Elementary kids from grades 2-6 love it. There have been reports that college kids working to bone up on theory love it. There have even been reports of music teachers challenging themselves on their speed before the little note heads pop that love it. It's Music Ace™, and it, in my opinion, has revolutionized music theory for all levels and has just made it doggone fun!

For this elementary teacher, one of the most wonderful features about this program is its user-friendliness. I often have computer partners working together with headphones while I have class with everyone else. Even second graders can handle logging in and finding the different sections: lessons, games, and Doodle Pad. The Maestro, with his "ultra-cool" European accent holds the students' interest while the lesson is being conducted. The lesson goes through each objective in the same order as the game does, as well as allowing the students a "trial-run", so to speak, so the game procedure won't be quite so new. But, boy, be on your toes when the game begins! This is excellent training for concentration on the part of the students. Even my attention-deficit students concentrate on this, because they like it and are bound and determined to rack up the levels! Each game goes through a certain number of levels, and give you 4 bonus "noteheads". As the student progresses through the game, each incorrect answer pops one of the main noteheads, and the reserve replaces it. BUT, if all four reserve noteheads are used up, then another one is popped, the entire game is over.

For monitoring purposes, Music Ace™ keeps a game progress score, showing which lesson game has been complete, which is a good assessment for the teacher to see which concepts have been understood. Music Ace™ I covers ear training, the staff (both treble and bass), pitch, up to the 25th lesson, which is key signatures. (There is also a Music Ace™ II, which will be reviewed at a later date)

Want to combine music with some artistic abilities? Let your students place on the Doodle Pad for a while. Through a click-and-drag process, note heads can be moved onto a staff to create some wonderful compositions. The note heads are colored according to-guess what?-tone color! There are no stems. The note heads change in size from the whole note value being the largest to the eighth note value. Students can add ties, and even accidentals. I have students who like to see what patterns they can create (even trying to spell their own names), then playing the end result. There is also a Jukebox with familiar tunes, which can be played or altered according to the student's fancy.

If you are starting a music technology set-up in your classroom and can't get anything else, get this. It's really a winner (truly! As of March, 1999, Music Ace™ had won 28 awards). To try this great program out for yourself, click onto Harmonic Vision to download a demo.

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