Computer Software

[jpianoflorida]

We started this topic a while back and got off track, as that seems to happen on this forum..let's try again!

Do you use any kind of learning software , technology in your studio?  I use "pianosuite"..it's great.....I have it hooked up to 3 computers in my studio...the kids really enjoy and learn from it.   What other programs have you had experience with?

[chris28120]

I've created a free software helping pianists to improve their sight-reading :
https://www.jalmus.net/
In the first game "Note reading" student can give answer with a MIDI Keyboard connected on the computer. The second game "Rythm reading" is not really finished but it could help beginners to learn rythms on randomly exercices.
All ideas to improve my software are welcome.

[jpianoflorida]

thanks chris i'll check it out....

[allthumbs]

Check here as well. It's software that I have used.

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,11822.msg124406.html#msg124406


Cheers

allthumbs

[penguinlover]

I only use the MacGamut program.  It is mostly for ear training.  And welcome Chris.  That was your first and only post so far!  Hope you enjoy the forum.

[jpianoflorida]

I only use the MacGamut program.  It is mostly for ear training.  And welcome Chris.  That was your first and only post so far!  Hope you enjoy the forum.

where do you get this penguinlover?

[chris28120]

I only use the MacGamut program.  It is mostly for ear training.  And welcome Chris.  That was your first and only post so far!  Hope you enjoy the forum.

Thanks penguinlover. In fact i'm visiting this forum since 2004 but i read it just sometimes (especially Audition room). I'm not a teacher, just an "amateur" pianist interesting on music software education. I think softwares for sight-reading or ear training could be very interesting for adult's beginners like me.

For Ear Training i've personnaly used  EarMaster Pro it's very complete and there is too a school version. Gnu Solfege is a good free software (open source) for ear training but less complete than EarMaster.

A demo of MacGAMUT is available on this site : https://www.macgamut.com/ but i can't test it because i'm now under Linux.

[penguinlover]

I cheated.  My kids are in college, and that is the program they used for their theory homework.  After the semester, I took it from them.  They weren't going to use it, and I can make good use of it.  It is registered in my daughter's name, and I don't use it to its full potential because I am not turning in homework online every night.  But it is great for  my students who are thinking about being music majors.  So I guess in essence, I paid for it by their tuition money, and it was purchased at the bookstore.

[keyofc]

J,
It's https://www.macgamut.com/
Pretty nice program.

[xardas]

Well...
There's a nice ear training program called solfege: https://www.solfege.org/
It's free and opensource, so might be interesting for the kids.

[lenkaolenka]

I've created a free software helping pianists to improve their sight-reading :
https://www.jalmus.net/
In the first game "Note reading" student can give answer with a MIDI Keyboard connected on the computer. The second game "Rythm reading" is not really finished but it could help beginners to learn rythms on randomly exercices.
All ideas to improve my software are welcome.

Dear Chris,
I was trying to download your software, but something is going wrong on my computer I need some time to get home to check it out ( I am on vacation now)
Could you, please, explain in words ( or perhaps you have videos) how exactly your software improves reading of pianists?

[chris28120]

Jalmus is not a miracle software but just an additional tool to improve pianist's sight reading and work a lot of small pieces is always essential.

By example, the "In line game" is interesting to anticipate when you read notes (to read two then more and more notes in advance) :



And exercices on intervals and chords are also useful. In future, if i found enough time, i'm adding a tutor system with progressives exercices.

[lenkaolenka]

Dear Chris,
I see, that you are trying to use visual support for music readers: you eliminated some lines and keys and placed some dots on piano keys.
From the point of psychology of visual perception, you have chosen the right direction.

What ages are your target users? What level of advance?   

Do you have a research, how many students actually succeeded with your software?

[nilsjohan]

I see, that you are trying to use visual support for music readers: you eliminated some lines and keys and placed some dots on piano keys.

