Adult Theory & Ear Training I

Wednesday Evenings, Spring '13, Room 32, 7:30-9:00

Links

Theory Practice:

my quizzer
emusictheory.com musictheory.net
(more)

Handouts

treble clef
rhythm #1
solfege
piano
accidentals
rhythm #2
major scales
key sigs

Worksheets

#1 treble clef.
#2 rhythm
#3 piano keys
#4 major scales
#5 bass clef
#6 key sigs

Anthologies

Level Up!
Rhythm
Sight-Singing

<--- Previous Class Next Class --->
Class 8: April 24
We started class by going over Worksheet #6 which covers the top half of the circle of fifths. At the bottom of this blog entry I'll include some computer-aided study apps that can further help you memorize your sigs.

I gave out two pages for piano study. I revised Simple Gifts with my official fingerings, in case you want them. (Remember though, that you are always free to modify whatever fingerings are indicated.) That is not our homework, though. For homework I'd like you to try these three scales.

Then we finally got around to something that is perhaps long overdue - bass clef! We read some of the bass clef material in Level Up, and I gave out a worksheet for that. That's the other part of our homework.

Finally, we did a lot of singing!

It's been a while since I did a roundup of computer-aided study options, so here are some recommendations that go with this week's lesson.

PC/MAC

As always I think our best option is at emusictheory.com, for little programs that work in any java-enabled web browser. He has a Bass Clef Quizzer and a Key Signature Quiz.

iPad/iPhone

As always I recommend Tenuto ($4), which is a very nice package of quizzers for basic musical skills. This week you could use it to practice your bass clef note reading and your key signatures. This app is really my first choice overall, because it does so many things and does them well.

If you would like another app that tries to pack in a lot of material, it might be a good time to try Musicopolous ($5). It does a lot of the things Tenuto does, but up until now I've refrained from recommending it because its interface is very slow, which is frustrating for practicing your basic skills like note reading. However, it quizzes more advanced subjects like the circle of fifths and scales, so it could eventually become quite useful.

There is also the free Key Signature Quiz which is decent.

Music Tutor is a free app that will drill bass clef for you, and there are a raft of apps that focus exclusively on reading notes and the piano keyboard. You could try Play Piano HD ($2) for iPad, Piano Notes Fun ($2) for iPhone, or Piano Notes Pro ($3) for iPad. These should all help with bass clef.

Android

Sight Read Music and Note Trainer remain our go-to apps for note reading. Both can drill bass clef.

Key Signature Pro is a slightly ugly key sig quizzer.