On Sat, May 23, 2009 at 11:38 AM, Harpsong <harpsong99@...> wrote:

> I have started using a computer program called "Practica Musica" and
> there's a lot in it that I really think is helping - not only note-reading
> and chord drills, but rhythm drills and other features.
>
> I'll put in another vote for Practica Musica. It has helped with my rhythm
and chord reading, my music theory in general, and it does ear training
too. Also, if you're willing to get geeky with it, you can edit and change
the activities or quizzes it gives you, to match you and your instrument's
needs more closely. If you have a midi keyboard, you can plug that right in
and use it to enter your answers, otherwise, many (but not all) of the
activities take microphone input from acoustic instuments. It can do so many
different kinds of musical and ear and rhythm training activities that if
you get bored of one thing, there are always plenty of other, very different
aspects of music to brush up on.

Here's the web page for it:
http://www.ars-nova.com/aboutpm5/index.html

The list of actual activities is here:
http://www.ars-nova.com/cgi-bin/activity.cgi

... the usual disclaimers: I do not work for this company nor do I have any
other association with it other than being a very happy customer.

As far as sight reading goes, I've found that it helps me to work separately
on reading chords, and on reading rhythms. Concentrated work on either one
of these has noticably sped up my sight reading.

Noel


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