PianoHead+v2.0v8


 * Title:** PianoHead v2.0v8 [|PianoHeadv2.0v8]
 * Publisher:** Spinapse, Inc.
 * Copyright Date:** 2006
 * Platform:** Macintosh
 * Peripherals:** N/A
 * Grade/Age:** Late Elementary to Adult
 * Type of Class:** General Music, Theory

A limited free trial version is available online, but the full program costs $19.95, available on the Spinapse website. Copyright information is included with the downloaded folder under “License.rtf”. Distribution license/registration costs $14.95. The program is mostly intended for independent learning and enrichment. Drills are divided into several categories, such as interval training. Updates are or were at one time available on the Internet.
 * Teacher Support**

This program is designed to help music students learn and review fundamentals of music, such as key signature and note identification. The user gains points by completing drills in a timed setting, using the computer mouse to click buttons or simulated piano keys. The user can also use a MIDI keyboard to complete some of the drills. National Standards addressed:
 * Instructional Content**
 * Standard 2: Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
 * Standard 6: Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.

The interface is clean, simple, and effective, but does not contain elements that would be instantly appealing to younger students. However, the point system adds a game-like feel to the program – one gains points by getting questions correct and loses points for incorrect answers. Assuming older students are using the program, there is only a marginal learning curve required to understand it, although more care could have been taken to ensure the program’s clarity (middle C on the keyboard graphic is merely marked with an arrow, and since only a small portion of the piano is shown, the orientation of the graphic does not correspond to that of a real instrument).
 * Instructional Design and Pedagogical Soundness**

The note identification drill asks the user to read the note that is notated and click the corresponding piano key or use a MIDI keyboard and press the corresponding piano key. For interval training, the program provides the notation and plays the example to facilitate multiple types of learners, and users can choose whether they want to see and hear the intervals harmonically or melodically. There is also an option to hide the notation and merely listen to the example. This could be helpful for a beginning theory student who might struggle hearing intervals.

In the scales drill, the user “plays” the scale that is asked for by clicking the appropriate piano keys in order or playing the scale on a MIDI keyboard. If the incorrect key is played, scale degree numbers appear on the keys, and the user is given enough extra tries to complete the scale. The scales drills are a little confusing, as the program does not indicate clearly how to continue once a wrong note is entered. In the key signature drill, the user must choose what key signature is notated from buttons that comprise the circle of fifths.

Aside from completing the drills, users can engage in a more comprehensive “game” and aim for high scores. These scores can be shared online and compared to those of other users. Teachers can use students’ scores as part of their own assessment programs.
 * Record Keeping**

PianoHead is an adequate program for basic musical skills, but there is little that sets it apart from a multitude of other programs on the market. Although it can successfully benefit visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners of many ages, improvements should be made in the program’s clarity. For example, even someone who is familiar with the piano can make accidental errors because clicking images of the keys is cognitively different from playing them in reality. Once a user makes such a mistake, the scale degrees that appear on the keys may only confuse them more – in order to continue, the user must click the key that comes after the ones labeled with scale degree numbers. The competition feature adds a small amount of student motivation and is a fun way to bring all the separate skills together, but I would have liked to see more tutorial-style instruction in the four drills. Since at least some familiarity with reading music is required to use this program and the skills addressed are so basic in comparison, I would probably not recommend it to my music students, but it shows potential due to its low price. It's a well-designed program, but geared much more towards drilling skills already learned rather than basic instruction.
 * Overall Evaluation**

Rating: ***

Updated by Allison Paetz 11/12/2009

Reviewed by Michelle Cheng 10/26/2008