How to use the online alarm clock
While laying out your instrument, music and jacket for a mining-town brass band rehearsal, an alarm set for 5:05 pm can mark the moment to finish getting ready. That leaves a measured stretch before 6:00 pm for packing the case, checking the rehearsal venue and allowing for the familiar British teatime traffic.
Keeping the band’s running sheet visible while another browser page comes forward should not normally cancel the alarm; a background page can continue counting towards 5:05 pm. Browsers may, however, restrict pages that remain out of sight, so leaving the sound enabled and returning briefly before departure gives useful reassurance. The rehearsal reminder cannot sound if the browser has been closed or the computer has gone to sleep, which could leave you packing past the planned departure time.
Before carrying a brass instrument outside in the late afternoon, it helps to notice the change between an air-conditioned room and lingering outdoor warmth. At 5:05 pm, keep the case closed until departure and avoid placing it directly beneath a cold vent while you wait. A light layer can also be kept with the music for a cooler hall or evening journey home.
Common questions
Do I need an account or an app?
Neither. Choose a time and a sound, press Start, and it runs in this browser tab. Nothing is downloaded, nothing is registered, and closing the page leaves nothing behind on the device.
Can I change the sound?
Yes, there is a short list of tones to pick from before you press Start. Softer sounds are easy to sleep through, so a firmer bell tends to be the safer choice for anything early in the morning.
Will it still be right when the clocks change?
Yes. It reads your device's local clock, so the move between GMT and BST at the end of March and October is picked up automatically, as long as the computer's date, time and time zone are set correctly.
Can I use this on a phone?
It works in a mobile browser, but phones lock the screen and suspend background tabs far more readily than a laptop does, which can stop the alarm sounding. For anything important, a desktop or a plugged-in laptop is the steadier option.
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