ScalePhobia


 * 1. CITATION AND GENERAL INFORMATION**
 * Title: ScalePhobia
 * Publisher: [|Majorthird.com]
 * Copyright: 2010
 * Platform: Mac, Universal
 * Peripherals: Computer, headphones
 * Grade/Age: Easier levels could be younger middle school, but as it advances later middle school/high school would be better
 * Type of Class: Basic music/Music theory


 * 2. TEACHER SUPPORT**
 * Majorthird.com has a [|support page] where they list out frequently asked questions about common issues. If there are issues beyond that they have a support email address where they will address issues about other technical difficulties. The address is: support@majorthird.com

The software is an ear-training exercise that will teach students about different types of scales
 * 3. INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT**
 * National Standard Addressed:
 * 6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music
 * NETS-S Standards Addressed:
 * 3. Research and information Fluency
 * 4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making


 * 4. INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN AND PEDAGOGICAL SOUNDNESS**
 * Students that are learning beginning scales and the differences in major and minor at the beginning of their study could use some of the easier settings of this program, and as they learn more about music theory and musical style, they will be able to understand the more advanced types of scales.
 * On screen presentation is very simple, and illustrates the different scales on a piano keyboard.
 * With the easily varying levels and training sessions, the program can be adjusted for many ranges of students. The graphics are simple and are meant to get the point across to the student.
 * The user has a decent amount of control as far as dictating what scale they are going to listen to, and also what degree of difficulty they are dealing with.
 * Program Structure:
 * Drill and Practice is a lot of what this program is. It is mostly hearing a scale, and then identifying it, either in a lesson form where there are only a few scales to choose from, or training form where all of the modes can be mixed up. Everything is timed, and the scales are all presented at the same rate.
 * Tutorial: There is a very high degree of interactivity with this program. Students are required to either pick what scale they want to hear played, or have to pick what scale they hear played. Students can control what they hear either through learning in the lessons, or testing their knowledge in the training form.
 * Instructional Game: Each section will keep score, and will make a positive sound when the answer is correct, and a negative sound when the answer is incorrect. The game is very simple to use, and is meant to generally be used by one person at a time.
 * Discovery: Students can easily discover different scales by having the program play it for them. Then there is also a lot of guessing as to what the correct scale may be, but it is part of trial and error that the students learn the different types of scales.
 * Problem-Solving:The sequence of materials is excellent, and very orderly. The pace of instruction is also excellent and reasonable. The quality of interaction is very basic, but overall gets the point across. The motivation for students is very good as it tells you exactly what needs to happen based on either positive or negative reinforcement sounds.


 * 5. RECORD KEEPING**
 * During a test or lesson sequence, ScalePhobia will keep track of your score on the screen. It will also keep track of how much time elapses for you to answer the questions.
 * There is no overall score keeper, it will only keep track of one lesson or training score at a time.


 * 6. OVERALL SUMMARY**
 * ScalePhobia is an ear-training program to help students identify different types of scales. There are 7 different lessons that help students by playing each different type of scale in that particular lesson, and students guess what it is. The scales can either be ascending, descending, or a mix of the two. The program will tell you whether it is right or wrong, and will illustrate the scale starting middle C on a keyboard. The types scales addressed are: Ionian, Aeolian, Harmonic minor, Melodic minor, Lydian, Mixolydian, Dorian, Phryigian, Locrian, Whole Tone, Blues, Major Pentatonic, Minor Pentatonic, Whole-Half Diminished, and Half-Whole Diminished. The program can also play any of the scales individually in any key. It will also play the lessons in any key. There is also a training mode that comes in Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Expert modes. The training mode will play a variety of the scales, all beginning on middle c, and keep track of your score. Overall, it is an ear training exercise that will improve students identification of various scales based on sound.

Overall Rating: ***

Created By: Anna Silarski 10/31/10