Peer Review

Reading Music

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Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: This module is a part of a very large music theory site teoria.com. A review of that site can be found at: http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=85811 The module uses Flash demonstrations and leads the user through the process of reading music notation.
Type of Material:: The material is text based with Flash demonstrations including audio and animation. Tutorial in Spanish and English.
Recommended Uses:: This is a valuable site for the review of the elements of music notation. It can be used as a concise reference to the basic elements of rhythm, pitch, and the music staff. The Flash demonstrations are valuable to tie the notation to sound.
Technical Requirements:: A contemporary browser capable of working with Flash, Javascript, and HTML.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: The purpose of the site is to provide users with a basic knowledge of music fundamentals. The concepts of rhythm, melody, harmony, and form are introduced through a series exercises which provide musical examples with audio.
Target Student Population:: High school and college students who are starting to read music is the target student population. Any individual interested in learning to read music would find this material valuable.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: The ability to play an instrument (beginner) would enhance success in using this material.

Rating:
Strengths:: The material is presented in a very clear order. The navigation is clear so using this material as a reference or review is valuable. The material is concise further adding to its value as a reference tool. Provides music audio examples of the concept being presented. This allows the student the opportunity to apply the definition to the sound. The section on "How We Read Music" is one of the most powerful parts of the tutorial. This section leverages technology to the fullest.
Concerns:: Clear and precise learner objectives are needed to introduce each section of music concept study. This would provide users with a clear understanding of the goals for each section of study.

Rating:
Strengths:: The is an excellent site for students to work as self learners. It is also a good companion site for students who might need another way to look at the basic notational symbols and sounds. Animation is used to illustrate music reading, key signature, and intervals. The presentation is most effective in providing visual cues for the concepts being presented. The intervals section provides very practical exercises for ear training.
Concerns:: The section on chord and scale construction, and inversions (Identification and Construction)might prove challenging for high school and general college students.

Rating:
Strengths:: Clear navigation makes operation of the site obvious. The Flash examples are activated by mouse roll over. Presentation is very clean. The navigation bar allows the user to easily move through the tutorial and focus on areas of review and remediation.
Concerns:: Again, the need for clarity of purpose - learner objectives - would help the user know what is expected from each section.

Other Issues and Comments:: This is a powerful site that provides a comprehensive overview of basic music concepts. The music content is presented in such a way that basic skills are mastered first that provide a foundation for more advanced concepts. For example: the user experiences beat and pulse before moving on to the concept tempo and meter. This site can be a stand alone experience for a student but would best be used in combination with in-class activities or other more expanded materials. It is a good place to send a confused student to find clear explanation of how to interpret the symbols of music notation.
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