EarMaster+Review(2)

//**General Information**// Program: EarMaster Author: Hans Jakobsen Publisher: EarMaster ApS - www.earmaster.com Copyright 1996-2005 for Ear Master Version 5 System: Windows Peripherals: keyboard, mic Grade: probably High School - must have some prerequisite intervallic and rhythmic reading knowledge OK for a Music Theory class setting or GOOD for home practice.

//**Teacher Support**// EarMaster School 5 has 651 lessons, just like version 4. These lessons can be modified to become assessment tools. The Teacher has the option of creating customized tutor lessons, but is somewhat confusing at first try. Using the Results tab one can access student records to print or view. An online user guide in PDF format as well as a FAQs page and a support forum are a good thing for this program as it is not extremely user friendly.

//**Instructional Content**// This program deals with interval analysis, chordal analysis and progressions, scale identification, melodic and rhythmic dictation, and rhythmic imitation, reading, and correction.


 * __National Standards for Music Education that could be addressed are:__**
 * 5. Reading and notating music.
 * 6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.

//**Instructional Design and Pedagogical Soundness**// I do not feel this program is easy to work with. It does have many options to choose from and the lessons can be narrowed down to very limited concepts (i.e. P4th intervals) for work, but setting the particular restraints for the individualized lessons for the first time is a bit confusing and under-enjoyable. This software is not for beginning students and uses language suitable for those already possessing a medium level of music theory knowledge. There is easy to find help sources for various problems one may encounter while working with this program, but I don't think a young student will be patient enough to work through this and will just get frustrated with the program. One has the option of inputting answers via keyboard or voice, which is nice for sightsinging skills. This program is more an assessment/review software than a learning software. I noticed that the program was quite picky with rhythm imitation, and mentioned that I was right in my imitation, but not exact. Not a real helpful way of saying you need more practice, and was somewhat rude and negative. Students will not like this aspect of the program at all.

//**Record Keeping**// The Results tab in the upper part of the screen allows you to track student success in various lesson plans, and is easy to navigate. Results are automatically saved to the person logged on. Make sure students are logged on with their own names.

//**Overall Evaluation**// This program is quite extensive within its parameters. It presents intervals and chords both ascending and descending and is quite picky in its rhythmic accuracy lessons. It never explains what an interval is or what makes intervals and chords different, but merely repetitively tests you on your skills. It is quite heavy on the assessment side with little or no knowledge presentation provided. There is not much in the way of directions when starting a new exercise and you have to feel your way through a lot of it. This is not a program for students with limited experience. The program starts with an almost assumed idea that you are already aware of what your weaknesses are in rhythm and interval study. When starting a new exercise I had to take a moment each time to become aquainted with what was expected of me to do to complete the tasks correctly.

Rating: *

Craig Wohlschlager