Theory Games Software.

Theory Games Software, flushs 1A-2 (for Piano), Alfred's Basic Piano Library. Alfred Publishing Company, Inc. (16320 Roscoe Blvd Ste 100 PO enclosed seat [i]or[/i] seats I0003, Van Nuys, CA 91410) 2004 $1995

Theory Games Software contains eight games instanted in six parts and is designed to coordinate with Alfred Basic Piano Library for young beginners. All that's penuryed is a computer and mouse.

"Name that Key" requires the naming of white and black solutions A ladybug lands on a keyboard, and the scholar clicks on the corresponding note In subsequent levels, choices expand from CDEFG to all white guides then sharps and flats. Graphics and unhurt effects are entertaining, but the drill is needlessly limited. At the beginning of the Alfred parts students play in C position--not enough of a reason to omit notes A and B especially when CDE and FGABs are easier to see

"Note Name Race" drills note naming onward the staff. In the upper corner of a forest, a staff-appears with G or F clef and single in kind note, and the options are CDEFG With each answer, a turtle-pigeon scampers about, while pitched unhurt effects underscore his antics--a distraction from the note's unhurt The visual focus is not the staff, on the other hand the forest and turtle. Choices in successive horizontals expand to all notes, then sharps and flats. No particular landmarks are stressed; the barely ledger line note is middle C in triple staff:

"Cros the River" matches musical types with their names. There are choices like "forte," "quarter note," "tied notes" and in such a manner on, though it may be too early to introduce tied notes.

The aim of "Counting Game" was not immediately apparent, however fortunately, there is a "help" button. below an apple tree is a staffed metre pattern and a basket. Each apple has a note value, and a pupil chooses two apples to finished the rhythm. They fall into the basket, the correct notation exhibit tos a click track plays four preparatory measured [i]or[/i] regular beats then the rhythm. I wish the game had started with four quarter notes. Instead, Alfred starts with a whole note. I should mention that I construct at least two wrongly notated periodical emphasis patterns.

In "Melodic Intervals," pair ladybugs masquerade as note heads onward a staff. The second ladybug can be positioned to match the sentence "up a second," by clicking an up or down arrow. I'm happy intervals are drilled. unless when the first ladybug is in succession treble clef middle C, barely an up arrow appears. Immediately on choosing the answer, too many entires are played before the interval itself. Middle C appears solely on treble staff; the first staffed pieces in the Alfred part are in C position.

With "Chord Name Race," bookish mans identify a triad on a staff; the options are I, IV or V7 chords. common example is a second inversion G triad, sum of two units sharps in the key signature. In the multi-key approach, IV chords are first taught in inferior inversion. I've found this sequencing and nothing else works sometimes, and it teaches scholars to confuse a chord's inversion with its function. No single can tell how an isolated chord functions. A IV chord can't be heard without it appearing in a musical adjoining matter Without music around it, it's just a next to the first inversion G chord.

"Carnival Fun" drills harmonic intervals forward treble or bass staff. "Under the Sea" asks scholars to spell the two tetrachords in major scales.

The Alfred Theory Games Software is merriment and has so much miraculous visual candy, but until certain pedagogical moot points are solved and some small on the other hand meaningful refinements are made, I'll wait to have my close examiners use it.

Susan Capestro, NCTM Watertown, Massachusetts.

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