New Computer Approach to Music Lessons Builds Musicianship Skills

Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 30th, 2003 – MusicGoals by Eye and Ear version 1.5 and MusicGoals Rhythm version 1.0 are now available. Using drill and response, these new computer programs put a magnifying glass on specific musicianship skills. Testing reveals weakness and then focused practice leads to mastery. Courses for piano, guitar, violin, viola, cello, and bass are included. New students select an instrument and MusicGoals configures itself with course work specific to that instrument. Their student file retains scores, progress, and personal settings.

“I’ve reviewed several different types of software in the last few months and believe MusicGoals is dramatically better than anything I’ve worked with. Great Product!” – said Benjamin Fay, new customer October, 2003.

MusicGoals by Eye and Ear combines sight-reading, instrument study, and ear training. This approach provides multiple learning strategies. MusicGoals’ strength is how it effectively manages the material that appears on screen. By limiting the number of choices and the portion of the instrument displayed, students focus on exactly what is required. By providing a variety of activities that present the material on the instrument, in notation, and by ear, students gain practical musicianship skills as they learn music theory.

It can be used with young beginners as well as very advanced musicians because it can adjust to the needs of each student. Three drill modes, “goal, practice, and custom”, make it easy to test, review, and focus on weak spots. The tempo can be adjusted to match the student’s level. The use of different drill modes and tempos make for productive use of time.

"This is the best software for working on fundamentals that I have used. I am a software engineer and I am very impressed. I am learning piano and this program serves me beyond any expectations I had. I can only say excellent work. I wish all software was this valuable." said Michael Colburn.

The second program, MusicGoals Rhythm, compliments MusicGoals by Eye and Ear. It helps students understand rhythm notation, read and notate rhythms, and develop two hand coordination and timing.

MusicGoals Rhythm has four activities:

1) Play Along – listen, read, and play along

2) Repeat After – listen and then play

3) Reading – read and play the notation

4) Dictation – listen and then select values to notate.

Step by step drill and repeat exercises simplify, limit, enlarge and then gradually increase the challenge. Rhythms are presented with a human feel. Students may choose a standard metronome or a drum beat. The drum beats encourage the use of large muscle motion and help students feel the beat. One and two part rhythms are integrated at all levels to develop coordination and sight-reading skills.

"No other application so effectively and painlessly integrates theory with the mechanics of music, and the multi-sensory approach truly reinforces this training. Before, I had found music theory sort of one-dimensional, but MusicGoals truly illuminates the proverbial “big picture”, where the rubber of theory meets the road of music." said Scott Andrews, seasoned clarinetist and chorister, fledgling pianist.

For additional information contact:

Gregory R. Giese, PhD

Singing Electron

13901 Balsam Lane N.

Dayton, MN 55327

Phone: 866-624-6257 or 763-323-3024

Fax: 763-323-7151

Email Address: Gregory@musicgoals.com

Web site address: http://musicgoals.com

MusicGoals by Eye and Ear and MusicGoals Rhythm run on Windows 95, 98, ME, NT4, 2000, and XP with mouse and sound. An external MIDI keyboard is optional but recommended for keyboard students. MusicGoals by Eye and Ear has 62 activities that cover note reading, scales, modes, intervals, chords, chord inversions, arpeggios, keyboard chords, guitar chords, (scales, modes, intervals, chords on any string instrument), scale-tone triads, scale-tone seventh chords, Roman numeral analysis, key signatures, clefs, solfeggio, melody, compound intervals, open and closed chord voicings, figured bass, secondary dominants, augmented sixth chords, positions (strings), and alternate tunings (strings). 

Singing Electron has been licensed for business in the state of Minnesota since 1987. The MusicGoals programs were developed in a music teaching studio. Feedback from teachers, students, and users from around the world has contributed to the development since 1998.

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