Choirs, bands, and orchestras can use technology to improve their rehearsals and

performance outcomes. We will discover ways to use iPads, document cameras, basic
recording equipment, and social media to make your performing ensembles more
productive.
-Charles Tyler Turner**


Aural skills are pertinent to the success of any musician. They not only
enhance the performing aspect of music, but allow for the vocalist or
instrumentalist to sight read and critically analyze what they are hearing. Ear
training is especially important to young string players, who often struggle
with intonation. Intonation, [Charlene Dell] says, is a combination of
what the player hears in his head and the muscle memory that he attributes
to that sound. Aural theory technology programs are strong tools to
accompany instructors in their classrooms. Without aural theory courses, the
young generations of not only string players, but all musicians, would surely
fall behind.***

Ear Trainer- Dev4Phone




Ear Trainer is an aural theory app that is made for both IPhone and IPad.
The lite version has interval comparison exercises in which the user hears two intervals,
and decides if interval A or interval B is larger. The app keeps track of how many the
user answers correctly out of 15, and keeps a log of statistics in another section, making
grading less strenuous for the instructor.
The user can go into Settings and alter the tempo, exercise keys, exercise range, and the
instrument used to give the pitches among various other things.
Ear Trainer comes equipped with a musical glossary full of terms such as Aeolian,
diminished, enharmonic, key signature, root position, and triad.
The pro version, which costs $6.99, has over 230 ear training exercises available, and is
inexpensive in comparison to the amount of material received.
PA Standards 9.1.12.A, 9.1.12.B, 9.1.12.C



Better Ears- Appsolute GmbH









Better Ears is an advanced app, even when using the lite version.
When the app is opened, it allows the user to choose to training and learning. In the
training section, the app plays an interval, and the user has the option of selection unison,
major second, fourth, fifth, and octave.
In the learning section, the app lists those same options, and the user selects one to hear
and to see on a staff.
Other activities are scale recognition, chord recognition, chord progression, pitch
recognition, and key signature recognition.
The pro version has everything the lite version has, except for different levels of
difficulty.
PA Standards 9.1.12.A, 9.1.12.B, 9.1.12.C


Rhythm Sight Reading Trainer- Rolfs Apps








Rhythm Sight Reading Trainer is the perfect app for students to learn difficult rhythms
with little strain. The app allows the students to work at their own pace and monitor their
progress.
With meters from 4/4 to 7/8, the content never becomes redundant, and is always
challenging. There are over 200 exercises to be explored, consisting of syncopations,
duples, triples, quadruplets, and swing rhythms. Almost everything is customizable,
including the option of completing exercises with the left hand, right hand, or using both
hands independently.
Rhythm Sight Reading Trainer even comes equipped with an Expert Mode, where the
user challenges themselves to faster tempos, rhythmic dictation, and endurance.
This app is suited for students of any age or level, and can be utilized to correct bad
habits that may have formed in ensemble settings or help train Suzuki students.
PA Standards 9.1.12.A, 9.1.12.B, 9.1.12.C



Ear Master 6

Ear Master is a powerful software program that serves the purpose of ear training. It
provides over 2000 sight-singing, ear training and rhythmic exercises for all levels, a
general course for all musical styles such as jazz and swing.
It teaches the user to identify notes and chords by ear, transcribe, sight-read and sing
melodies, scales, chords, intervals, chord progressions and rhythms.
There is a statistics record so the user or instructor can keep track of their progress
throughout the use of the program.
Ear Master 6 comes in three editions, the pro edition, teacher edition for music educators,
and the essential edition, which is inexpensive but only contains the core of the pro
edition.
There is also a 7-day demo version available, which may prove useful to a unit built
around ear training software:
http://www.earmaster.com/downloads/trial-versions.html
PA Standards 9.1.12.A, 9.1.12.B, 9.1.12.C


Perfect Pitch- David Lucas Burge

Perfect Pitch is an audio software developed to help the user develop perfect pitch
through a series of exercises that spans over 8 disks, 24 master classes, and a handbook.
This program teaches through the concept of pitch color, and differentiates the pitches
through their individual color characteristics.
His tapes contain activities for the user to practice, and instructs them to only move on to
the next after they have perfectly completed 20 tasks in a row.
David Burge is so confident in his program that he offers a 40 day refund, and goes on to
say that 97% of users keep the program. There are many testimonies of the softwares
success, but the user in almost all cases spent time perfecting their ear every day. When
put into a daily classroom setting, this can be an extremely powerful tool that helps young
musicians develop their ear.
http://www.discount.perfectpitch.com/perfectrelative.htm#Both
PA Standards 9.1.12.A, 9.1.12.B










Dylan Gourley
Music Educator
d.gourley@setonhill.edu

*
Richerme, Lauren. (January 2, 2013). Teaching Music with Technology: An Interview
with Barbara Freedman. National Association for Music Education.
http://advocacy.nafme.org/blog/teaching-music-with-technology/

**
Duncan, Dale. S-Cubed: Successful Sight Singing for Middle School Teachers and their
Students. National Association for Music Education.
http://musiced.nafme.org/files/2014/01/S-Cubed-Webinar-Jan-2014-FINAL-Duncan.pdf

***
Springer, Nicole. (August 5, 2009). Muscle Memory, Ear Training, and Intonation.
National Association for Music Education. http://musiced.nafme.org/interest-
areas/orchestral-education/muscle-memory-ear-training-and-intonation/