Rising Software
31 Elmhurst Road
Blackburn
Victoria 3130
Australia
Tel: (03) 9894 4788 (+61 3 9894 4788)
Fax: (03) 9894 3362 (+61 3 9894 3362)
Email: sales@rising.c.om.au
WWW: http://www.rising.com.au/auralia/
No UK suppliers - order direct from Australia
This is a tutorial plus drill-and-practice program covering cadences, chords, cluster chords, chord progressions, interval recognition, interval singing, jazz chords, meter, pitch, rhythm dictation, rhythm elements and scales in up to 7 levels of difficulty.
The program provides information screens, student monitoring and statistics.
Probably the most useful PC-based aural software that we are aware of.
(Mac + MIDI)
Erik Lund, University of Illinois - email: e-lund@uiuc.edu
CASPAR (Computer Assisted Software Project for Aural Skills Reinforcement) is a Hypercard stack providing a tutorial on melodic and harmonic dictation skills and a practice environment with various levels of assistance/hints available.
It offers 8 modules over 2 levels, with each module offering a selection of exercises
The computer is used to set the exercise, using MIDI output, and to provide hints and support. Answers are written on manuscript paper and the student checks them against the correct version.
It is currently under revision and should be available commercially in the near future.
This is different from other software in the genre in that it offers constructive techniques for approaching the exercise of aural dictation and acquiring the necessary skills. It is also refreshing to see a computer program that recognises the usefulness of manuscript paper!
(Mac + MIDI)
Musicware Inc (email: musicware@musicwareinc.com)
Price: US$ 99.95
UK Distributors
Et Cetera
Rawtenstall
Lancs
Tel: 0706 228 039
Fax: 0706-222-989
Capedia
Norwich
Tel: 0603 259900
Fax: 0603 259444
Dawsons
Warrington
Tel: 061-925-32591
Fax: 061-925-417812
Plays chord sequences. User identifies the bass and the chord quality.
Allows improvisation over the chord progressions once they have been identified correctly
Has extensive on-line help for driving the program though less for doing the exercises.
(Mac)
TRANSCOMP, 74 Memorial Road, Providence, RI 02906
Harmony FUN 1.0 $89.95 each. Lots of multi-deals
Plays and notates chords - user must identify the chord quality and the inversion. Covers triads and 7th chords in all their inversions. Also covers Roman numerals
(Mac + MIDI)
Emagic Soft- und Hardware GmbH
Halstenbeker Weg 96
D-25462 Rellingen
Germany
Tel: 04101-495-0
Fax: 04101-495-199
EMail: info@emagic.de
WWW: http://www.mcc.ac.uk/%7Eemagic/HM/welcome_hm.html
UK Distributors:
Sound Technology Plc
Letchworth Point, Letchworth
GB- Hertfordshire SG 61 ND
United Kingdom
tel: +44 1462 480 000
fax: +44 1462 480 800
Email: soundtechnology@compuserve.com
WWW: http://www.soundtech.co.uk
Covers intervals, chords and scales (five levels of complexity + classical, pop or jazz) 'random lines' (user identifies the scale to which the notes belong), rhythm patterns and chord analysis. Auto lessons can be set up with a specified number of exercises from each category
(PC Windows + MIDI or MIDI-generating sound card)
(Mac + MIDI)
Musicware Inc (email: musicware@musicwareinc.com)
Price: US$ 59.95
UK Distributors
Et Cetera
Rawtenstall
Lancs
Tel: 0706 228 039
Fax: 0706-222-989
Capedia
Norwich
Tel: 0603 259900
Fax: 0603 259444
Dawsons
Warrington
Tel: 061-925-32591
Fax: 061-925-417812
Simple melodic dictation with a few novel additions such as thinking or playing alternate bars once the melody has been correctly notated.
(Mac MIDI or internal sound)
Imaja, PO Box 6386, Albany, CA 94706 USA
Fax: (510) 559-9571.
$99. Telephone for site license pricing. Lab Pack pricing for schools:
5-User Lab Pack $249.00, 10-User Lab Pack $498.00.
Fairly unsophisticated aural drill and practice software. Exercises include: melody, growing melody, intervals, triads, 7th, 9th, 11th, and 13th chords, atonal chords, tuning, interval identification, chord identification, and inversion identification.
Most exercises are matching tasks - the user is presented with a melody, interval or chord and must match it by playing on the piano, guitar or MIDI keyboard. There are also multiple-choice exercises .
