Laurie Shearer

Alfred’s Interactive Musician

By Morton Manus

Alfred’s Publishing Company

Copyright 2004

Age/Grade: Beginner to Experienced

Hardware required: Windows or Mac

Educational Content

Alfred’s Interactive Musician is interactive software created to reinforce classroom instruction in the areas of pitch, sight-singing,
and rhythm. Activities include a counter screen which tracks number of correct and incorrect answers given by the student. The
program is created to give the student more chances if the wrong answer is given. Once each level is mastered the student has the
choice of playing again or moving to the next level.

A piano is provided on the screen for the student to use with different exercises. Students are able to choose the correct piano key
by using the mouse to move over the piano keys. Piano notes can be chosen by a click of the mouse. A MIDI keyboard maybe
attached to use if preferred by the pupil. Options of other instruments such as accordion, saxophone, oboe and other options are
available for the exercises as well.

Pitch Several exercises available in the area of pitch include Single note, interval, melodies, chords, and scale. Activity gives
pitch sound and pupil is to choose note on piano that is given in the tutorial.
In the Interval exercise students have the ability to recognize relative pitch. Intervals are given, the first note is played and the
student responds with the second note of the interval. The Melody exercise gives several notes that must be played back. The
student must remember what they heard and respond correctly. In the scale exercises major, minor, harmonic minor and other
scales are played with pupil replaying what was heard. The chord exercise plays a group of notes together and the student is to
play the chord heard. The first note is shown on the piano so the student does know the root of the note.

Sight-reading

In the sight- reading categories, activities are limited. There are not as many exercises available as in the other areas of the
program. Levels are available for right hand alone and left hand alone. More difficult levels are included which incorporates the
use of both hands.

Rhythm

The Rhythm Reading activity is played using the screen piano or attached MIDI keyboard. In this program the student will see
measures of rhythm patterns and the student uses the shift key to answer. In the more difficult levels of practice where both
hands are needed the right hand uses the shift key and the left hand uses the control key. In the rhythm diction exercise, rhythms
are entered exactly as heard. Press the score button to find your result. A custom rhythm exercise is available for students to be
creative by developing their own rhythm patterns. Another program for creativity is notation toolbar. It is a custom rhythm
program that allows the student to use rests and other music notation.

Overview

Alfred’s interactive Musician is an excellent source in developing musicianship skills. Students have the ability to work at their
own pace and teachers are able to monitor student knowledge and understanding. The exercises in this program have randomized
activities so that the student has a different exercise each time.