Music Ace - published by Harmonic Vision
Click here to read about the system requirements and more
Click here to view a sample lesson

This is an excellent theory and ear training program that I highly recommend to anyone starting a computer lab.  It is in a cartoon format, with Maestro Max as the instructor/conductor.  This program is designed for ages 7 and up, but younger students could still use it with adult supervision.  Music Ace contains 24 different lessons (divided into 3-5 sections) and 24 accompanying games (also divided into 3-5 sections.)  The games are scored like a video game would be.  A student has four "lives" during a game, and if any of the lives are remaining at the end of each section, the students is rewarded with bonus points.  I have a High Score Sheet posted in the studio, and my students compete for the title of "Champion" each week.

Compositions by the masters (like Bach, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky) are used for the ear training exercises so that students will become familiar with these works.  There's also a Doodle Pad where students can compose using singing noteheads.  This is more of a pre-reading activity though, as it does not use standard music notation.  The compositions can then be recorded as MIDI files, but cannot be printed out.  It is possible to use a MIDI keyboard with this program, but all that is really needed is a mouse.

Topics covered in Music Ace:
1.  Intro to the Staff
2.  Intro to the Piano Keyboard
3.  Playing with Pitch
4.  The ABC’s of the Piano Keyboard
5.  More Piano ABC’s
6.  The ABC’s of the Staff
7.  ABC’s of the Treble Staff
8.  More Treble Staff ABC’s
9.  Keyboard Review
10.  Below the Treble Staff
11.  Above the Treble Staff
12.  Loud & Soft; Same Pitch
13.  The ABC’s of the Bass Staff
14.  Above the Bass Staff
15.  Below the Bass Staff
16.  Same Pitch, Different Timbres
17.  The ABC’s of the Grand Staff
18.  Half Steps & Whole Steps
19.  More ABC’s of the Grand Staff
20.  Sharps & Flats
21.  Sharps & Flats on the Staff
22.  More Sharps & Flats on the Staff
23.  Introduction to the Key Signature
24.  Introduction to Major Scales

Music Ace 2 - published by Harmonic Vision
Click here to read about the system requirements and more

This is another "must have" for anyone with a computer lab in their teaching studio.  This has all of the same features that Music Ace has (24 lessons/games, doodle pad, etc.)   Students can either use the mouse, keyboard (space bar), or MIDI keyboard.

One of the great features of this program is that if a student is having trouble on a particular activity, Maestro Max slows the tempo to allow the student to practice.  Once the student has mastered the skill at a slower tempo, they are able to try it again at a faster tempo.  Another feature is the ability to change the Instructional Settings.  You can change the clef to Treble, Bass, or Alto; change the rhythm stringency to relaxed or strict; and change the game difficulty to Novice or Advanced.

Topics covered in Music Ace 2:
1.  Beat & Tempo
2.  Hearing Rhythms
3.  Review 1: Note Names
4.  Review 2: Sharps & Flats
5.  Basic Rhythm Notation
6.  The Quarter Rest
7.  Key Signatures & Major Scales
8.  Melody
9.  The Measure
10.  Sharp Key Signatures
11.  Notes Longer Than 1 Beat
12.  More Sharp Key Signatures
13.  Dotted Quarter Notes
14.  Flat Key Signatures
15.  Rests
16.  More Flat Key Signatures
17.  Syncopation
18.  Sixteenth Notes
19.  Minor Scales
20.  Three Sounds per Beat
21.  The Time Signature
22.  Intervals
23.  The 6/8 Time Signature
24.  Intro to Harmony

Alfred's Theory Games (Level 1A, 1B, 2) - published by Alfred Publishing

This software comes on two floppy disks and installs right onto your hard drive.  The games follow the Alfred's Basic Piano Library method.  The games are fun and up to 30 students' scores can be saved.  Alfred's Theory Games are for ages 7 and up.

Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory (Volumes 1, 2 & 3) - published by Alfred Publishing

These CD's are great for older beginners or adults.  The programs include ear training along with music theory, and at the end of each unit there is a scored test.  The information is presented at an accelerated pace and by Volume 3, it gets into topics like Modes and 12 Bar Blues Progressions. Some of the advantages of this software are that it uses real acoustic instruments (piano, clarinet, etc.), and there is a narrator reading the lessons to make the program more user friendly.

Topics covered in Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory - Volume I  (16 bit):
Unit 1
Lesson 1:  The Staff, Notes & Pitches
Lesson 2:  Treble Clef & Staff
Lesson 3:  Bass Clef & Staff
Lesson 4:  The Grand Staff & Ledger Lines (the middle notes)
Lesson 5:  Ledger Lines (high and low notes)
Lessons 1-5:  Ear Training
Lessons 1-5:   Review (Scores are recorded)

Unit 2
Lesson 6:  Note Values (whole, half and quarter notes; stem direction)
Lesson 7:  Measure, Bar Line & Double Bar
Lesson 8:  4/4 Time Signature & Note Values
Lesson 9:  Whole, Half & Quarter Rests
Lessons 6-9:  Ear Training
Lessons 6-9: Review

Unit 3
Lesson 10:  2/4 Time Signature
Lesson 11:  3/4 Time Signature
Lesson 12:  Dotted Half Note
Lesson 13:  Ties & Slurs
Lessons 10-13:  Ear Training
Lessons 10-13:  Review

Unit 4
Lesson 14:  Repeat Sign, 1st and 2nd endings
Lesson 15:  Eighth notes (pairs & singles)
Lesson 16:  Eighth rests (downbeat & upbeat)
Lesson 17:  Dotted Quarter note
Lessons 14-17:  Ear Training
Lessons 14-17:  Review

Unit 5
Lesson 18:  Dynamic Signs (pp, p, mp, mf, f, ff, crescendo & diminuendo/decrescendo)
Lesson 19:  Tempo Marks (largo, adagio, andante, moderato, allegro, vivace)
Lesson 20:  Articulation
Lesson 21:  D.C., D.S., Coda & Fine
Lessons 18-21:  Ear Training
Lessons 18-21:  Review

Unit 6
Lesson 22:  Flats
Lesson 23:  Sharps
Lesson 24:  Naturals
Lesson 25:  Whole Steps, Half Steps & Enharmonic Notes
Lessons 22-25:  Ear Training
Lessons 22-25:  Review

Midisaurus - published by MusicWare Inc.
Click here to read about the system requirements and more.

Midisaurus is a complete music learning system for children ages 4 to 10. This revolutionary series uses an educational approach to teach music as fun and encourage children to be musically creative. Midisaurus, the musical dinosaur, introduces children to the wonderful world of music through colorful animation, fun-filled games and songs to play and sing along with! Optional use of a MIDI keyboard with your computer or use of the onscreen keyboard teaches basic musical and keyboard skills in the only complete multimedia music curriculum currently available.

Midisaurus is designed to be user-friendly and extremely appealing to children. By using pictorial presentation, the child can relate graphics or animated sequences with sound. For example, a high note could be represented by a small creature, such as a bird; a low note could be a big creature, such as an elephant. Imagine an exercise: if a bird appears, the child should play or select a high "C" and if an elephant appears, the child should play or select a low "C". Some of the topics covered in "The Music Prodigy Kit" include: Dynamics, The Musical Alphabet, Note Reading on the Keyboard, Note and Rest Values, Rhythmic Reading, Time Signatures, Scales, Intervals, Chords, Harmony, Keyboard Technique, Introduction to Orchestral Instruments, Introduction to Instruments of the World, Introduction to the Great Composers, Music Appreciation, Music Forms and Music Composition.

Volumes 1-4 come in one set; Volumes 5-8 are in another; and the Focus Bundle covers Composers, Rhythm, Notation and Instruments.

