Blanking on the next line?
See one line, say the next. An Android app that teaches you a text in order, paced to the day you need to know it by.
To be, or not to be, that is the question:
Say the next line from memory, then tap to checkDid you get it?
William Shakespeare, Hamlet
How it works 8 screens
Real screens from the app, cropped to the part that does the work.
Each card shows a line and asks for the one that comes next. Say or sing it from memory, then reveal it and rate how it went. Nothing is read aloud and nothing listens to you, so you can practice quietly anywhere.
Anything below Solid comes back later in the same session, and your ratings decide which day each line is due next (FSRS spaced repetition).
Add the day you need to know it by: a gig, your off-book day, a first rehearsal or an exam. It's optional. In the last week, sessions get longer and bring in more new lines.
In the last 3 days every remaining line comes in, so even with one day left you practice the whole text. On the day itself, a session goes over every line you've started.
Write each line as NAME: line or NAME. line, or put the name in capitals on its own line. Pick which part is yours and only your lines are tested. Other characters' lines can stay on screen as your cues, or you can hide them.
Headings like Act 1 are never tested, and neither are stage directions on their own line, in (parentheses) or [brackets].
New lines come in the order of your text. The first line of each section gets its own card that shows how the section before it ends, so you also practice getting from one part to the next.
Label the parts [Verse 1], [Chorus] and so on, or leave a blank line between them. Song lyrics stay exactly as you wrote them.
It's words only, with no audio, so you find out whether you really know the lyrics without the track carrying you.
Each set shows the days left and how your lines are going. In anything that isn't a song, lines longer than 12 words are cut into shorter chunks.
"Weak spots only" drills the lines you keep missing. Run-through takes you through the lines that have come in so far, in order, without rating anything.
Check how your text was split and fix anything that looks wrong before you save. Later you can still fix, add or delete lines, or mark one as My part or Context only. The lines you keep hold on to their progress.
Your sets are saved on your phone, not on a ReciteFlow server, and there are no analytics. Back up all your sets to a file, with your progress if you like, and restore them on another phone. You can also share one set with a castmate or your choir.
“I'm a singer and I procrastinate too much. Every single time, I end up with 24 hours to learn a few songs by heart.”
From studying languages I knew how spaced repetition works, but I couldn't find an app that used it on a text you have to know in order, by a date. So I built one, as an excuse to keep procrastinating. It turns out it works.
PabloSinger, and the maker of ReciteFlow
How it compares
Flashcards and recordings both help. Here is where each one fits, including what ReciteFlow doesn't do.
| What matters | ReciteFlow | Flashcard apps | Record-and-replay apps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getting your text in | Paste it. It's split into sections and lines for you. | You make each card yourself. | You record it, or find a track. |
| Order | Lines come in the order of your text, and each line cues the next. | Cards usually stand alone and come up mixed. | Plays in order, start to finish. |
| Knowing what you missed | You rate every line. Weak lines come back sooner. | You rate every card. | Usually nothing keeps track of what you missed. |
| A date to be ready by | Your date sets the pace. In the last 3 days every line comes in. | Reviews usually follow the algorithm, not your date. | No schedule. You decide when to listen. |
| Only your lines | Pick your part. The others stay on screen as cues. | Only if you make cards for your lines alone. | Some let you leave gaps for your lines. |
| Melody and pronunciation | No. Words only, no audio. | Usually not. | Yes. That's their strength. |
If you sing, use both: a recording for the tune, and ReciteFlow for the words.
Price
A set is one song, script or speech. No trial, no time limit, no ads.
Up to 3 sets at a time. Delete a set and its slot opens up again.
Pay once in Google Play. It comes back on a new phone with the same Google account.
Yes. Practice, your sets, the reminder and backups all live on your phone. The internet is only used by Google Play, for buying Pro and for its rating prompt, and by links that open in your browser.
The app is in 12 languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Italian, Polish, Dutch, Turkish, Indonesian, Romanian and Vietnamese, and more are on the way.
You can paste text in other languages too. Songs stay exactly as you wrote them.
It's free for up to 3 sets at a time, with no time limit and no trial. Pro is a one-time purchase that adds unlimited sets, hint modes, folders and a light theme. There's no subscription and there are no ads.
Your sets are saved on your phone, not on a ReciteFlow server. There are no analytics and no account to create. You can back up your sets to a file and restore them on another phone, or share one set with a castmate.
No. Nothing is read aloud and nothing listens to you. You say or sing the line, reveal it, and rate yourself. It doesn't teach melody or notes.
No. Copy the text and paste it. Page numbers and CONTINUED marks from a PDF are skipped, but PDF text can still need some tidying, and you can fix any line before and after you save.
Not at the moment. ReciteFlow is an Android app, on Google Play.
Blank
Shaky
CloseSolid
InstantPaste your lyrics, lines or speech, add your date, and start with the first line.
Free for up to 3 sets. Android only for now.
