Drawn+to+Keys

• Title: Drawn to Keys • Author: Unknown • Website: http://themusicinteractive.com/TMI/The_Music_Interactive_-_Welcome.html • Copyright Date: Unknown • Platform: Mac and Windows • Peripherals: This program can be used with a Smartboard or computer lab. Headphones would be advisable if used in a computer lab setting. • Grade/Age: Late Elementary, Jr High/Middle School, High School (The age can vary depending on the settings set by the instructor.) • Type of Class: General Music, Theory, Band, Choir
 * CITATION AND GENERAL INFORMATION**

• Documentation (Binder, Booklet, Included on media, On Internet, Instructional Manual): None provided • Objectives: Simple objectives are clearly stated at the top of the workspace for the interval and scale pages. The exception is the keyboard page, where students are only given the button options of Play, Stop, Record, Clear, and Show Keys. • Lesson plans: None provided • Sample screens: None provided • Resource information: None provided • Reproducible student pages: None provided • Student booklets: None provided
 * TEACHER SUPPORT**

• Specific Musical Content: This program is focused on students' ability to identify (visually only) the keys of the piano, intervals, and major scales. • National Music Standards: MENC Standard 5- Reading and notating music.
 * INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT**


 * INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN AND PEDAGOGICAL SOUNDNESS**

• Teaching strategy appropriate: The teaching strategy is rather basic. What is macking here to make it more legitimate for the elementary level would be audible pitch for each key. Would be nice if it could be turned on and off in the settings. I think for the older students it is appropriate for them to visually recognize the intervals. Since this is basically rill and practice the presentation of the basic knowledge has already been done in the classroom.

• Presentation: The presentation on screen is simplistic and gives simple directions. The only screen that may confuse students would be the Keyboard section of the program, which does not provide any instruction aside from the Record, Play, Stop, and Clear buttons.

• Readability and difficulty: The keyboards are very clear in design and presentation. I think color on the keys would be better instead of black and white. This would keep students from being confused. No matter which key is touched they all turn black thus where is the definition between the standard white and black key system on the keyboard.

• Graphics: The graphics on this program are a play on words of the title. The graphics are "drawn" as the student enters each page. At the bottom of the Scale and Interval pages, the program has a little animated computer which gives a smiley face for correct answers and a frown face for incorrect answers. However, the program does not really let a student fail the question. If the answer is wrong, the student cannot move on until the correct answer has been selected.

• User normally has some control of movement within the program (can go from screen to screen at desired rate; can read text at desired rate; can exit program when desired)? IN these exercises the student does assume control over the practice exercises. They can change the settings to reflect the level of knowledge difficulty attained in the classroom lessons. They can stop and restart or exit at any time in the drill.

• Program Structure: This program has a home page where the student can select one of three categories for practice: Scales, Intervals, and Keyboard. Each practice page has either instructions or easy to follow buttons. There is also always a Settings and Show Keys button in the corner. This allows the instructor to change the settings for the page and also allows the student to see the names of the keys on the keyboard if they need assistance.

o Drill and Practice
 * High degree of control over presentation rate (unless the method is timed review)
 * Appropriate feedback for correct answers (none, if timed; not elaborate or time consuming)
 * Feedback is more reinforcing for correct than for incorrect responses

Sequence of Materials is Good Pace of instruction is self determined Quality of interaction is good Motivation for the students is fair

• Hall of Fame: None • Student Records: None
 * RECORD KEEPING**

• Pros -
 * OVERALL EVALUATION**
 * Instructional pacing is self determined by each individual student.
 * Instructional feedback is positive but minimal.
 * Sequence of the materials was theoretically driven :for example scales were organized by the circle of fifths and intervals grew by distance and were clearly marked.
 * Easy to read.

- Cons -
 * Only drills visual skills and not aural.
 * Keyboard section did not provide directions.
 * Would have liked to have seen more graphics.
 * Would have liked to have been able to pass on wrong answers and see corrections after drill was complete.
 * Lack of consistency through program. IE: Feed back inconsistent.
 * Needs more student interaction.

• Rating -- ** fair

Megan Kalosky and Amy Deluca 6/16/2010