An Introduction to Classical Music - published by Sirius Publishing

This is a great music appreciation CD-ROM.  Students can read about 45 different composers, listen to an extensive list of music, and look things up in the glossary.  Here's what their website says about the program:

"An Introduction to Classical Music allows you to find out about the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Modern periods in the most effective way - by hearing the music itself - with supporting information on the compositions and composers available at the click of a button. With excerpts from over 200 of the best musical pieces ever written, played by top musicians and orchestras from Europe, this disc provides a wonderful resource and an indispensable guide."

Multimedia History of Music and Great Composers - published by Voyetra

Navigate a timeline to visit various eras in musical history, with background music from each era and hypertext links for word definitions.  The lives and works of prominent composers are set against the history, arts, science, culture and politics of their times. Music history comes to life as you journey through the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras.

Great Composers - published by Zane

Students read and listen to illustrated stories about famous composers.  Clips of their most well-known compositions are played in the background.  Each composer's story is around 15 minutes in length.  There are quizzes for each composer, and a glossary if an unfamiliar word comes up during the story.  There are six CD's in the whole Great Composers Collection, and each CD covers three composers.  Each CD can be purchased separately, or you can buy the whole set for around $60.  The CD's are for ages 6-10.

Product information for Mozart, Mendelssohn & Dvorak volume:
"Mozart, Mendelssohn, Dvorak. Traces the childhood and musical careers of the Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; the German composer, pianist, and conductor Felix Mendelssohn; and the Bohemian composer Antonin Dvorak. Explore the influences that shaped the musical works of the prodigy Mozart; Mendelssohn, a royal court musician who composed the 'Wedding March'; and Dvorak, whose rhythmical pieces incorporate the vibrant folk tunes of his Bohemian homeland."
 
Product information for Bach, Schumann & Rakhmaninov volume:
"Introduces the childhood and musical careers of the German organist and composer Johann Sebastian Bach; the German composer Robert Schumann; and the Russian composer, pianist, and conductor Sergey Rakhmaninov. Uncover the influences that shaped the musical works of Bach, who created baroque masterpieces; Schumman, whose music evokes the composer's love of nature; and Rakhmaninov, whose dramatic melodies create a dazzling, romantic soundscape."

Product information for Schubert, Brahms & Strauss volume:
"Traces the childhood and musical careers of the Austrian composer Franz Schubert; the German composer and pianist Johannes Brahms; and the Austrian composer Johann Strauss (the younger). Uncover the influences that shaped the brilliant musical works of Schubert, who composed the masterful Unfinished Symphony and Trout Quintet; Brahms, who created the beloved composition Liebestraum; and Strauss, who composed in waltz tempo the classic Blue Danube."   

Product information for Haydn, Tchaikovsky & Ravel volume:
"Recounts the childhood and musical careers of the Austrian composer Franz Joseph Haydn; the Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky; and the French composer Maurice Ravel. Explore the influences that shaped the musical works of Haydn, who was instrumental in the development of the symphonic form; Tchaikovsky, who created music for the ballets Swan Lake and The Nutcracker; and Ravel, who incorporated Spanish dance rhythms and percussion elements."

Product information for Beethoven, Grieg & Hanson volume:
"Explores the childhood and musical careers of the German composer Ludwig van Beethoven; the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg; and the American composer Howard Hanson. Learn the influences that shaped the musical works of Beethoven, who was deaf when he composed the magnificent Ninth Symphony; Grieg, whose music expresses the spirit of his native Norway; and Hanson, the first American composer to receive the prestigious Prix de Rome."

Music Write Plus - published by Voyetra
Click here to read about the system requirements and more

This is a very basic notation program and is good for elementary compositions.  I would look into getting something like Sibelius or Finale if you're looking for better quality.  You can either play music through a MIDI keyboard and it will appear on the computer screen... or manually insert notes with the mouse.

Morton Subotnik's Making Music - published by Voyager
Click here to preview some of the games

There are MANY activities included in this program, including ear training games, mixing and matching melodies, and melody/rhythm composing activities.

Piano Discovery: Year 1 - published by Jump! Music

You must have a MIDI keyboard connected to your computer in order to use this program.  It is basically a piano teaching tutorial, complete with video.

