EarTest 1.0

Code and Documentation Copyright 1994

by Brent Hugh

EarTest is a computerized ear training program.  It is more or less designed
according to the principles of the David L. Burge Perfect Pitch course (I
emphasize "more or less" here--let's not have any copyright infringement going
on!).  If you want the full scoop, you'll have to buy the David L. Burge
tapes, which are widely advertised in music publications.  However, the basic
idea (which, I hasten to add, can't be copyrighted) is that each note has a
certain "pitch color".  This simply means that each pitch has a certain
"sound" or "tone quality" that distinguishes it from all other pitches.
"Pitch colors" and regular colors are similar in that both are difficult to
describe but quite obvious once you see them (or rather *hear* them, in the
case of pitches).

Once you have heard these "pitch colors" and realize that they really exist,
it is a matter of practice until you can recognize the "pitch colors" of all
the different notes in all registers and on all different instruments.  The
best way to practice is with a partner.  It can be difficult to find a
partner, though.  This is where EarTest comes in--it is your computerized
ear-training practice partner!

When you first start, you will use the notes C and D (choose this option from
the "Choose the Notes to Practice" menu).  Practice on the middle four octaves
of the keyboard (you can select this on the "Choose Octaves to Practice"
menu).  Select the patch on your synthesizer that is most similar to the
instrument you most often play (you can do this in the "Options Menu" under
"MIDI patch").  For instance, if you are a pianist, choose a patch for a piano
sound; if you are a French Hornist, choose a patch for a French Horn sound.

Once you have chosen all the options, the computer will play you a note.  On
your synthesizer, play back the note you heard.  If you get the answer right,
the computer plays you another note and you continue.  If you get the answer
wrong, the computer will play you both notes--the note it played and the
incorrect answer you gave--several times so that you can compare the "pitch
colors" of the two notes.  This most important part of this ear training
exercise--listen carefully to the two notes and compare them, so that the next
time, you will more readily identify the pitch color and you will get the
right answer (or at least you will get it more often!).

So you continue with the exercise, getting some right and some wrong, always
listening for the "pitch color" but never getting too uptight if you're not
sure you hear it.

When you can consistently get 95% correct on two notes (C and D), select three
notes (C, D, and E).  When you can get 95% correct on three notes, select four
notes, and so on.

Don't worry too much about whether you're hearing the "pitch colors"; that is,
don't stay on a certain level just because you don't think you can hear the
"pitch colors".  Always be listening for the pitch colors, but when you can
get 95% on a certain level, go on to the next level regardless of hearing
"pitch colors" or not.

If you have had any experience with (relative pitch) ear training, you will
whiz right through the first several levels.  After a while, you will get
stuck and go much slower.  This is normal--just keep with it, and eventually
you will get unstuck.

You don't need to practice too long each day, but you should try to practice
*every* day without fail.  Fifteen minutes a day is an ample amount at first;
later on you can practice as much as a half hour a day if you want to, but
certainly no more!

After you have mastered all twelve notes on the middle four octaves of the
keyboard, you should expand the range.  The very high and very low notes are
more difficult, and it will take you a while to master them, even though you
can do those in the middle of the keyboard quite easily.  You can select
different ranges in the "Choose Octaves to Practice" menu.  Begin with "The
four middle octaves of the keyboard".  When you can do all twelve notes with
95% accuracy there, then choose "The middle six octaves of the keyboard".
When you achieve 95% accuracy there, choose "The full piano keyboard (seven
octaves)".

(Note: I am assuming you are working with a piano patch here.  If you are
working with a patch for different instrument, it may not sound good, or even
be recognizable, on the full range I have described above.  Nevertheless, the
principle remains the same: start with a smaller range, and gradually work up
to the full range of the instrument.  There are several choices on the "Choose
Octaves to Practice" menu that should allow you to do this.)

Once you have mastered the full range of your instrument, it is time to try
different instruments (remember that you change instruments with the "Midi
Patch" entry in the "Options Menu").  I would start out with an instrument
that is quite similar to your own, and then work out to more exotic ones.
When you first start working on a different instrument, you may find that you
have to restrict the range again, and the gradually work out to the full
range.

Once you can recognize all notes in all ranges on all instruments, you have
perfect pitch!  Congratulations!

A few miscellaneous notes:

When you are answering, it doesn't matter which *octave* you play the note in.
That is, if the computer plays a middle C, you can play high C, low C, or any
C in between, and it will be the right answer.  The reason for this is that
the "pitch color" of all Cs--high, low, or middle--is very similar.  It is
sort of like dark red, normal red, and light red--each is slightly different,
but all are basically the same.  

You will notice that you cannot play your answer until the computer has
finished playing its note.  The computer plays its note for quite a long time,
so if you're hyperactive, you might be frustrated.  However, I did this on
purpose.  The most important time you spend using this program is the time you
spend *listening*.  Even if you instantly know the right answer--*especially*
if you instantly know the right answer!--spend the time to listen carefully to
the note the full time it is being played.  This is where you will learn
something from this program.  If you are just constantly in a rush to push the
right button, you probably won't learn anything!

