SingApp: Parkinson’s Panel Review

Since 2014, Nicola Wydenbach’s work has involved using singing to help address some of the vocal symptoms of Parkinson’s. 

As a professional classical singer, Nicola noticed that the speech therapy techniques used by her father-in-law, who had been diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, were similar to the warm-up exercise she used when singing. She also noted that clinical studies had shown that regular singing can improve vocal quality and volume, reduce breathing issues and offer a means of forming social connections and improving mental wellbeing. 

The idea for SingApp: Parkinson’s hit Nicola during the Covid-19 pandemic when she began posting YouTube videos to encourage her groups to keep singing during lockdown. Nicola noticed that the number of people accessing these videos – some daily – was larger than that of her in-person groups. Not only did these digital recordings allow Nicola’s usual members to practice more often, but they also helped her reach people who wouldn’t usually have access to in-person singing groups where they live. 

Zoom

Open and View Gallery

Back to review

Picture 1 of 1

App development kicked off in 2021, with Arts Council England providing the initial grant to develop an Android prototype. With input from more than 75 people with Parkinson’s, the completed app launched for Android and Apple devices in July 2024. The content of the app has been developed in consultation with allied health professionals including speech-language therapists, but it’s not a replacement for speech therapy.

“The aim of SingApp: Parkinson’s is to enable people living with Parkinson’s to easily access high-quality, co-created singing resources to help maintain vocal strength as their condition progresses,” Nicola told the Tech Guide. 

“Having a voice is an important part of the human condition. SingApp: Parkinson’s aim is to give greater access to creative singing exercises to enable those living with Parkinson’s the ability to maintain vocal strength from the comfort of their own home – every voice matters.”

Zoom

Open and View Gallery

Back to review

Picture 1 of 1

Once you download the app, you’ll need to create an account to get started. All our reviewers found setting up “very easy” and most of the reviewers found the screen layout “clear” and “simple”.

A reviewer who is a retired IT lecturer said: “The screen layout was easy to follow, with clear and well-designed graphics.”

However, all 6 reviewers noticed that there were no instructions or guidance on how to actually use the app or which exercises best addressed specific symptoms. 

A reviewer commented: “There were no instructions as to how the app worked and which exercise would improve what symptoms.

“Having no instructions means that you are rather ‘walking in the dark’ as to what sequence you may undertake the exercises. There should be instructions, particularly highlighting how singing exercises might help improve Parkinson’s symptoms.”

The app contains exercises designed to help improve your physical wellbeing, breathing, articulation, sound quality, along with songs to sing. 

There are individual exercises that you can mix and match to suit your preferences. Or you can opt for a daily workout which incorporates all the elements of the individual exercises. You can choose from 5, 10 or 15 minute workout routines.

A reviewer told us that they were not sure what exercises to try because of the lack of instruction. They said: “There was no written information on which exercises should be attempted first or what results to expect over a specific time period. This made it challenging to come up with a personal plan.”

A different reviewer added that some of the vocal exercises, like quacking like a duck and hot chocolate humming, were “childish” and “patronising”.

The songs

The app includes more than 10 original songs to sing and features both male and female singing instructors. First, you are taught the lyrics and then the following exercises encourage you to sing the song, using your voice in different ways. For example, in a low pitch, then high.

A reviewer said: “The songs were easy to sing, and I’m no singer, which boosted my confidence.”  

Another reviewer added: “The instructions and songs were well paced, and the overall package was well balanced in terms of the voices and instruments being used.”

The songs were not liked by everyone though. 2 reviewers commented that the songs were “basic” and “very limited stylistically”.

A 77-year-old reviewer who was diagnosed 2 years ago said: “The singers had nice clean voices, but a bit stiff and the vocals all felt a bit old fashioned. They should try and make the songs a bit less ‘school classroom’.”

Motivation and performance

The app has a visual milestone graph to show you how many of the exercises you have completed. You’re sent a congratulatory message when you reach a certain milestone.

Multiple reviewers said the app needed better features to motivate users and encourage them to use it regularly, with 4/6 reviewers saying it was either “difficult” or “very difficult” to incorporate the app into their daily life.

A reviewer whose speech difficulties mean they often struggle in social situations told us: "It was fairly difficult to integrate the app into daily life. It would benefit from tactics to encourage regular use, like streaks, achievement awards or reminder notifications.”

This sentiment was shared with a very disappointed reviewer who has used other speech and singing apps before. 

They said: “Using the app was tedious. Some of the exercises were familiar and potentially useful, but even these had me reaching to fast-forward.”

The 74-year-old continued: “Alarm bells rang when it didn’t ask for access to my microphone. This means that any feedback is only what can be measured in terms of length of use. Rival apps give feedback in the form of pitch or volume accuracy on individual exercises.”

Nicola from SingApp: Parkinson’s told the Tech Guide that more songs and exercises will be added in autumn 2025, along with the ability to test the volume of your voice in 2026. 

Because of the nature of the SingApp: Parkinson’s, you need to use the app somewhere where you are able to, and are comfortable making funny noises and singing out loud.

1 reviewer said it was difficult to use SingApp: Parkinson’s as often as they would have liked as it “meant that you needed to find the time and place where you could be on your own to follow some of the exercises, which could be noisy and embarrassing”.

The app is available on both Android and Apple phones and costs £7.99.

Just 1 reviewer was happy with the price of the app. They said: “The cost is minimal. It’s a small price to pay for someone who wishes to develop their voice.”

The other reviewers felt the app was not worth the price. A reviewer with a stammer said the price would “probably put me off, unless there was a trial period.” 

A different reviewer, who said that the app hadn’t helped with their speech issues, added: “I would feel cheated if I had paid for the app.”

Unfortunately, 2 reviewers were so disappointed with the app that they said they were “very unlikely” to recommend the app to someone else with speech difficulties.

A reviewer, whose speech difficulties include low volume, stammering and slurring, said: “Patronising and pedantic sums up my experience of using this app. I can’t see what use anyone could make of it.

The other reviewers’ feedback was not as scathing, with 2 reviewers saying they were somewhat “likely” to recommend the app to others. However, they both pointed out the app “needs some work”.

But a satisfied reviewer concluded: “If I use it enough, I expect my voice will become stronger.”