Theory Games Software, Levels 1A-2 (for Piano).

Theory Games Software, Levels 1A-2 (for Piano), Alfred's Basic Piano Library. Alfred Publishing Company, Inc. (16320 Roscoe Blvd., Ste. 100, P.O. Box I0003, Van Nuys, CA 91410), 2004. $19.95.

Theory Games Software contains eight games presented in six parts and is designed to coordinate with Alfred Basic Piano Library for young beginners. All that's needed is a computer and mouse.

"Name that Key" requires the naming of white and black keys. A ladybug lands on a keyboard, and the student clicks on the corresponding letter. In subsequent levels, choices expand from CDEFG to all white keys, then sharps and flats. Graphics and sound effects are entertaining, but the drill is needlessly limited. At the beginning of the Alfred books, students play in C position--not enough of a reason to omit notes A and B, especially when CDEs and FGABs are easier to see.

"Note Name Race" drills note naming on the staff. In the upper corner of a forest, a staff-appears with G or F clef and one note, and the options are CDEFG. With each answer, a turtle scampers about, while pitched sound effects underscore his antics--a distraction from the note's sound. The visual focus is not the staff, but the forest and turtle. Choices in successive levels expand to all notes, then sharps and flats. No particular landmarks are stressed; the only ledger line note is middle C in treble staff:

"Cross the River" matches musical symbols with their names. There are choices like "forte," "quarter note," "tied notes" and so on, though it may be too early to introduce tied notes.

The object of "Counting Game" was not immediately apparent, but fortunately, there is a "help" button. Under an apple tree is a staffed rhythm pattern and a basket. Each apple has a note value, and a student chooses two apples to complete the rhythm. They fall into the basket, the correct notation shows, a click track plays four preparatory pulses, then the rhythm. I wish the game had started with four quarter notes. Instead, Alfred starts with a whole note. I should mention that I found at least two wrongly notated rhythm patterns.

In "Melodic Intervals," two ladybugs masquerade as note heads on a staff. The second ladybug can be positioned to match the text "up a second," by clicking an up or down arrow. I'm happy intervals are drilled. But when the first ladybug is on treble clef middle C, only an up arrow appears. Immediately upon choosing the answer, too many sounds are played before the interval itself. Middle C appears only on treble staff; the first staffed pieces in the Alfred book are in C position.

With "Chord Name Race," students identify a triad on a staff; the options are I, IV or V7 chords. One example is a second inversion G triad, two sharps in the key signature. In the multi-key approach, IV chords are first taught in second inversion. I've found this sequencing only works sometimes, and it teaches students to confuse a chord's inversion with its function. No one can tell how an isolated chord functions. A IV chord can't be heard without it appearing in a musical context. Without music around it, it's just a second inversion G chord.

"Carnival Fun" drills harmonic intervals on treble or bass staff. "Under the Sea" asks students to spell the two tetrachords in major scales.

The Alfred Theory Games Software is fun and has so much wonderful visual candy, but until certain pedagogical problems are solved and some small but meaningful refinements are made, I'll wait to have my students use it.

Susan Capestro, NCTM, Watertown, Massachusetts.