If you really are going crazy waiting for the note, you can change the length
of time it plays in the "Options Menu", "Length of Note" entry.  The length is
given in milliseconds (1000 milliseconds=1 second).  My suggestion, however,
is to make the note length a bit longer--to give yourself more time to
listen--rather than shorter.

You will also notice that sometimes when you play a note, the computer doesn't
seem to recognize it--you have to play it two or even three times before it
sinks into its little computerized brain.  Also, sometimes when you play the
right note, EarTest thinks you played the wrong one.  These aren't problems
with EarTest, but problems with MIDI.  (I always like to pass the buck when I
can.  And in this case, I can!)

Note on MIDI operation: You usually have to choose a certain mode on your
synthesizer for the computer to be in full control of it.  On my synthesizer,
this mode is called "Multi", but on yours it may be something different.

I prefer to turn the volume down on the channel I am responding on.  Thus, I
can hear what the computer is playing to me, but I can't hear what I am
playing back--I am simply using the synthesizer as a silent "answer keyboard".
This lets you answer in any octave without creating distracting sounds on the
synthesizer.  (You won't be able to do this unless your synthesizer is in
"multi" mode as described above, and you have selected something other than
MIDI channel 1 in the "Options Menu".)

Note on MIDI patches: The "MIDI patch" number that you enter in the "Options
Menu" and the number that shows up on the display on your synthesizer may be
one number different, i.e., you may enter "0" in the "Options Menu" to get
patch "1" on your display.  This is because of a non-standardized MIDI
standard.  Some MIDI devices count patches 0-127, others count them 1-128.  If
the first patch on your synthesizer is patch 1, you will probably have to
subtract one to get the number you should enter in EarTest.  If the first
patch on your synthesizer is zero, you're probably OK.

EarTest requires a MIDI card & keyboard (a Roland MPU-401 compatible card will
probably work best, although others may work, too).  Also, an IBM compatible
computer would be helpful, with some ram (don't ask me how much . . .  512K
should do it, or maybe less).

EarTest won't work under Windows advanced mode.  This is because the Windows
multi-media drivers hijack the MIDI card when Windows runs in advanced mode.
EarTest runs fine in Windows standard mode (type win /s to start in standard
mode) or, of course, under normal DOS.

If, when you first start EarTest, you get a message that says "Unable to
determine IRQ level" or "MIDI card not found", this means that EarTest and
your MIDI card are not getting along.  You might try fooling with the
configuration of your MIDI card or disabling programs that might take over
your MIDI card and not like to share (i.e., TSRs that play music in the
background).  If you're using a Soundblaster or compatible (with keyboard
attached, of course), then you might have to load special drivers to make the
Soundblaster MIDI port compatible with MPU-401 (see your Soundblaster
documentation for details).  If none of these tricks fixes the problem, 
then . . .  sorry.  Console yourself that at least you didn't spend $200 on
such a stupid program.

Note on the "Options Menu": The options are saved in a file called
"EarTest.ini".  If the screen colors or MIDI channels/patches/etc. get badly
messed up somehow, you may try deleting "EarTest.ini", which will reset
everything to the factory presets.

EarTest was written because I looked all over the net to find something like
it and didn't!  Ear training is fundamental to the education of every music
student.  As musicians begin to make more use of computers, EarTest (and/or
another similar programs) should be used in every music studio by every music
student.  Computers can make it easy and fun to do the repetitive drill
necessary to develop a good ear.

EarTest is better than commercial programs that do the same thing, because it
is free!  Not only do you save a few bucks at the outset, but you can (legally
and lawfully) give students and friends a copy of EarTest so they can practice
at home on their own computer and MIDI keyboard.  Try doing *that* with a
commercial program!

As I just mentioned, EarTest is free.  However, if you want a disk with a copy
of the latest version of EarTest, a couple of other music programs I have
written and/or collected (mostly software to practice music fundamentals, with
MIDI output and input), and some math programs I have written (fractals and
stereograms)--or if you just want to support a starving musician/computer
programmer--send $10 (U.S. funds) to:

Brent Hugh
5916 Arlington
Raytown, Missouri 64133
USA

Available in 3.5 inch HD disks only, sorry.

If you are a piano teacher, you should be very interested in this offer, since
I have developed most of the programs for use in my own piano studio.  If they
work for me, they'll probably work for you!

Internet: bhugh@cstp.umkc.edu

EarTest is freeware, so you may distribute it to friends, neighbors, BBSs,
relatives, and even your Aunt Hilda if you want.

Even though EarTest is free, the code and the documentation is copyrighted.
This means that, although you can give it to whomever you want, you can't
change it in any way, nor can you try to *sell* it to anyone without getting
my permission first (small copying fees to cover the cost of media are OK).

EarTest is *not* designed to do anything horrible to your computer.  However,
it is offered on an as is basis--use at your own risk!  (Hey, what do you
expect for free?)