ChordPhobia

• @ChordPhobia • Authors: Usama Minegishi & Hidetomo Katsura • Publisher: @majorthird.com • Copyright: 2010 • Platform: Macintosh • Peripherals: Speakers/headphones • Grade/Age: High School/ College • Type of Class: Music Theory/ General Music
 * CITATION AND GENERAL INFORMATION**

• Objectives are for students to train themselves with chords. (Ear Training)
 * TEACHER SUPPORT**

• It offers 4 training levels: Level1, beginner (2&3 note chords); Level2, intermediate (4 note chords); Level 3, Advanced (More than 4 note chords); Level 4 (Expert: All).
 * INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT**

• It also offers 13 chord lessons.

• National Music Standards that could be addressed through this software: 5. Reading and notating music.

• This software is best used as an aide to students at home, but can also be used individually in the classroom while students use headphones • You must click start on the menu for lessons and training, even when you already chose it. You must hit "start" for it to work. • High School and College students should be able to figure out this program in no time. • No distracting graphics. It shows the keyboard with the chord letter names on it, and it has the notated chord and the intervals. • The program is easy to navigate, other than the lessons and training being on menus. o Drill and Practice o Tutorial o Instructional Game o Simulation
 * INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN AND PEDAGOGICAL SOUNDNESS**
 * Method is being timed, but the time is just for your record.
 * There is a positive ding when you click on something right.
 * Feedback is more reinforcing for correct than for incorrect responses
 * High degree of interactivity (not just reading information)
 * Comprehensive teaching sequence so instruction is self-contained and standalone
 * Low quotient of violence or combat-type activities
 * Amount of physical dexterity required appropriate to students who will use it
 * Appropriate degree of fidelity (accurate depiction of system being modeled)
 * There is good documentation available on how program works in the help section. It has tutorials, glossary, etc.

• Materials are presented in an orderly fashion that makes sense. • The pace of the instruction is all dependent on you, you control whether you go to the next screen or not. • Very little "motivation" is used in this software, but it is used for college students and high school students. Motivating content would actually become distracting to the ensemble


 * DEFINITIONS**

• Drill-and-Practice: Content already taught. Reviews basic facts and terminology. Variety of questions in varied formats. Question-answer drills repeated as necessary. • Tutorial: Presentation of new information. Teaches concepts and principles. Provides remedial instruction. • Gaming: Competitive. Drill-and-practice in a motivational format. Individual or small group. • Simulation: Approximates real-life situations. Based on realistic models. Individual or small group. • Discovery: Inquiry into database. Inductive approach. Trial and error. Tests hypotheses. • Problem Solving: Defines problem. States hypotheses. Examines data. Generates solution.

• No hall of fame or student record keeping.
 * RECORD KEEPING**

• This program is great for drill-and-practice in the high school/college setting. There is not a lot of motivation, but if you're trying to master ear training, motivation is not really that important, and can in fact can be distracting. The program is age appropriate and does exactly what it states it's going to do. • Rating -- ***
 * OVERALL EVALUATION**

7. Reviewed by Bryan Scotton: 10/25/10