I Read Music 1.0, (2 CD-Rom set).

I Read Music 1.0, (2 CD-Rom set). Midisoft Music Software (24325 Crenshaw Blvd., 108, Los Angeles, CA 90505). $35. Beginning and intermediate.

I Read Music 1.0 offers theory drills in a game-like atmosphere. It comes with a bonus CD, Music Mentor, which contains an impressive amount of information ranging from music basics to history. I Read Music operates in one of four languages: English, French, German or Spanish. The Music Mentor is in English only. The software is compatible for both MACs and PCs.

The games in I Read Music are appropriate for beginning- and intermediate-level students. The drills are all in the treble clef--there are no bass clef drills.

Drills range from identifying notes and intervals, adding missing notes from chords (which are not always in root position) and identifying chords as either major or minor. The program does not go into diminished, augmented or 7th chords.

Answers are either multiple choice or made by dragging one of three dancing notes (one natural, one flat and one sharp) onto the staff. Placement of notes was a little challenging.

In the games, an aural example is played once and a visual example is given. Unfortunately, there is no way to hear an audio example a second time. This was frustrating. A scoreboard keeps track of correct answers and total examples given for each game.

When you have chosen your answer, you have to remember to click the "validate" button or you won't know if your answer is correct; it was hard to remember to do that. Also, you have to click on the "go on "button to progress to the next example. I would prefer it to accept answers and advance to the next example automatically. I also would prefer a set number of exercises for each game--you can go on indefinitely in each exercise. There is no record-keeping feature.

I found the help screen unclear and lacking in direction. It would be more helpful if instructions told you what to do for each exercise or explained the musical concept behind each drill.

I Read Music drills but does not teach concepts. There are no second guesses--if you choose the wrong answer, the correct one is immediately given.

The Music Mentor bonus CD is a small encyclopedia full of knowledge. It includes a composer and instrument gallery, a somewhat limited music dictionary, profiles of contemporary performers, text about reading and the basics of music, a music history timeline ranging from early music (pre-1600) through modern music, and information about society, style, instruments, composers and musical elements for each musical period.

I really like the Music Mentor CD for its wealth of knowledge, but I found the I Read Music program limiting and not on par with other theory programs software I use. Reviewed by Amy Rose Immerman, Cincinnati, Ohio.