Piano Instruction: Piano Suite

Adventus software promises dramatic results in a classroom setting, combining excellent presentation, immediate interactive feedback from a piano keyboard to the computer, generous content, and statistical reporting in a
comprehensive classroom tool.

Piano Suite Premier, the flagship product, helps teachers accomplish more in a general music classroom than traditional methods allow. While students work at their own pace learning music theory, developing skills with the keyboard or the composer, teachers are free to move through the classroom, answering questions and providing assistance. Piano Suite is an excellent lab solution, not limited to composition, offering theory, history, a very effective, 'learn to play the keyboard' advantage.

Why is this so valuable? First, interactive learning is well received by students. Second, it helps teachers impart the required basics in a limited time. Third, playing skill on a piano keyboard increases students' capacity to make progress with composition, and to learn other instruments.

What is particularly striking, and extremely important, is Piano Suite's ability to sustain student interest over time, and to build on their current skill level in an effective manner. Piano Suite can be used effectively in a classroom of mostly beginner students, where some students are already playing well. If you start with a novice student, you can expect five to six good years of regular use with this software, something not many educational software packages provide. (Ages 7 and up)

Most students won't go on to become concert pianists, but everyone benefits from learning the language of music with this broad, interesting approach. John Arendse, a teacher who has used Cakewalk in the classroom for 8 years, recently wrote, "I was totally blown away by what this program has to offer. I am very excited and I will keep you informed on my progress. From what I have experienced in a few hours, this is one program I would definitely like to introduce to as many people as possible".

Adventus offers a complement to Piano Suite in their new 'Ear Training Coach' series, consisting of five comprehensive, but affordable, interactive CD-ROMs to develop the ear. Ear Training Coach, with two levels per CD, will give all your students the opportunity to improve and test their musical ear, and they'll enjoy doing it. This series provides an impressive collection of carefully sequenced content and activities to build and assess aural perception and skills. (Ages 7 and up)

Perhaps the most unique title from Adventus is 'MusIQ', can be described as chess for aspiring musicians - a battle of musical wits. MusIQ is an interesting strategy game, with the side effect of easy familiarity with all standard chords, scales, and intervals. This game was developed in cooperation with a university music professor who noticed music students typically enter their composition and harmony classes unprepared. With several levels of difficulty, MusIQ can be used by novice to advanced students, ages 10 and up. The advanced mode asks you to decode a mystery composition. MusIQ may be played over the Internet for tournaments between classrooms or schools.