MiBAC+Music+Lessons+1


 * 1. CITATION AND GENERAL INFORMATION**
 * Title: **[|Music Lessons 1: Fundamentals]**
 * Developed by: **Unknown**
 * Publisher: **Music Instruction By A Computer (MiBAC) Music Software**
 * Copyright: **Unknown**
 * Platform**:** **Windows 95, 98, ME, NT4, 2000, XP**
 * Peripherals: **A sound card is recommended, and any brand of MIDI keyboard is optional.**
 * Grade/Age: **8+**
 * Type of Class: **General Music, Band, Choir, Orchestra, Private Lessons**


 * 2. TEACHER SUPPORT**

Included on the CD-ROM is a printable version of the ‘comprehensive music theory reference’ in case you don’t want to access it through the program. On the program’s website, there is also a sample curriculum for teachers to use as a guide when creating their own curriculum.


 * 3. INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT**

This is designed to be a drill-and-practice program as well as a tutorial. It provides students with many opportunities to review their knowledge of Rhythm, Notation, Basic Theory skills (intervals, scales, modes and arpeggios), and Aural skills in intervals and scale recognition.

National Music Standards could be addressed by this program are: 2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. 5. Reading and notating music.


 * 4. INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN AND PEDAGOGICAL SOUNDNESS**

MiBAC Music Lessons I, when used as a drill-and-practice program, and if used as a review utility, is age appropriate for most age groups. The interface is very simple to follow and very easy to understand. There are very few distractions built into the program, which keeps students focused on the activity at hand. When a question is answered instant feedback is provided. Students also have the ability to access a built in reference guide if they are unsure of any particular concept. Students are able to track their progress through each of the activities to ensure that they are meeting the necessary goals that the teacher sets. It can also be used as an instrument practice utility, because scales and intervals are displayed on the monitor, and students can listen to how each example sounds before they play it back on their own instrument.


 * 5. RECORD KEEPING**

Students are able to view their progress throughout the activities that they are doing. The program keeps track of each student’s score for each activity at each difficulty setting, making it a very comprehensive score keeping system. They are also able to save their progress onto the individual station they are working at, or if your computers are networked they can save their progress to anywhere on the network you tell them to.


 * 6. OVERALL EVALUATION**

MiBAC Music Lessons I is a great drill-and-practice system and works very well both in and out of the music/performance classroom. It is fairly expensive even when buying online at less than regular retail price, with individual copies costing $93 for the Windows version, and $123 for the Mac version. The WIDE varieties of activities that are incorporated into this program make it a very comprehensive review system, and the variety of difficulty levels makes it accessible to all age groups and skill levels. The scoring system is GREAT because it allows students to see their progress in a very comprehensive manner, since scores are recorded for EVERY activity at EACH difficulty level.

Rating: ++++

Reviewed by: Colin Milne 4/10/05