MacGAMUT
MacGAMUT
In addition to these informal comments from students and instructors, you may want to Read Published Reviews
Comments from Students:
"Since yesterday, I've logged a couple of hours total in Chords, Harmonic Dictation, and Melodic Dictation. Speaking as a working professional software designer, I'm very impressed with the program and the design choices. I like the fact that Ann gave content and pedagogy priority over eye candy. I'm also a late-in-life music student at a local university and am currently in my 4th semester of Theory and Aural Skills. They've done an excellent job teaching sight-singing, but they don't use any CAI program for ear training. I can tell already that my melodic and harmonic dictation skills would have been much farther along if I'd started using MacGAMUT two years ago." --M.E.
"I recently moved and, in the move, thought I had lost the MacGAMUT CD I purchased in 2002. Luckily, I did not! I was very excited to find my old CD, as it was a huge help in undergrad and will be wonderful review for my graduate school entrance exams. Thanks again for your wonderful product!" --A.K., Michigan
"From what I have seen so far, this program is awesome! I have been looking for something like this for a long time. This will save me a lot of time in my studies." --J.S.
"I really like the MacGAMUT software I recently purchased. It's given my ear a great workout. Keep it up! I am a software developer as well, so I know what you go through to kick out the software!" --C.H.
"I just wanted to say thank you for your online tech help. I was having major sound problems, and I was easily able to fix them with the online directions!" --J.L., Ohio
"I just wanted to let you fine folks at MacGAMUT know that I have read the reviews on how sound the pedagogy is, and I have seen the benefits from using the program. With those things in the open, I feel better about saying that YOUR PROGRAM IS THE MOST FRUSTRATING ACADEMIC ENDEAVOR I'VE EVER VENTURED INTO! That's just because it's difficult and time-consuming. But, as I said earlier, I appreciate the program, and I plan on using it when I become a music teacher. I do put 95% of the blame for my being 19 years old and balding on your program, though. I think you should include a warning, 'Will cause frustration and potential hair loss.' I just wanted to get those things off my chest. Keep up the good work, and know thy you've made yourself another customer in about five years!" --P.W., Indiana
"I'm a first-year music major, and I have to say I quite enjoy your program. It can be extremely challenging at times, but it has helped my ear training, and the results are dramatic." --B.L., Ontario
"I just bought my books for the semester, and I'm still in shock! MacGAMUT was by far the cheapest required text. Thanks for a reasonably priced product." --B.D., California
"Thank you. I received the replacement disk today. Too bad Apple doesn't have such a great staff as you." --K.W., Minnesota
"Thanks for the very warm and personal response. I didn't expect one from the programmer herself! But then, when a piece of software is actually reasonably priced for a student's budget and is so simple to use yet such a valuable learning tool, what else should I expect? This is a great tool for ear training!" --T.G., Texas
"MacGAMUT is really easy to use. Finale should take lessons from you!" --S.K., Indiana
"I want to thank you for developing such a program at a reasonable price. As much as I and my fellow classmates get aggravated by the difficult melodic dictation sessions, there is no doubt that MacGAMUT does, in fact, help train your ears. Thank you!" --R.H., Virginia
"Today I returned my MacGAMUT CD to Netflix. Oops! My instructor says you will send me a free replacement. Is that really true?" --R.M., Georgia
"Thank you so much! I really appreciate how you have helped me and how fast you reply to e-mails. MacGAMUT has superior tech support! Thank you again." --M.V.D., Ontario
"I want you to know that I am not only tolerating MacGAMUT, but I'm actually ENJOYING it now! I can't believe it." --A.K., Colorado
"Now that's what I call technical support. Wow! Not even 15 minutes since I sent the request. Thanks." --J.B., Alabama
"Thank you for replacing my lost MacGAMUT CD free of charge. It has been a very beneficial program in improving my ear training." --J.K., Ontario
"Thanks for the immediate answer and successful solution to my tech support problem. I continue to be extremely impressed with your company in all aspects. I am the Chief Technical Officer of a software company, although we sell a very different kind of software. I know how difficult it can be. I look forward to working with the software." --M.N., New Jersey
"I think one of these days I shall have to come to Columbus and take you out for a beer! IT WORKS! IT WORKS! IT WORKS! THANK YOU SO MUCH! Well, maybe a big steak and lobster dinner! This is worth more than a beer! I can't believe it. I might even get my first assignment in on time. Thanks!" --B.V.
"My graduate degree is in music, even though I'm in computers now, and I think the program itself is great. I wish more programmers and companies took the time to get out a program with as few bugs as MacGAMUT. If they did, my job would be SO much easier. Keep up the good work!" --P.H., Iowa
"I have misplaced my MacGAMUT CD. Please send me a replacement. By the way, I love this program!" T.S., Mississippi
"Thanks so much for your speedy assistance. Your suggestions were very useful in solving my problem. I did everything you told me to do, and the program is working perfectly now. I should be able to get A's in all my ear-training classes from now on!" --M.K., Missouri
"You are a lifesaver! I can't believe the level of support!" --H.S., Texas
"Amazing! I haven't enjoyed customer service like this since. . . . Nope. This is a first. Thank you!" --P.L., Kentucky
"MacGAMUT has helped me to improve my grade in Aural Training. I come from a very long line of tone-deaf band-dropouts, so the class is very difficult for me." --E.S., Ohio
"I have used many different types of ear-training software throughout my musical studies (undergraduate and graduate) and think that MacGAMUT is the best!" --M.B., Indiana
"I purchased MacGAMUT some years ago in order to pass an undergraduate ear-training test. I completed the requirements for an M.M. over ten years ago. I had tested out of two years of undergraduate harmony and analysis but failed the ear-training part of the exam. I could either pass the ET exam or take ET at the private school, which would have been very expensive. So, I got MacGAMUT and spent about one hour per evening for about four months. Even when I thought I hit my ceiling in some area, I managed to keep improving. I took the exam and passed it. This time it seemed very easy--two years of undergraduate ear-training, only using MacGAMUT. I have to say that I really enjoyed using it; it became a challenging game. So, thanks again for this product. $35 saved me about $4,000!" --M.H., Maryland
"Thanks! What a breath of fresh air to see a company stand behind their product!" --V.S., Mississippi
Comments from Instructors:
"I am a piano teacher, though the bulk of my employment is as a web developer. MacGAMUT is the best program I've encountered in my computational history and is a great musical achievement.
