New Note-naming Game using HTML5

[je_piano]

Hi, all.  I've created a new note-naming game called FlashNotes and would be interested in any feedback.  This is a re-write of an older game that used the Flash plugin.  The new version requires no plugins (no Flash, no Java, etc) and it works on my iPad.  It does require a modern browser (such as FireFox, Safari, Google Chrome, IE9) and javascript, however.

You can access the game at this link:  www.pedaplus.com/games/fn

Thanks,

Jon

[pianoman53]

I'm not a fan of this sort of "games". Cause, lets be honest, it's not a tiny bit fun, and I don't think one can learn that much out of it. It's most of the times not the notes that is the problem in bad sight reading.

Anyway, a bit feedback:

1. Make the answers like a piano, and the keys, rather than random boxes. The boxes doesn't make any sense, and that's obviously not what a piano looks like.
2. I only did the first level, so maybe I missunderstood, but instead of "Make as many rights as you can, in 20 seks" I'd do "Make 10 rights as fast as possible". If you are a real beginner, it will take time, and it will be very frustrating to never get into the flow.

[pianowolfi]

I agree with Pianoman53. It's very frustrating, even for me, and I am a very well trained musician and experienced piano teacher. And there are no sharps/flats/black notes at all. Not even a grand staff. You must be a non-musician, certainly.

[je_piano]

Thanks for the feedback, pianoman53 and pianowolfi !  I did consider using a keyboard-style input for this game, but the problem with that approach is that the notes range over a number of octaves - treble, bass, alto, and tenor clef with up to three ledger lines.  To keep the keyboard within a range of an octave would give a misleading (i.e., inaccurate) impression of the relative locations of the notes, especially for a pianist.  To spread the keyboard out over the entire range would be even more unwieldy in a speed game such as this.  The flexibility of clefs is also a reason that a grand staff is not really needed, although I might consider adding it for the higher, more difficult levels.

As for game play, there is a practice mode which allows you to practice naming as many notes as you can as fast as you can for as long as you want, with the ability to change clefs on the fly. When done, the program gives you stats: percentage correct, how long you practiced etc.  You just don't have an opportunity to compete against the top 10 scores.

In game mode, the only thing that gets you "out" is inaccuracy. You can go as slowly and for as long as you want at the same level, and continue to accumulate points, as long as you avoid making mistakes - five mistakes and you're done.

I realize it might take a little practice to "get into" the flow; I've found in my own testing that I'm the fastest using the computer keyboard keys (A through F are bunched in a fairly tight group on a QWERTY keyboard).  Second fastest is using the iPad.

If the casual user decides the game is no fun, then I can still resort to "recommending" that my students (at least the ones with note-recognition issues) practice with it  .  Perhaps there are a few bassoon, cello, or viola players out there that might find the tenor and alto clef practice useful.

At any rate, thanks for taking time to give me feedback!

Jon

[perfect_pitch]

Personally - the only free user program I've recommended to my students to help with their letter names is this one:

https://www.musictheory.net/exercises/note/dg1g1yryb

Customised ranges of notes, accidentals... rather good.

[je_piano]

Thanks for the recommendation, perfect-pitch!  I really like Ricci Adams's site - he's a great programmer and he's kept that site up-to-date.  His site is about the only other music theory games/drills/trainers site that I've seen that uses HTML5 and works on my iPad. Most others are Flash- or Java-based, and do not work on the iPad.

His note-trainer is fully customizable, which is great, and it covers the same four clefs as my game, plus accidentals and key signatures.  Of course, to handle that wide of a range of possibilities requires the rather large number of input buttons (sigh - you just can't please everyone -- see above).  Also, it's not as practical for speed drills or "top-score" competition (which I really wanted to include in this game, at the recommendation of my kids).

I'm planning to add a number of other games, drills and quizzes to my site, so your input has been invaluable.

Thanks,

Jon

[pianowolfi]

This is a note-game I sometimes recommend to students, it's cute and it's fun, and it's at least sort of keyboard-related. The disadvantages: It's German only, and it always shows only a part of the keyboard, not the whole. You have to first locate middle c via the keyhole symbol before you start.

https://www.musica.at/musiklehre/notenspiel/notenspiel.html

[fleetfingers]

Thanks for sharing that link, pianowolfi. That was fun! I like how the notes move to the left and you play on a keyboard, which makes it feel more like sightreading than using flashcards. Too bad it's in German, but I can use it with my students anyway.

[lostinidlewonder]

I find clicking on the Letters for an answer is ineffective and an incomplete answer.

It would be good to have a virtual piano keyboard to click on, this would be much more useful and educational.