Pitched at the right level

Rhythm and Pitch, a suite of musical dictation tests, is rather unambitious in its scope, and certainly not the real break through claimed by publishers Chalksoft.

But it undeniably has one major virtue which sets it apart from some of its competitors—it does what it sets out to do, and does it effectively.

In the refreshingly literate documentation, the author rightly claims that his brainchild is for music students of all ages.

> His prime aim, however, has been to supply teachers with graded aural exercises extending to about CSE level.

The dictation tests are presented in groups of 10.

Answers are entered with the function keys or, for some low notes, the appropriate letter keys (the program comes complete with a key-card inlay). Scores are displayed and. in the disc version, stored in a file which can be called from the menu.

> Within the constraints of three metronome settings, five note values, four major scales. 3/4 or 4/4 time, and a choice of rhythm only, pitch only, or rhythm and pitch combined, various levels of difficulty can be selected.

But left to its own devices, the program will choose suitable test grades, based on a student's previous results.

In the more advanced melody tests, the student is required to use pen and manuscript paper.

> This steam-age approach clashes with high technology, but the method is practical if only because it simulates current exam procedures.

For checking, the correct answer is displayed on the screen.

Nothing is more obviously suited to a micro than ear-train ing tests, an area in which the micro's often-vaunted patience and anonymity can for once be of unquestionable benefit.

> Students can practice these most nerve-racking of trials without standing in the well of a piano, under the gaze of a teacher who. by causing anxiety, may unwittingly slow down or even reverse the learning process.

And the teacher can be freed from the time-consuming business of individual tuition.

I can therefore recommend Rhythm and Pitch as a func tional educational aid, and a real labour-saving device.

Gabriel Jacobs