With accompanying tenuto app
Format: Web browsers (for full website)
iOS devices (for Tenuto and theory lessons apps)
Price: Free for web features
$2.99 for the theory lessons app
$3.99 for the Tenuto trainer and exercise app
Features:
Musictheory.net features interactive music theory lessons on topics ranging from the introductory (staff, clefs, duration values) to the more involved (keys, scales, and triads) to the advanced (inversions, chord progressions, and melody harmonization). The lessons allow students to work at their own pace and include audio and visual enhancements. Interactive trainers allow for practice and drill on a variety of skills, including note identification, scale, chord, and interval identification, key signature identification, ear training, and more. The difficulty and complexity levels for each exercise can be customized for each student or class.
This resource is valuable to music educators as it it can benefit students at all levels of music education, from beginners to high school or adult learners. See the images below for an idea of the wide span of content covered on musictheory.net. It can benefit musicians in all performance mediums, as the theory concepts are universal. All of the features can be accessed for free on a web browser, and the exercises and lessons can each be accessed via their respective apps on iOS devices.
iOS devices (for Tenuto and theory lessons apps)
Price: Free for web features
$2.99 for the theory lessons app
$3.99 for the Tenuto trainer and exercise app
Features:
Musictheory.net features interactive music theory lessons on topics ranging from the introductory (staff, clefs, duration values) to the more involved (keys, scales, and triads) to the advanced (inversions, chord progressions, and melody harmonization). The lessons allow students to work at their own pace and include audio and visual enhancements. Interactive trainers allow for practice and drill on a variety of skills, including note identification, scale, chord, and interval identification, key signature identification, ear training, and more. The difficulty and complexity levels for each exercise can be customized for each student or class.
This resource is valuable to music educators as it it can benefit students at all levels of music education, from beginners to high school or adult learners. See the images below for an idea of the wide span of content covered on musictheory.net. It can benefit musicians in all performance mediums, as the theory concepts are universal. All of the features can be accessed for free on a web browser, and the exercises and lessons can each be accessed via their respective apps on iOS devices.
Personal Experience:
I have been able to use the features of musictheory.net in a wide variety of settings. The lessons and trainers work well with beginning musicians as they are learning the fundamentals of music notation and note names. With more accomplished musicians, the key signature, scale, and ear training drills can further improve their skills. Students who need remedial work in music literacy can refine their abilities, even off to the side during ensemble class, with exercises tailored to their needs. I have used the exercises with beginning level and intermediate level students, and in both one-on-one lesson and full ensemble contexts. We turn it into games and see who can score the highest on each drill. I have also put exercises up on our classroom Smartboard, lined the students up single file, and had a "knockout" style elimination competition, which they get a kick out of. Several students have enjoyed the activities so much that they have put the apps on their own devices.
The lessons are especially beneficial for any type of music theory class, as the concepts start at the very basic and progress to the fairly advanced. Even at the level of an AP Music Theory course, the lessons on www.musictheory.net can be a great asset to students for many of the concepts covered throughout the year. The drills in scale, interval, and chord identification and ear training are especially beneficial in preparing for the AP Music Theory exam.
I have been able to use the features of musictheory.net in a wide variety of settings. The lessons and trainers work well with beginning musicians as they are learning the fundamentals of music notation and note names. With more accomplished musicians, the key signature, scale, and ear training drills can further improve their skills. Students who need remedial work in music literacy can refine their abilities, even off to the side during ensemble class, with exercises tailored to their needs. I have used the exercises with beginning level and intermediate level students, and in both one-on-one lesson and full ensemble contexts. We turn it into games and see who can score the highest on each drill. I have also put exercises up on our classroom Smartboard, lined the students up single file, and had a "knockout" style elimination competition, which they get a kick out of. Several students have enjoyed the activities so much that they have put the apps on their own devices.
The lessons are especially beneficial for any type of music theory class, as the concepts start at the very basic and progress to the fairly advanced. Even at the level of an AP Music Theory course, the lessons on www.musictheory.net can be a great asset to students for many of the concepts covered throughout the year. The drills in scale, interval, and chord identification and ear training are especially beneficial in preparing for the AP Music Theory exam.
Pros:
Cons:
- Lessons cover a variety of music theory concepts
- Lessons are interactive - students control the pace, and lessons include both visual and audio depictions of concepts
- Training exercises can be completely customized to any level of difficulty or complexity
- Interface on all components is easy to use
- Website access is free
Cons:
- Lessons clearly demonstrate concepts usually in the key of C Major or a minor, however there is not always transfer to other key areas
- Content that is available for free on the web site is not available for free on mobile devices
- The mobile apps are limited to iOS devices. Users who enjoy the website features, but who don't have an iOS device, will be disappointed
Final Thoughts & Verdict:
www.musictheory.net is a GREAT resource for music educators at any level. It cannot provide an entire curriculum or an entire class worth of activities, but the lessons and trainers are fantastic supplements for any music class or lesson situation. The complete customization of any trainer exercise allows for each student to have an individualized experience, which is incredibly valuable. Music learners of all levels can find some sort of benefit with this resource. Even if students only need help with one concept, such as key signatures, a lesson or exercise can be found to accomplish the goal. Free access to the web version, uncluttered by ads and other junk, is an incredible value. Those who feel urged to support musictheory.net can pay the small app cost.
www.musictheory.net is a GREAT resource for music educators at any level. It cannot provide an entire curriculum or an entire class worth of activities, but the lessons and trainers are fantastic supplements for any music class or lesson situation. The complete customization of any trainer exercise allows for each student to have an individualized experience, which is incredibly valuable. Music learners of all levels can find some sort of benefit with this resource. Even if students only need help with one concept, such as key signatures, a lesson or exercise can be found to accomplish the goal. Free access to the web version, uncluttered by ads and other junk, is an incredible value. Those who feel urged to support musictheory.net can pay the small app cost.
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