(Mac)
MacGAMUT Music Software, 98 Brevoort rd, Columbus, OH 43214-3824
Price: US$ 35
Demo available from the suppliers.
Drill and practice software covering Intervals, scales, chords, melodic dictation and harmonic dictation. Individual student disks allow accurate monitoring of progress by the tutor. exercises can be customised to concentrate on problem areas, or to set attainment levels allowing progression to further work
Exercises are drawn from a Library of melodies and chord sequences which can be can be edited by the tutor.
The software is very thorough but can be frustratingly restrictive.
(Mac)
TRANSCOMP, 74 Memorial Road, Providence, RI 02906
Music FUN 2.0 $49.95 each. Lots of multi-deals
Covers note names, key signatures, scales and modes, intervals and triads (major or minor)
(PC DOS, Mac expected)
Musicware Inc (email: musicware@musicwareinc.com)
Available in several schools-related multi-user formats varying in price from US$30 per individual to a US$1250 site licence
This is a DOS program with a rather unsophisticated user interface.
It covers Names (recognising pitches) sing sol-fa, Notes (playing from notated pitches), Sing (sing note from sol-fa name), Echo (tap rhythm after hearing it), Play (tap rhythm from notation), Notate/Write (notate rhythm) and Read (sing from notation).
Its use of sol-fa may not recommend it in some institutions.
(Mac)
(PC Windows)
MiBAC Music Software, P.O. Box 468, Northfield MN 55057 USA Fax: (507) 645-2377
email: info@mibac.com
Prices vary from US$119 for single copies to US$999 for site licences
This is much more a theory program than an aural training program. It covers note names, circle of fifths, key signatures, major and minor scales, modes, jazz scales, scale degrees, intervals, note/rest durations. Also scales ear training and intervals ear training.
Most of the program expects the user to 'play' in the answer using the piano keyboard shown on the screen. All the early modules set a task in words (e.g. 'play a major scale starting on C') Only the last two modules set aural recognition tasks.
(Mac + MIDI)
Bruce Dalby, University of New Mexico
This is a program for training in accuracy of intonation in a harmonic setting. In a 4-part chorale texture, up to three parts may be out of tune by differing amounts. There are two types of exercise - judging (recognising the out-of -tune voices) and tuning (correcting them as well). In addition, it is possible to choose either equal temperament or just intonation.
This is specialised software but is unique in our experience. A paper describing the software and its use appears in the current issue of Musicus.
(Mac)
Ars Nova Software, Box 637, Kirkland, WA 98083, USA.
Fax: 206 889-0359
UK Distributor: MacLine (Tel: 0181 401 1111)
£69
Comprehensive drill and practice with an associated theory book. Covers pitch reading, scales, interval playing, interval spelling, interval ear training, chord playing, chord spelling, chord ear training, melody ear training (pitch), melody ear training (rhythm) melody ear training (both) and melody writing. Works from absolute basics up to quite challenging material. Allows the student to check their (even incomplete) answer aurally against the original without having to ask for the solution.
Probably the most useful Macintosh-based aural software that we are aware of.
(PC Windows)
Musicware Inc (email: musicware@musicwareinc.com)
Drill and practice in note-onset accuracy. Allows general practice in matching or improvising within a regular beat, and a series of dictation exercises for tapping notated rhythms with metronome help. Parameters for 'failure' can be set and 'successful' answers can be monitored, showing the amount by which each note was early or late. Basic module covers crotchets and minims; advanced module works with notes up to semiquavers and triplet quavers. Challenging and fun!
(PC Windows + MIDI or MIDI-generating sound card)
Take Note Software
285 Divisadero No.3
San Francisco, CA 94117-3226 USA
Email: takenote@sirius.com
Price: US$ 79.95
Rather unintuitive user interface (uses the back-space key as the keyboard shortcut for submitting answers for evaluation!) Answers may be entered using on-screen keyboard or on-screen guitar fretboard
Drills cover pitch, intervals (harmonic and melodic), chords and arpeggios, scales (over 30 preset, plus user definable sets), key signatures, instruments (aural recognition by .wav file), guitar positions, rhythm, songs (by .mid file), note and form spelling.
Information compiled by Barbara Hargreaves and Lisa Whistlecroft
CTI Music accepts no liability for any errors or inaccuracies in this information. Prospective users are advised to inspect the software before purchase.
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