Customer Reviews

eMedia Earmaster 5

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ear Master has two components that have sold me to the product. Besides the conventional ear-training excercises, there is an area dedicated to jazz ear training. For those of us who improvise, wish to improvise and just wish to improve...the excercises allow you to "hear changes". Also there is a section that allows you to isolate any area that is giving you problems (ex>sus 2 versus sus 4 chords harmonically) and constantly have excercises given to you to really learn and eventually HEAR the change. I highly recommend this to any musician.

I like the flexibility of this training software -- the ability to create my own exercises. I use the Tutor to narrow down issues and then construct my own exercises to further focus drills. Of the software I tried this one also has a fairly complete results report. I think this is important because it allows you to overcome your own sense of where weaknesses are when your own sense is incorrect.

The only issue I've found is with some of the rhythm drills that depend on the platform on which the software is running to be properly responsive. I find the responsiveness too unpredictable and therefor some of the drills like the rhythm imitation less useful. I do not think this is the fault of EM 5 or any other training software that tries to drill rhythmic input. It's more a platform issue.

Another very positive thing about this software is that I have found the Support to be outstanding. I've received responses to every single question or comment I've made within a day (I'm in the Pacific Coast USA timezone and they are in Denmark) even before I purchased it.

Well worth it.

didn't realize how tone deaf i was until i excercised on this video. guessing won't help. it's going to take a while to train my recognition of note intervals.

Ear Master 5 is a good program for increasing music knowledge skills. Mastery of the material in Ear Master 5 is equivelent to a 4 unit music theory class-and a lot less expensive!

I'm just learning Music Theory so this is a little more complex than what I'm looking for right now.

I like the exercises and know they will help me when I'm ready, but I wish they'd make these softwares more fun. Yes, I am an adult but, why can't I choose the look of my tutor? The one here looks so somber, really old and depressing.

And since it is a software and it's in our technology, why can't the tutor talk. I like that better, the tutor speaking, telling you the lesson (like a real teacher in a class). Music Ace Deluxe and Harmonic Vision Music Ace do that and it makes learning more fun.

Anyway, there's a trial version for this, see if it works for you.

I have been using this program for a couple of weeks now and I have to say that it has helped me to greatly improve my ability to recognize intervals. My gripe about the software is that it gives you absolutely no help whatsoever as far as suggesting strategies for recognizing intervals.

Just as an example, early-on when I got to the section on identifying major and minor seconds, I got perfect scores as long as the interval had a reference note, but I bombed at first when they took away the reference and asked me to compare intervals with no common notes. After a couple of minutes, I finally realized that major seconds have the sound quality of the opening 6 notes of "chopsticks." From that moment I could nail it every time. But no thanks to the software; I just had to figure it out for myself. Similarly, as I progressed through the lessons, I had to figure out how to discriminate between various kinds of intervals on my own. The program drills you, but it doesn't offer any suggestions to directly help you figure out how to recognize the differences.

I gave EarMaster a 3 rating because of what it DOES do, but I am glad that I only paid 5 bucks for it at the flea market because at 50 - 60 bucks this software is way overpriced.

I got this product because I wanted to practice pitch recognition (i.e. hear random pitches, match them with the right note (a flat - g sharp) The product gets 2 stars because the box and ads say it has pitch recognition, but does not explain what kind. (You discover that when you open the box, download the software, and destroy your chance to return it.)

**(041708) In response to a comment: What it DOES do is pretty good. For that I'd rank it four stars. (The average of those two issues ends up as a 3.)
It allows practice of intervals, note patterns, "which note is higher" excercises, etc, as well as letting you choose between "classic"/guided exercises, jazz type exercises, or customizing the lessons it has available. It even allows you to select what type of intervals to practice (ninths and fifths, just seconds, major/minor chords, etc). It also allow you to respond and see your practice sessions using piano or guitar formats.
It's a decent product, but its packaging does not explain itself well.