Recent items from Half Notes, AHA! Software’s official blog.

The Neapolitan

Today wraps up the preview phase of our music theory quiz, which will emerge in our standard formats in due course. But first, here’s one last question for you to grapple with.

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Rhythm fascination

Today we bring you the ninth question of our music theory quiz, and it’s about time too. Of four familiar musical forms, we ask, which one is in six-eight meter?

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Guido

Music theory quiz, question eight, takes us somewhere into the murky middle of medieval obscurity and the life of the Benedictine monk Guido d’Arezzo, who gave us what?

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The microtone

Question seven of our new music theory quiz delves into the word ‘microtone’. If you don’t already know what it means, this can only be viewed as a gilt-edged opportunity to find out.

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An instrument for Erik

Erik Satie (1866-1925), a composer whose written directions to performers often took the tone of surrealistic liner notes, is today’s subject, as we ask: What do you play Satie on?

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NoteCard in depth

Thank you for taking the time to read about NoteCard, a Windows software app that will turn you into a fluent note-reader.

After only a few months of brief regular sessions with NoteCard, you will be able to recognize and name the musical notes without conscious effort or risk of error, just as you are able to recognize the letters of the alphabet now.

NoteCard provides enjoyable, focused drill for anyone who wants to learn the musical notes. If you are learning to read music, and would like to move as quickly as possible in the direction of mastery, NoteCard is for you.

To drill down further into particular topic areas, please use the following links.

An arrow pointing to a topic description and linkTo get an idea of what using NoteCard is like, please turn to Working with NoteCard, where we walk you through the three phases of a basic NoteCard session.

An arrow pointing to a topic description and linkIf you are trying to choose between the paid version of NoteCard and the free version, please view our Free or paid? page for a convenient summary of the differences.

An arrow pointing to a topic description and linkThe benefits of using the software, and of learning to read music in general, are many. Please see What does NoteCard teach? for coverage of this topic.

An arrow pointing to a topic description and linkWhy all the fuss about note-reading? Why is it important to your (or your child’s) musical development? We provide our own answer in Note reading — a vital skill.