Juilliard Music Adventure - published by Theatrix

My students love this game!  The object is to roam around in a castle and collect keys by solving musical puzzles, all in order to save the queen.  Each room of the castle (such as The Dragon's Lair, The Blacksmith's Armory, The Chess Garden, etc.) contains a different type of puzzle to solve, with topics ranging from "retrograde" to "question and answer."  There is also a way to compose music, either with the Melody Tool or the Rhythm Tool, and these can both be saved as a MIDI file.  It is recommended for ages 9 and up, but some of the puzzles are a bit hard for the younger kids to understand.

Lenny's Music Toons - published by Paramount Interactive

This is a multi-activity cartoon program for younger children and a favorite of my students.  Professor Lenny (a penguin) guides students through activities like memory games, creating a music video, playing a note identification shooting game and much more!  

Menlo the Frog - published by Windy Hill Productions

This is a musical fairy tale about a frog who tries to keep the music alive in his homeland.  Students can play ear training games, test their rhythm skills with the Beat Fish, or play a memory game.  A fun program for younger kids.

Peter and the Wolf - published by IBM

This is the cartoon story of Prokofiev's Peter & the Wolf, narrated by Tony Randall.  This is set up as if the student were a member of the audience at the theater.  Students see and hear the story, learn about instruments of the orchestra and do a variety of other activities.

Voyetra Music Games

There are three games included on this CD-ROM: NoteBlaster, RhythmMaster, and Music Trivia.  You may play with one player or two, and there are three skill levels to choose from.  These can be used with students of all ages, although some of the trivia questions are a bit tricky.  Here is the product description:

"The fun way to test your knowledge and build musical skills. Have fun as you reinforce your knowledge of music with three video games that you can play on your PC:
Music Quiz - Test your knowledge of general musical topics.
Note Blaster - Read musical notes and shoot them off the screen with the on-screen keyboard or an external keyboard.
Rhythm Master - Match rhythms you hear with what you see on the screen. "

Jump Start Music- published by Havas Interactive

Join Hopsalot on an enchanting adventure through the four different lands of Music World. The magic and harmony of the Land of Music are being threatened by Sir Sour Notes, and the instruments need your help. Help Hopsalot restore the Royal Orchestra to King Harmony's kingdom by collecting the sour notes scattered about the land. Along the way, your kids will play exciting arcade-style games as they learn about melody, harmony, notation, musical scales and more!  This is recommended for ages 5-8, and is a big hit with my younger students.

Sesame Street Music Maker - published by Mattel Media

The product information states the following:
"A jam session is ready to start and your child is the guest conductor! Elmo and Ernie are on guitar, Grover is at the keyboards and Cookie Monster is ready to hit the drums. It's time for some music magic, Sesame Street style! Sing along in the recording studio or dance to the rockin’ sounds of the Sesame Street band. The music is your child’s to create and explore. Create music, play and learn along the way: 8 different musical activities promote exploration and creativity. Learn about instruments from around the world with the musical globe. Make music and sing along with your Sesame Street friends."

This program is geared toward children ages 3 and up.

The product information states the following:
"An example of music appreciation CAI for elementary and middle school students, The Musical World of Professor Piccolo presents some very advanced information in a format appropriate for children. Once entering Professor Piccolo's Music Town, the student has the opportunity to visit the symphony hall, the jazz club, the rock club, the church, the library, the music school, or the game arcade. Entering any of the first four begins an introduction to the typical ensemble and music found there, including instruments and their ranges, history, and musical form. The library serves as a music glossary, while the music school includes a set of tutorials on different aspects of music. The game arcade includes four ear training games."

Wonders of the Musical World - published by Chestnut New Media

The product information states the following:
"Wonders of the Musical World is an exploratory music appreciation program for elementary and junior high school students. Six of the seven sections in the program have seven subsections each: Play, Compose, Listen, Instrument, Know, and Teach. The seventh section, World, includes music from seventeen different countries. This program covers a great deal of material, without going into great depth on any of it."