Music Ace Comes to Life in the Studio & Classroom

In the Studio
Deborah Mele uses Music Ace with about 13 piano students ages seven to ten in her Santa Barbara studio. Mele, who has been teaching piano, music theory and music history for 24 years, likes Music Ace for its educational and entertainment value. "Music Ace helps my beginning students get through the first year of MTNA exams," Mele said, "and it is the only program I've found that is truly entertaining."

Mele's students work on Music Ace for 15 minutes before or after each lesson in a separate computer room set up with a PC attached to a keyboard. Most students can work on their own, but parents often help out the younger ones. Computer time is included in Mele's lesson fee, but she charges a small yearly fee to keep her equipment and software up-to-date.

Each student starts at the beginning of Music Ace, but Mele also uses the software to reinforce theory and prepare students for new concepts. Students who finish all 24 lessons (a year and a half-long task for most of her students) receive a computer trophy. "Establishing a reward system motivates them to work on the computer consistently," Mele said.

In the Classroom
Kris Rhodes uses Music Ace with students in grades one through six at Rooney Ranch Elementary School in Lakewood, Colo. "I know you've probably heard this already, but Music Ace really makes learning theory fun," said Rhodes. Today Rhodes is using Music Ace to introduce line and space notes on the treble staff to her third graders-a precursor to her next unit on recorders. Using a special PC-to-TV converter to display Maestro Max on a large television in front of the entire classroom, Rhodes and several student volunteers use Music Ace as an interactive teaching tool. The children call out the notes in unison as Maestro Max introduces the treble staff.

Once they've grasped the first four note names, Rhodes divides the class of 26 into small groups. Half of the students work on the music room's four computers while the other half do a word game worksheet taken from the Music Ace Teacher's Guide. The students share mouse duty as Singing Notes race across the staff.

Working at a fairly new facility, Rhodes said she feels fortunate to have four computers in the music room. One computer was donated by an outside business. She advises other teachers to seek outside assistance to build technology into the music program. "Write a letter to your PTA to solicit computer donations from parents and local businesses," Rhodes said.

In Special Situations
When Mary Beth Purchase first bought Music Ace, she thought it looked like a fun program for the beginning music students in her Klassically Kool Music School in Pompano Beach, Fla. She didn't realize it would have such a strong impact on one of her newest students.

Twenty-one-year-old Inthuja Selvarathina had always wanted to learn piano, but because of a visual impairment, couldn't read the notes. Music Ace's colorful singing notes and large staff coupled with Maestro Max's audible instructions made all the difference. "It was thrilling to see her excitement when she could read the large notes on the computer screen," Purchase said. "Her Mom was in tears."

Selvarathina spends two hours a month with Music Ace working mostly on keyboard geography and two hours with private instruction from Purchase. Other students use Music Ace as a supplementary tool to reinforce concepts. "Even my adult students enjoy rearranging the pieces in the Music Doodle Pad," Purchase said.

Purchase advises other teachers to share their knowledge of music technology with students and parents so that the students may benefit at home. For example, Purchase recommended Music Ace to one mother as an incentive to get her daughter excited about practicing. "Start out with the fun stuff to get them motivated," Purchase said.

Introducing the Music Ace Series:
Music Ace provides an engaging introduction to music fundamentals for beginners of all ages. The software includes a series of 24 comprehensive lessons, a variety of challenging games and a creative Music Doodle Pad that allows beginners to easily compose and listen to their own musical creations. Lesson topics include note reading, ear training, keyboard basics, sharps, flats, key signatures and major scales.

Once students have mastered the concepts introduced in Music Ace, they're ready for Music Ace 2™. The second title in the series is designed for beginning and intermediate students. Following a similar format, Music Ace 2 picks up where Music Ace leaves off to introduce standard notation, rhythm, melody, harmony, intervals and much more.

"We've been thrilled by the overwhelmingly enthusiastic response to Music Ace, which has received an unprecedented 28 awards and honors," said Ian de Hueck, president and CEO of Harmonic Vision. "With the release of Music Ace 2, Harmonic Vision is pleased to officially announce the Music Ace Series of music education software. We're continuing our tradition of making learning music fundamentals fun for students of all ages and providing music educators with quality supplemental teaching tools."

School versions, lab packs, site licenses, network versions and district licenses of Music Ace and Music Ace 2 are available.