|
|
Subtitled "The game that
teaches you how to listen", Hearing Music offers
four types of activities that focus on listening
skills.
Recognizing the importance of
"hearing" skills in the music learning process,
this CD-ROM may not teach children to listen, but it
certainly provides fun and unique opportunities to develop
and hone listening skills.
Four main games, each of which
is multilevel, are offered. Comparing involves listening to
two musical phrases and discerning whether they are the same
and different. On the first two levels, children simply have
to select "same" or "different". On
levels 3 and 4, however, when the musical phrases are
different, children need to determine whether they are
slower, lower, backwards, or upside down!
The Matching game involves
finding two musical phrases that sound the same from a set
of 3, 4, or 5, depending on the level. In the Ordering game,
children listen to a musical piece and then reconstruct the
piece using individual musical phrases. Melodies, harmony,
and chamber music are featured on the different levels.
The Reading game involves
finding the correct notes for the tune children hear. This
game is divided into Beginning and Advanced, each of which
features 4 levels of difficulty.
Although simple, the graphics
are appealing and the game is easy to navigate and
understand. We found the program original in its focus on
listening skills, as well as appealing to a wide range of
age groups.
Other CD-ROM titles in the
Morton Subotnick series include Making Music: Create! Play! Experience! and Making More Music.
 |
|
Pros: |
|
- Original and valuable content that
focuses on an important skill in the music learning
process: listening.
- Encourages children to
discern subtle nuances in music.
- Multiple levels of
difficulty.
|
|
|
|
Cons: |
|
- Although strong for the subject area
covered, not as comprehensive a package as some other music learning
software titles.
|
|
|
|
|
|
[For more information, user
reviews, or to buy: Hearing Music-The Game that Teaches You how to Listen!] |
|
|
| Reviewed May 2004 |
|
