to follow
- Keep other parts soft enough to support without dominating
- Typical: Your part 70-80%, Others 30-40%
7. Cache Before Rehearsal
- Download everything on WiFi at home
- Practice anywhere without worrying about signal
- Saves mobile data
8. Practice Little and Often
- 15 minutes daily beats 2 hours once a week
- Use Practice Lists to focus sessions
- Track your progress weekly
Sample Practice Sessions
Session 1: Learning New Music
- Time: 20 minutes
- Mode: Your part only, no multi-voice
- Method: Play through each song once, mark difficult spots
- Goal: Familiarity with melody
Session 2: Working Problem Areas
- Time: 15 minutes
- Mode: Your part only, Loop ON
- Method: Create "Tricky Bits" practice list, repeat difficult sections
- Goal: Accuracy on challenging passages
Session 3: Adding Harmonies
- Time: 20 minutes
- Mode: Multi-voice, add one part
- Method: Start with nearest part (Alto+Soprano, or Tenor+Bass)
- Goal: Confidence singing in harmony
Session 4: Full Sound
- Time: 15 minutes
- Mode: Multi-voice, all parts
- Method: Balance volumes, practice feeling the blend
- Goal: Understanding your role in the ensemble
Session 5: Polish and Perform
- Time: 20 minutes
- Mode: Choir voice (all parts together)
- Method: Run through concert program order
- Goal: Performance confidence
Keyboard Shortcuts (Desktop)
If using ChoirPal on a computer, these keyboard shortcuts can speed up your workflow:
- Space: Pause/Play
- ← (Left Arrow): Previous track
- → (Right Arrow): Next track
- L: Toggle Loop
- S: Toggle Shuffle
- M: Open Multi-Voice settings
- P: Open Practice Lists
⚙️ Tech Savvy: Keyboard shortcuts use the
addEventListener('keydown') method and are only active when no text input is focused. They provide efficient control for desktop users who prefer keyboard navigation.
Glossary
Caching: Storing tracks on your device for offline use and faster playback
Concert: A collection of related tracks (e.g., "Christmas Concert 2025")
Cross-Concert Playlist: A playlist containing tracks from multiple concerts
Loop: Repeat function – plays the same track or playlist over and over
Multi-Voice (MV): Feature that lets you hear multiple voice parts simultaneously
MV Badge: Green label showing a track supports multi-voice
Practice List: Custom collection of selected tracks for focused practice
Shuffle: Random play order
Voice Part: The section you sing (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass, etc.)
Questions?
Check the Troubleshooting section or contact your choir administrator.
🎵 Happy Practicing! 🎵