Dolphin Don’s Music School is a set of thirteen educational music games suitable for ages 6 and up. These games teach ear-training and reading of notes, rhythms, key signatures, intervals, and chords – from absolute beginning through college-level material. Effective for individual or classroom use, the program keeps track of personal scores for an unlimited number of players.
Created and programmed by a college music professor, Dolphin Don’s Music School is designed to help students have fun while learning music.
Instrument Configuration
If you play an instrument, let Dolphin Don know. He’ll tailor your course of study to your needs. After all, the first notes a flute player learns are different from the first notes a clarinet player learns (not to mention tuba)! If you don’t play an instrument, don’t worry. Choose the default setting.
Learn Mode, Play Mode, and Compete Mode
Each lesson of each game includes Learn Mode, Play Mode, and Compete Mode. Learn Mode introduces the musical concepts for each lesson. Play Mode quizzes the student on the musical concepts. Compete Mode allows two players (or two teams) to compete head-to-head.
Score Keeping
Dolphin Don’s Music School keeps track of scores for an unlimited number of players — suitable for classroom use!
Individual Games
Read Notes – Treble Clef, Bass Clef, Alto Clef, Tenor Clef
There are four different Read Notes modules: one each for treble, bass, alto, and tenor clefs.
In Read Notes, Dolphin Don shows you a note and you click on its name. Grade one starts with just three different notes. The highest grade covers three chromatic octaves.
Hear Notes
In Hear Notes, Dolphin Don plays two of the notes on the screen. The first note is highlighted and you click on the second one. Grade one starts with just three different notes, and the first note is always the middle one. The highest grade covers a full chromatic octave, and the first note can be any note in the octave.
Read Rhythms
In Read Rhythms Dolphin Don shows you a one-measure rhythm with one note hidden and you click on the rhythmic value of the hidden note. Grade one includes half notes and quarter notes in 4/4 time. The highest grade includes whole notes/rests through eighth notes/rests (including dotted notes) in 4/4, 2/4, 3/4. 2/2, and 6/8 time.
Hear Rhythms
In Hear Rhythms Dolphin Don plays a short rhythm and you click on the rhythmic values that spell out the rhythm. Grade one includes half notes and quarter notes in 4/4 time. The highest grade includes whole notes/rests through eighth notes/rests (including dotted notes) in 4/4, 2/4, 3/4. 2/2, and 6/8 time.
Read Keys – Major and Minor
There are two Read Keys modules: one each for major and minor keys.
In Read Keys Dolphin Don shows you a key signature and you click on its name. Grade one includes the keys of C, F, and G. The highest grade includes all major or minor keys from seven sharps through seven flats.
Read Intervals
In Read Intervals Dolphin Don shows you two notes and you click on the name of the interval. Grade one includes unisons and octaves. The highest grade includes all major, minor, and perfect intervals up to an octave, plus augmented 4, augmented 5, diminished 5, and diminished 7.
Hear Intervals
In Hear Intervals Dolphin Don plays two notes and you click on the name of the interval. Grade one includes unisons and octaves. The highest grade includes all major, minor, and perfect intervals up to an octave, plus the tritone.
Read Chords
In Read Chords Dolphin Don shows you a chord and you click on its name. Grade one includes major, minor, and diminished triads in the key of C. The highest grade includes major 7, minor 7, dominant 7, diminished 7, half-diminished 7, and augmented 7 chords in the keys of C, F, G, Bb, and D.
Hear Chords
In Hear Chords Dolphin Don plays a chord and you click on its name. Grade one includes major, minor, and diminished triads in the key of C. The highest grade includes major 7, minor 7, dominant 7, diminished 7, half-diminished 7, and augmented 7 chords in the keys of C, F, G, Bb, and D.
