GNU+Solfege

 1. CITATION AND GENERAL INFORMATION • Title: GNU Solfege • Author: Tom Cato • Publisher: ([]) • Copyright Date: 2007 • Platform: (Windows, Linux, Mandriva2008.1, MacOSX, tarbal, winPenPack package) • Peripherals: (computer speakers and microphone) • Grade/Age: (Early Childhood Early Elementary, Late Elementary, Junior HS/Middle School, High School, Adult) • Type of Class: (General Music, Choir, Aural Theory)

2. TEACHER SUPPORT The GNU Solfege user manual is [|available] on the GNU Solfege website. It is available in a variety of languages for the previous eleven versions of the software. It can be downloaded in various forms (pdf and html) and can be downloaded as one large file for the full manual or one of several smaller files. The website does have screen samples to familiarize someone with the look of the software and its basic uses. The installation process might be, to some, a bit complicated as it requires some adjustments specific folders that the user has to create. 

3. INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT GNU Solfege’s content deal strictly with skills and abilities that can be refined with aural training drills of identifying intervals, identifying randomly generated rhythms, singing chords and 80 different scales and exercises.  The content that appears in GNU Solfege adheres to the MENC standards 1, 5, and 6

4. INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN AND PEDAGOGICAL SOUNDNESS

• GNU Solfege is strictly a drill and practice application that can be useful for students who have had some voice training. However, there is no way for someone to have quantifiable evidence of their progress from one lesson to another aside from just some basic statistics and they are left to their own devices as to the appropriateness of any given lesson in relation to their abilities. People do have the availability to see how they perform in one drill or another.  5. RECORD KEEPING Students are able to view statistics on their progress in one exercise or another and can repeat these as often as they wish and compare their progress in this way.

6. OVERALL EVALUATION GNU Solfege is a handy tool for students who are beyond the basic beginner in collecting greater skills and abilities in the act of aural training and theory. Some of the exercises do lend themselves to be somewhat complicated to perform if care of one’s progress isn’t taken into consideration. This would be an excellent tool for high school music theory or remedial theory students in college to utilize in strengthening their abilities.  • Rating -- **

7. Gordon Couch (11/2/2009)