Privacy Policy

Last updated: 4 October 2026

Study Music Theory ("we", "the app", "the service") is a music theory course with ear-training tools, available on the web at studymusictheory.com and as an app for Android and iOS (listed on the App Store as "Music Theory & Ear Training"). This policy explains what data we collect, how we use it, and what rights you have.

Who runs this

Study Music Theory is an independent educational project. For questions about this policy or your data, please contact us via the support page.

What we collect

We collect the minimum data needed to run the app. You can use the app without an account; in that case your progress stays on your device.

Account data (only if you sign in): if you create an account with email and password, we receive your email address and the display name you choose. On the website you can also sign in with Google, in which case Google passes us your name, email address and profile photo link. Sign-in is handled by Firebase Authentication, which also creates a unique user ID for you. We never see your Google password, and email account passwords are handled by Firebase, not stored by us.
Progress data (only if you sign in): to sync your progress between devices we store a copy of your learning progress in Google Cloud Firestore, linked to your user ID. This includes lessons completed, review (spaced repetition) and quiz progress, XP, streaks, gems, achievements and your display name.
Leaderboard and leagues (only if you sign in): your display name, total XP, weekly XP and streak are stored so you can appear on the leaderboard and in weekly leagues. Other users of the app can see your display name and scores there.
Purchases: the app is currently free to use. If you buy or have bought an optional premium subscription or lifetime purchase in the Android or iOS app, payment is handled entirely by Google Play or the Apple App Store. We never receive your card or payment details; the app only asks the store whether your store account owns an active purchase.
No analytics or ads: Study Music Theory does not show adverts and does not use Google Analytics, advertising trackers, or any third-party analytics service.

Microphone

Some ear-training tools (such as Play It Back) can listen while you sing or play an instrument and check your notes. The microphone is only used when you open one of these tools and give permission. The sound is analysed in real time on your device; it is not recorded, saved or sent to us or anyone else.

Notifications

In the Android and iOS apps you can turn on a daily practice reminder. It is scheduled on your device as a local notification, only after you allow notifications, and you can turn it off at any time in the app or in your phone settings. We do not use a push-notification server.

How we use it

To save your progress and restore it on other devices (if signed in)
To show the leaderboard and weekly leagues
To unlock any premium purchase you have made through the app store
We do not sell, rent, or share your data with advertisers or data brokers. We do not profile users for marketing and we do not send marketing emails.

Where your data lives

Sign-in and progress sync are handled by Google Firebase (Firebase Authentication and Cloud Firestore), operated by Google. Data is stored in Google's cloud infrastructure. Firebase's own privacy practices are documented at firebase.google.com/support/privacy.

The app also loads some of its code and fonts from content delivery networks run by Google and Cloudflare. As with any website, these services receive your IP address when your device requests the files.

Your data stored locally

Most of your progress lives in your browser's localStorage (or, in the mobile app, the app's own storage on your device). This includes:

XP, streak, gems, achievements and daily goal progress
Lesson, quiz and review (spaced repetition) progress
Ear-trainer progress and settings
Your chosen display name and app preferences such as theme and reminders

Clearing your browser storage, reinstalling the app, or using a different device will reset this local data unless you are signed in, in which case your progress is restored from your account.

Cookies

Study Music Theory does not set tracking or advertising cookies. Firebase Authentication stores sign-in information on your device to keep you signed in.

Children

Study Music Theory is a general-audience learning app and can be used without an account. We don't knowingly collect personal data from children beyond what is needed to sign in and sync progress if they choose to create an account. If you are a parent or guardian and want a child's account removed, you can delete it in the app (see below) or contact us via the support page.

Your rights (UK GDPR)

Under UK GDPR you have the right to:

Access the personal data we hold about you
Correct inaccurate data
Delete your account and associated data at any time (see below)
Object to processing
Data portability — request a copy of your data in a machine-readable format
Complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you believe your rights have been violated: ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint

Deleting your account

You can delete your account and its data at any time from inside the app. See the account deletion page for step-by-step instructions. Deletion removes your sign-in account, your synced progress, your leaderboard entry and your entries in weekly leagues, and clears the app's data on that device. It cannot be undone. Deleting your account does not cancel an app store subscription; you can cancel that in your Google Play or App Store settings.

Changes to this policy

If we materially change this policy, we will update the "last updated" date at the top of this page.

Contact

For privacy questions, data requests, or complaints, please contact us via the support page.