The above image posted by chris28120 do not display thin lines correctly when sized down to fit in the forum.
View the full image at:
https://www.jalmus.net/IMG/png/screenshot2.png

[lenkaolenka]

The above image posted by chris28120 do not display thin lines correctly when sized down to fit in the forum.
View the full image at:
https://www.jalmus.net/IMG/png/screenshot2.png

Thank you!
Can you, please, explain to me the meaning of red vertical line across the Grand Staff and two green dots on keys F and G?

[lenkaolenka]

The above image posted by chris28120 do not display thin lines correctly when sized down to fit in the forum.
View the full image at:
https://www.jalmus.net/IMG/png/screenshot2.png

Oh, I got it!
F - Base, G - Treble and there some visual indication of Middle C
I just don't understand red line

[chris28120]

If the first note of the line touch the vertical red line then the user loose.

The green point on keyboard at screen is the base note used to select notes to study. By example, with selecting "3 notes", treble key in preferences and base note G, user work only on F (before the point), G (the point) and A (after the point). And with the right and left keys, you could move the base note (green point) to study by example G, A, B and all the keyboard lenght.
 
I've first developped this software for me but few adult's beginners have report me that they have made rapidly progress using it with MIDI keyboard connected at computer. But i don't think childrens could use it alone.

[lenkaolenka]

If the first note of the line touch the vertical red line then the user loose.

The green point on keyboard at screen is the base note used to select notes to study. By example, with selecting "3 notes", treble key in preferences and base note G, user work only on F (before the point), G (the point) and A (after the point). And with the right and left keys, you could move the base note (green point) to study by example G, A, B and all the keyboard lenght.
 
I've first developped this software for me but few adult's beginners have report me that they have made rapidly progress using it with MIDI keyboard connected at computer. But i don't think childrens could use it alone.

If the first note of the line touch the vertical red line then the user loose.

It means, that the music notes are scrolling from right to left?

The green point on keyboard at screen is the base note used to select notes to study. By example, with selecting "3 notes", treble key in preferences and base note G, user work only on F (before the point), G (the point) and A (after the point). And with the right and left keys, you could move the base note (green point) to study by example G, A, B and all the keyboard lenght.

So, you are using limited amount of music notes and keys to build skills gradually?
 

I've first developped this software for me but few adult's beginners have report me that they have made rapidly progress using it with MIDI keyboard connected at computer. But i don't think childrens could use it alone.

Yes, gradual increase of difficulty is always beneficial.
For children and very beginners it is  helpful to have more visual support, I think

[chris28120]

It means, that the music notes are scrolling from right to left?

Yes, i think it's more logic.

So, you are using limited amount of music notes and keys to build skills gradually?

Yes and the speed that notes are scrolling too (largo to presto).
 

Yes, gradual increase of difficulty is always beneficial.
For children and very beginners it is  helpful to have more visual support, I think

If you test Jalmus, all ideas to improve it are welcome.

[lenkaolenka]

Yes, i think it's more logic.
Yes and the speed that notes are scrolling too (largo to presto).
 If you test Jalmus, all ideas to improve it are welcome.

Dear Chris,
You approach had been 'improved' already Our software has all the features, that you had mentioned and many others:
1.   We also use scrolling music notes from right to left, but they stop on the yellow line and should be played instantly. Otherwise, timing on the right bottom of monitor grows against the player
2.   The pieces have 'build in' tempo and if to play them perfectly, the timing should be zero. This way we don't have 'three speeds', but still developed the way to challenge students' reaction and build speed.
3.   On the left bottom of the screen – amount of played notes compare to perfect score
4.   Student can play music with right, left and both hands (you have to press R, L or P for pair) – gradual increase of difficulties.
5.   On the top of that student can hide music notes of right, left and both hands to memorize piece.


Most likely you use only whole notes in your software in order to take pressure off  worries about duration.
We also came from the same point, when we developed our software for beginners. The difference is: we managed to avoid 'mechanical process' of study and created the way to develop the same skills but by playing real music. We solved the problem with computer animation.
The software has many other features and practically covers all the aspects of music learning from A to Z. All the features are patented.

