Announcing the new Musictheory.net
Ten years ago, I unveiled the first version of Musictheory.net. Today, I am proud to announce next version of the site, which will replace the current version in June 2010.
A preview is available at new.musictheory.net.
Reduction of Flash
The new version has been rewritten to minimize the use of Adobe Flash. This allows all standards-compliant mobile and desktop devices to view the site. When Flash is not present, lessons render using standard bitmap graphics.
Flash is still required for sound playback in the ear training exercises. I will gladly replace the sound player with a standards-compliant solution if and when one exists.
Goodbye Trainers, Hello Exercises
One of the most noticeable changes is the replacement of Trainers with Exercises.
I designed Exercises to eliminate the common complaints that users voiced with the old Trainers:
- Confusion over the user interface.
- Confusion over how to change settings.
- Inconsistency of customization. (For example, only the Note and Key Trainers featured clef customization)
- Inability to share customized settings with students.
- Distortion and rhythmic inaccuracy in the Ear Trainers.
Many of these complaints revolve around customization. With Exercises, all customization occurs upfront. Users click on the “Exercises” section, answer questions to create the custom exercise, and receive a web location to their exercise. This location is permanent — it can be bookmarked, listed in a course syllabus, or e-mailed to others.
A full list of enhancement include:
- New Generic Interval Identification exercise, which quizzes on interval type only.
- Key signature, clef, and note range selection added to the Specific Interval Identification exercise (Interval Trainer).
- Key signature, clef, and note range selection added to the Chord Identification exercise (Triad Trainer).
- Seventh chords added to the Chord Identification exercise (Triad Trainer).
- Individual fret selection added to the Fretboard Identification exercise (Guitar Trainer).
- Left-handed mode added to the Fretboard Identification exercise (Guitar Trainer).
- Bass Guitar, Mandolin, or Ukelele instruments added to the Fretboard Identification exercise (Guitar Trainer).
- Descending-only playback mode added to Scale Ear Training (Scale Ear Trainer).
- Descending arpeggiated playback added to Chord Ear Training (Chord Ear Trainer).
- New sound engine which increases accuracy of playback and reduces sound distortion.
More Calculators!
Students love the Chord Calculator. I decided to take its concepts and create three additional calculators:
- Accidental Calculator - Calculates the correct accidental for a specified note and key signature.
- Interval Calculator - Calculates the notes for a specified starting note, interval type, and key signature.
- Chord Calculator - Calculates the notes for a specified starting note, chord type, and key signature.
- Analysis Calculator - The new name for the old Chord Calculator.
- Matrix Calculator - The new name for the old Matrix Generator.
Classic Edition
I realize that many teachers have been using my site for years, and may not be ready to switch to a different version. In addition, the new site requires a modern web browser, such as Apple Safari, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox.
For these reasons, the current content will always be available at classic.musictheory.net. Also, all existing links will continue to work even after the June 2010 switchover.
Alas, Brass
One of the features that will not be available on the new site is the Brass Trainer. There are two main reasons for this.
- Certain combinations of web browsers and keyboards do not properly report multiple valve presses. This is beyond my control and can result in confusion and frustration.
- The current answer set is designed for beginning band students. Common alternate positions and combinations result in incorrect answers. Again, this results in confusion.
I can fix the second issue, but the first requires investigation. If and when a solution is possible, the Brass Trainer will be resurrected as a new Exercise module.
The current Brass Trainer will always be available via the above-mentioned Classic Edition.
Translations
The new site uses a different format to store lesson content. As a result, translations are only available for the Classic Edition.
I plan to announce an effort later in 2010 which will allow users to host translated versions of the site.
Remaining Work
I still need to add the Staff Paper Generator and Pop-up Piano to the new site. They should be ready prior to the June 2010 launch.
Summary
- A preview of the new site is available at new.musictheory.net.
- The new site will replace the current site in June 2010.
- The current content will always be available at classic.musictheory.net.
If you have any questions, suggestions, or comments; please do not hesitate to contact me.
— Ricci