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.

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.