A number of people expressed interest in any responses I
received to my query about software to improve the quality
of an individual's sight singing and pitch matching ability.
Here's a copy of my original message, and the responses.

-------------

Original Query:

If anyone out there has had some experience with using the "Sing!"
program for sightsinging training (produced by a company called
Musicware - http://www.musicwareinc.com/), I'd like to hear about it.

A new singer has appeared in one of my choruses who is having a lot of
trouble with basic pitch matching. We're committed to being a "All
Welcome - No Audition" group but this person is causing a real problem.
We'd like to give him an honest chance, and do all we can to bring him
along, before giving up on him.

If anyone has knowledge of other, similar programs for ear
training/pitch matching, I'd like to know.

---------------------

Responses:


From: John Elving

This program is definately well worth the money. I have used it with
groups of children up through adults. One of the most successful is using
it with barbershop choruses, some of which are "all come, no audition"
groups. The best thing is that they can see their own progress. It is very
visual. It is also very demanding in pitch matching (measures something
like 1/100th of a cent). I have found that kids like it because it seems
like a game, and adults like it because they can measure their progress,
and they see it works. I don't think you will be disappointed.



From: Kelly Demoline - Kelly's Music & Computers

I have used Sing! from Musicware, along with the MusicLab Melody and
MusicLab Harmony programs. (We also sell them :-)

As a music educator myself, we are setting up a lab for our students to
use MusicLab Melody program. I have used it with other students and have
seen tremendous results (and I brush up my own skills in MusicLab
Harmony.) I really like the program because it is comprehensive - it
covers rhythm, melody, sight singing, etc. It is also suitable for a wide
range of abilities from beginner to advanced (it includes 20 basic and 20
advanced levels.) I find that the sight singing is responsible for huge
improvement in students' intonation (I teach band), and from other's
experiences, it sounds like it improves general singing skills as well.
For more information, or a demo, try
http://kellysmusic.mb.ca/musiclab.html

Sing! takes the sight-singing portion of the MusicLab program and expands
it. The great thing about Sing! is that you can import MIDI files and it
will teach/coach you to sing the music. For more info, visit
http://kellysmusic.mb.ca/results.asp?r=k&idp7

If you have a real beginner with absolutely no reading skills, then you
might want to try Music Ace. It is designed for kids, but it is a lot of
fun and has tremendous results. Check it out at
http://kellysmusic.mb.ca/musicace.html

Hopefully this is helpful to you - best of luck with your newcomer :-)



From: Margot McLaughlin

Nancy Telfer has programs for sight singing and for voice training - I
think she's Canadian, but I don't know who the publisher is.


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[end of compilation]

- Alan Rothenberg
Philadelphia, PA
arothenb(a)netaxs.com