Another type of question requires you to transcribe rhythms and melodies onto a staff using a simple toolkit which allows you to add, edit and delete different notes and rests. Likewise, with the rhythm imitation exercises, the app provides markers to show precise information about your timing as well as notating and evaluating what you play back to it. And with some of the sight-singing exercises, EarMaster will draw a line showing how accurate your tuning is alongside the notes as you sing, a bit like Graphical mode in Auto-Tune. The app will display and play the note you sang, identify the interval, and keep your score. For instance, you might be presented with a note on a staff, which is played back, and then asked to sing a Major Sixth. For some, you’re required to sing into the microphone so that EarMaster can judge your ability to copy an interval or a melody. But links are provided to a large quantity of accompanying online theory should you want some bedtime reading. The emphasis is on practical exercises, with the amount of written material presented kept to a minimum. The General Workshops section allows you to dive straight into a number of graded exercises covering intervals, chords, scales, rhythm and melody, while the Jazz Workshops and Customized Exercise sections provide more advanced material covering the same areas. Beginners Course provides a foundation in music theory that starts with the concept of pitch and progresses through topics including rhythm, intervals, triads and harmonic progressions. The training is divided into four sections.
EarMaster is a well-established name in the realm of ear training, having been around for the past 20 years, and the company have now launched a version of their eponymous software for the iPad.