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A Brief Look at Music Theory & Ear Training Software

"Accountability" is the buzzword for survival in music education today. With the help of state-of-the-art music technology, we can now validate our instruction and show growth via assessments and performances as never before. Some excellent music theory and ear training software applications have arrived with attractive new features that can facilitate growth and learning for students of all ages.

Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory 3 (EMT3) and Datasonics' Mastering Music are now available in Web-based versions, and several companies have created software designed to prepare students for the music portion of the Advanced Placement exams. Keeping records of music theory and ear training progress is easier than ever with detailed analysis and reports readily available for parents, students, and faculty. Teachers can create customized instruction to meet their individual curriculum needs. New product updates offer more modules, cleaner interfaces with more graphic presentations and generally make music theory and ear training a lot more fun to learn.

Take a look at this buffet of instruction:

Positive Reflections: Brian Covey of Lockport Township High School

In recent years, the Lockport (Ill.) Township High School Concert Band has performed at MENC, the Illinois Music Educator Conference, the Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival, and the Bands of America National Concert Band Festival, where they share the record for most appearances by any one school. Under the guidance of Brian Covey, director of bands, the ensemble is in the midst of preparing to play at the upcoming Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago.

Brian's own story is rather unique: his parents worked overseas during his childhood, so he spent much of his youth abroad. First introduced to music as an eight-year-old in a curricular classical guitar class in Holland, it was several years before he would experience playing in an ensemble. When tragedy befell his guitar it was accidentally knocked over and broken Brian picked up the other instrument in the house, his father's trumpet, and never looked back.