You can use the word tacet if a conductor will cue the performer to resume. This would be used when another soloist is improvising and there is not a precise number of measures. You can write out each measure of rest with a whole measure (whole note rest), or if you have more than a few measures, place two slashes (vertical lines or bars with the tops leaning to the right) in a measure and write the number of measures of rest above the slashes. For example, | // | with the number of measures to rest written above. Sometimes you will see something like this: |--- 8 ---| above the measure as well. Watch out because a measure of music followed by | // | // | without a number above the slashes can also mean repeat the previous measure. This is a kind of shorthand used with hand written parts. It is best to write out the rests if there are only a few measures and write out the repeats if that is what you want. So to avoid all confusion write out a whole measure rest before using the slashes.

There are many ways to do the same thing. It is best to write things as clearly as possible to save rehearsal time.

The MusicGoals programs run on Windows 7, Vista, and XP. If you have a Mac that is running one of these versions of Windows, the MusicGoals programs will run. Keep in mind that they run best when Windows is the only operating system. When running Windows within a Window on top of a Mac operating system, there can be some delay and they can seem to be sluggish. So it is best to boot up in Windows (run Windows natively). If you have Windows running on your Mac, give it a try before you buy. Download the free trials and see how they work on your computer. 

http://www.musicgoals.com/download_demo.htm

Question:[I have lost my piano in a fire but would hope to replace soon in the mean time could you tell me if your program gives me and actuall keyboard to practice the lessions very interested in purchasing the program for piano]

MusicGoals Eye and Ear uses a keyboard on the computer screen that you can play by clicking on the keys. It also allows you to use a MIDI keyboard connected to your computer. An electronic keyboard with USB or MIDI cable lets you play many of the answers to the drills right on the keyboard. Otherwise, you give answers by clicking the screen keyboard with your mouse. Other drills have buttons that you select to give the answers.

MusicGoals Eye and Ear is for ear training, reading music, learning your instrument, and learning music theory. It takes rhythm out of it so you focus on connecting pitch and ear with instrument and music notation. MusicGoals Rhythm takes pitch out so you can focus on just rhythm. Working the two programs together ensures that you develop areas of weakness and leads to very rapid progress.

I am sure MusicGoals will help you now and even after you get another piano. MusicGoals offers practice tools that take you beyond what you get when you just play.

Because it is a third you will need three letter names C, D, E. This is same as using adjacent lines and spaces on the staff. So we know that it will go from C double flat to some kind of E. Next, because you want to build a Major 3rd you will need to count 4 half steps. Counting on the keyboard or frets on a guitar you end on D. However, this must be written as some kind of E because we want a third. E double flat is the same note on the instrument as D natural. 

The thing to remember is that intervals are made up of two things, 1) the number of letter names (lines and spaces on the staff) and 2) the number of half steps. The interval number always answers the first question. The qualifier M m dim Aug tells reveals the number of half steps. 

MusicGoals Eye and Ear provide drills to master this and gain fluency with intervals. The Music Theory section of the help file has examples with pictures and instructions on building intervals. Press F1 to open help, then look for intervals in the music theory section on the table of contents.

Question:

[If it's allowed I would like to use some of the information you provided on my webiste. If I link back to this page would it be OK to do so?]

If you use material from the MusicGoals blog for republication, please add a link to the original and acknowledge the source. 

The information provided on www.MusicGoals.com and on the MusicGoals blog, http://www.singingelectron.com/MGBlog/ is provided not as the definitive answer to any subject. It is provided from a music teacher with one perspective. In many cases there are other perspectives to consider on any one subject. It is hoped that the material provided will help point MusicGoals users and music students in the right direction to continue to learn. It is also hoped that by providing this service, new visitors finding value will go on to check out the MusicGoals software.

An example of a compound meter could be 3/4 : 2/4. After every measure you change meter. The first measure would be in 3/4. The second in 2/4, then back to 3/4 and so on. A compound meter has a compound time signature with more than one type of meter. You could have a pattern of several time signatures one after another. Each measure would be in a different time signature based on the sequence. At some point it becomes easier to read when the meter changes are written in. But if you have a pattern of only two or three meters, it simplifies the notation to use a compound meter.

I need more information about this and might need to see the music to venture a guess. Generally a fermata is used to indicate and indefinite hold. Is this at the end of a piece? If so, I would guess that the rest is there to fill the measure. Otherwise, without the fermata and the end of a piece, the tempo keeps moving. I would guess that the written instruction "let vibrate" should be followed and that the rest is there as a simple short hand method to fill the measure. 

If I had and saw the music, I would make a musical decision on how I would play it. If the composer has left her intentions unclear, it is up to the performer to choose how best to make music.

Question: [I've just started learning classical guitar.  Can M/G Eye & Ear 'hear' a suction cup microphone plugged into the microphone jack of my sound card/computer?]

You will need more than a microphone pickup to connect your guitar to your computer. MusicGoals can accept MIDI input or you can use the mouse and the computer keyboard to perform the drills. MIDI is different from an audio signal. MIDI is a way for electronic musical instruments and computers to communicate. It consists of messages that identify note numbers on and off and other numbers that contain information on what instrument sound to play, what dynamic level, and other performance related information. It is made up of numbers that can be used to interpret what a player is doing.

Guitar MIDI often costs as much or more than a guitar. However, you can purchase a midi keyboard with a USB connection for your computer for as little as $100. 

MusicGoals does not require a MIDI input device. Many of the ear training and music theory drills do not use it. All of the drills can be done without it. However, for instrument study, it is nice to play the drills on your instrument. It is important for all musicians to learn keyboard basics. Keyboard makes music theory easier to understand.

theres a chord progression that goes Bbmaj7, Dmin7, Fmag7 and Ebmaj7 (all lasting for a bar each) with a bass line underneath going Bb, A, Ab, G (all lasting for a bar too). could someone please tell me whats going on with the key and why the bassline fits so well?

Hello Sean, 

Try this: Key of Bb: IMaj7, dm7- iii in second inversion, fm7 is vm7 with Ab in the bass (you cannot use FMaj7 over Ab), EbMaj7 over g is IV7 in first inversion in continuing it could go iv7 in first inversion Ebm7 over Gb then I64 Bb over F is Bb in second inversion. By now you have set up the key of Bb so you could go on Bb or go elsewhere. With figured bass you would have Bb: I7, iii64, v65, IV65, iv65, I64. 

This gives you a chromatic bass line from the tonic Bb to the dominant F. This excerpt fits mostly in Bb with some chromatic passing chords. 

If you are writing this out be sure to consider the voice leading for best results. 

MusicGoals Eye and Ear provides activities to master Roman numeral analysis and figured bass. This study begins with the study of scale-tone chords.

Question: [Hi, I heard that you lock each license to each customer's computer so no one can just give their serial number to a friend and their friend gets a program for free.
However, what happens if I buy your program and something happens to my computer and I have to reformat the hard drive? What happens if my computer gets stolen? How can I get the software back on my new computer?
I don't want to pay for a program and then not be able to use it.
Thanks. ]

Hello Frank, When you purchase MusicGoals you can become a registered user. We will replace your key if it gets lost in the event of a hard drive crash. If you were to give your key to a friend and it got into others hands, we would lose business and be less likely to invest in future development. In the long run this hurts everyone. So in the end we all rely on the honor system to some extent. As long as you register and do not share your key with others, we will continue to improve and trust you when you say you have lost your key. We will keep you up and running. 

Thanks for your interest in MusicGoals, 

Greg Giese