Mac | Mozart

Mozart

What is Mozart?

Mozart is a program designed to aid in the process of learning how to read music. It does that in form of a game. Once the game is started via the toolbar or menu a stream of whole notes comes streaming from the right side of the screen. These notes have to be named in the order of their appearance with the current input instrument (i.e. piano). Once a note gets too close to the clef on the left side of the screen it disappears in a cloud of vapor and the player loses one life. For each note named in time the player gets one point or more depending on level. The further the game progresses the more notes will appear in this steady stream and their range will widen to potentially include many ledger lines above and below the staff. Once a player has depleted all his lives the game is over and he might receive a high score. There are 6 virtual instruments available including Piano, Guitar, Mandolin, Solfege syllables and more.

supports Mac OS 10.7 (Lion)
very immersive game play
2 basic instruments (a, b, c, or do, re, mi)
4 advanced instruments (bass, guitar, mandolin and piano)
supports MIDI capable instruments as input devices
supports movable and fixed Do
training mode
half-speed option
alto, bass, tenor, treble clefs
all major and minor keys
non-diatonic notes
adjustable tuning for all stringed instruments
support for left-handed players
high-quality samples
top ten list
localized help
Academic discounts available
Localized into Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish

Is it for Me?

Designed for the beginning musician as well as the professional, Mozart is an excellent tool towards better reading in 12 minor and major keys, practicing Solfege, unfamiliar keys, clefs or just to have fun while learning. Guitarists will find the Training Mode a valuable tool to study unfamiliar positions or maybe explore new open tunings. Pianists may want to improve on bass clef reading and the upper levels of the game are challenging for the most advanced musician with double-flats, double-sharps and occasional key signature switch.

Virtual Instruments

Mozart has 6 virtual instruments that can be used during games. These act like little mini instruments and can be played anytime. The tuning for all string instruments (.i.e. guitar) is adjustable to accomodate open or uncommon tunings. Additionally, with exception of Letters and Solfege syllables, the notes belonging to the current key signature can be highlighted using gum drops.

Letters (i.e. C, D, E)
Solfege Syllables (i.e. Do, Re, Mi)
Bass
Guitar
Mandolin
Piano

Key Signatures and Clefs

Mozart can be played in the four most common clefs, Alto, Bass, Tenor and Treble. These can be used in all 12 major and minor key signatures. You can set up the particular key signature and clef you want to train in the Settings window.

Settings

In Mozart's Settings instrument and clef are selected. There are two basic instruments - letters (c, d, e) and solfége (do, re, mi) and four advanced instruments - bass, guitar, mandolin and piano. Mozart can be played in the four most common clefs, Alto, Bass, Tenor and Treble. These can be used in all 12 major and minor key signatures. Left-handed players may want to have the stringed instruments display invertedly with the left-handed option. In Training Mode an instrument's position can be pre-defined before starting a new game. Positions remain static throughout the game in Training Mode and an additional option exists to slow down note streaming by 50%. Scores obtained in Training Mode are not eligible for the leader-board in order to preserve the competitive nature of the game.

MIDI Input

Mozart for Mac OS X - MIDI Preferences

Mozart supports the use of MIDI capable instruments as input source during games. Instruments can be picked from the MIDI pane in Mozart's preferences and become available immediately for input during and between games.

Concluding

Mozart makes the task of learning how to read music enjoyable by immersing the student in a well-designed and challenging game. The didactic advantage to this approach is quite considerable for one because the time spent playing a game is not perceived as "study time" by the player. On top of that, however, the game forces players to identify notes very quickly as the animation progresses, a note changes position or the key signature changes in mid-flight. In version 2.0 the average time a player spends completing a game has more than doubled. At the same time the inclusion of accidentals and instrument positioning has broadened the spectrum of what is learned in the game. Anyone involved in learning or teaching an instrument or music in general will find Mozart to be of great value and most importantly - great fun.

RoGame Software