Software Turns Learning a Musical Instrument Into a Video Game
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Trumpet Hero?
CREDIT: Fraunhofer Institute. |
While Song2See software can't replace a dedicated music teacher's ability to inspire a student, the computer program comes closer than ever to providing a full service digital instructor for anyone looking to learn an instrument. The software converts MP3s into sheet music, and uses a computer microphone to judge a user's performance as they play along with the song.
Developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology in Ilmenau, Germany, Song2See currently only works with recorders, glockenspiels and melodicas. However, future versions will work with more common instruments such as the piano, guitar, trumpet, saxophone and drums.
The player can select which instrument they want to play by clicking on the picture of it. With the next click, the software presents the song in three different ways.
The first option displays the song's notes as music sheet. The second option shows the player where the fingers have to be placed on the instrument and in which sequence. The last option is similar to music computer games , which show the duration and height of the respective tones with the aid of bars.
The software shows the player the position in the music sheet where he currently is. Songs2See also evaluates if the notes are struck properly and if the rhythm is being maintained. This way the practicing does not become too difficult, and pitch and tempo can be changed as desired and with it the individually adjusted degree of difficulty, key or style of music.