Here you may find more information about it and many pictures (look at presentation 2 and 5)
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,22270.0.html

[lenkaolenka]

Check here as well. It's software that I have used.

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,11822.msg124406.html#msg124406


Cheers

allthumbs

I checked the software. As all others, it based upon dry drills with no understanding of music system. All the students ought to do - is thoughtlessly memorize music notes and keys with no understanding of music as a language.

[lenkaolenka]

J,
It's https://www.macgamut.com/
Pretty nice program.

This program is nice for people, who already in music secondary schools.
I don't see, how beginners of any sort could benefit from the program

[penguinlover]

You're right there.  I got acquainted with it as a college level program.  I really don't know much more about it, they may have beginner programs.  I wouldn't dare use what I have on a beginner.  I use it to challenge my advanced students.

[lenkaolenka]

You're right there.  I got acquainted with it as a college level program.  I really don't know much more about it, they may have beginner programs.  I wouldn't dare use what I have on a beginner.  I use it to challenge my advanced students.

If your students are advanced, they deserve to be challenged in more smart and sophisticated way,
They way that your had been chosen by using this software is not the best for that purpose.

[penguinlover]

Probably not, but it's all I have at the moment.

[lenkaolenka]

Probably not, but it's all I have at the moment.

It is not an excuse.
If you would visit dentist and he would offer bottle of vodka as anesthesia to you, because 'this is all what he has in this moment', how would you like it?
If you are a professional, do your homework and find better software!

[chocolatedog]

It is not an excuse.
If you would visit dentist and he would offer bottle of vodka as anesthesia to you, because 'this is all what he has in this moment', how would you like it?
If you are a professional, do your homework and find better software!

Maybe some people can't afford to keep buying new software...........

If you are a professional. stop insulting other teachers and stop casting doubts on their professional abilities......

[lenkaolenka]

When people want to do something, they find ways. When they won't – they find excuses.
I announced in this forum several times that my system is practically free for teachers, I also added, that this system also supports teachers monetarily.  How expensive is that?

[brahms4me]

When people want to do something, they find ways. When they won't – they find excuses.
I announced in this forum several times that my system is practically free for teachers, I also added, that this system also supports teachers monetarily. How expensive is that?

The operative word here being PRACTICALLY.

[lenkaolenka]

The operative word here being PRACTICALLY.

Good excuse!

[chocolatedog]

So basically you're calling anyone unprofessional if they don't use your software...............

[lenkaolenka]

So basically you're calling anyone unprofessional if they don't use your software...............

So basically you're calling anyone unprofessional if they don't use your software...............

I think, that you are limiting my ability to software, but it is not only software I offer to professionals. For many years I conducted a valuable research and here some of the important points, which I want music educators to consider:

1.   By singing music with Solfeggio people develop not just voice, but music ear as well as ability to translate sounds in notation and be able to read and write music.
2.   Psychologists from Moscow University found out that singing notes develop music ear of people, who can not carry tune. They also discovered by putting some electronic device on people's throat, that people percept music with vocal chords. 
3.   Speech memory is very important in music memory development. When my students memorize music pieces with singing Solfeggio, they memorize pieces faster and more effectively.
4.   Piano playing involves many different obstacles, such as keys and notes recognition and coordination development.
5.    I developed ways to take one problem at a time and collected some data about how the skills are getting developed and created some healthy and natural ways of balance all the problems in class
6.   I developed a curriculum of teaching music as a language for beginners from 2+ years old to advanced levels
7.   I invented definition of Music Alphabet and importance of it for fluent music reading
8.   I invented visual ways of music sight-reading development
9.   We with computer programmers invented interactive animation, that helps students to develop coordination and piano technique

There are more things I can say about 'software', but I won't. It would be time for that later.

[chocolatedog]

So your abilities are limitless then?

[lenkaolenka]

So your abilities are limitless then?

Today my system is the best in the world.

[chocolatedog]

    That was a joke, right?