"I appreciate MacGAMUT as an accurate, self-correcting interface to a set of exercises for developing the musical sense in relation to musical notation, allowing users to balance what areas need more attempts than others. Although it is possible to work from a textbook, a piano, or a pitch pipe to develop the musical sense, MacGAMUT allows someone to cover more ground more directly, especially for the more complex chord and harmonization exercises, than a more prolonged/tiring approach such as 1) deciding what element to approach, 2) sounding a tone or set of tones, 3) singing from the decision, then 4) verifying correctness. Also, MacGAMUT can span register distributions beyond a usual singing range, as well as sounding harmony. It's also less questionable whether the sounding device is in tune or not, and it's more portable from a laptop than a piano (a pitch pipe doesn't have much of a range)." --D.S., Illinois
"Thanks for the expected response. The response was expected not because that's how people normally do business, but because for years now I have realized that you have an extraordinarily sensible and compassionate way of doing business! My hat's off!" --M.M., Taiwan
"This will be the third year that I have used MacGAMUT in my music theory classes, and it really helps!" --A.M., Mississippi
"I teach AP Music Theory in a Nashville high school. We use MacGAMUT as our ear-training software, and the results have been great!"--R.R., Tennessee
"I'm really glad to hear about the new Written and Keyboard drills. Thanks for your outstanding work with MacGAMUT" --K.T., Oklahoma
"Thanks, Ann, that is great news! Just this past week, I was discussing with a student how nice it would be to move notes [in MacGAMUT exercises] using arrow keys, so it's like you read my mind! Your efforts are appreciated. By the way, I am enjoying using MacGAMUT on both Mac OS X and Windows XP." --J.D., Florida
"We are planning to use MacGAMUT indefinitely! It's great!" --S.S., Rhode Island
"It's fabulous that there's now so much MIDI entry possible in MacGAMUT! The 4-part MIDI dictation works really well!" --D.F., Illinois
"I have recently downloaded the demo version of the software, and I have adopted it for all the music theory courses I teach. This software is revolutionary because it will help my students immensely!" --G.M.L., Arkansas
"This MacGAMUT is awesome! This is my first time using software with my theory class, and it worked out great." --J.H., Tennessee
"After just one term using MacGAMUT software, there has been an exceptional improvement in the entire group of music theory students. Most notably, the students who were at risk of failing aural skills are now performing at a solid C+ level in aural dictation exams. The greatest area of improvement has been in the area of melodic dictation. Students are not only able to dictate the interior notes and intervals of the given melodies, but they also have a much greater affinity for tonic and dominant as tonal reference points. Again, this is after just one term of using MacGAMUT software!" --R.A., South Dakota
"Thanks once again for the quickest response in tech support around!" --T.C., Pennsylvania
"First, let me say that MacGAMUT is GREAT!!!!! I started using it in 2001, and it is the best addition to my music theory course ever!!!! In addition to a wonderful product, the technical support is also outstanding. I have spoken with your support staff on the phone several times, and all were friendly, helpful, and spoke in non-technical language I could understand. Again, many thanks for creating and developing MacGAMUT." --H.G., West Virginia
"My Department Chair is very pleased with the progress my students have been making since I began teaching our Aural Skills classes last year, and I know that much of it has to do with the repetition and instant feedback they are able to get with MacGAMUT on a regular basis. I appreciate everything you've done to keep this software affordable for my students and compatible with various operating systems" --T.H., Michigan
"I have nothing but good things to say about the service I've had from the MacGAMUT team over the years! If all companies treated their customers as you folks do, the world would be a lot nicer place!" --M.M., Taiwan
"Thank you for taking the time and effort to solve this problem. Your staff obviously sets the gold standard for customer service and technical prowess! Please share my sincere thanks with all concerned!" --B.A., Oklahoma
"I think you have a fantastic program, and I am even more impressed to hear how intelligently it grades! I've always told people that MacGAMUT is far more musical than other ear-training programs (no random progressions of chords, for one). Also you have incredible service. MacGAMUT is a fantastic tool, and I always open it up when students come to my office to get help with ear training. We work through practice problems so I can diagnose what they're doing and give them ways to improve. You wouldn't believe how my students are used to hearing the words 'Make My Own Drill' coming out of my mouth!"--R.H., Washington
"The students always hate MacGAMUT, but those who take it seriously end up admitting that it does them a world of good. By the way, Bill in tech support is phenomenal!!!" --G.C., Texas
"MacGAMUT has been an important part of the aural skills classes I have taught over the last three years, and I have taken advantage of the capabilities of the software to create harmonic dictation libraries that allow even better integration of MacGAMUT assignments into my instructional schedule. What a great feature to include in the software! I even use MacGAMUT myself just to stay sharp. Thanks for such a great tool that just keeps getting better with every new update!" --D.P., Texas
"We really like the program, and it has made a big difference in the students' ability to hear and respond." --D.D., Pennsylvania
"I have been using MacGAMUT for three years. During this time, the overall scores on the AP Music Theory Exam have improved. Last year, out of eighteen students, sixteen received 5s (highest score), while two received 4s. Much of the AP Music Theory Exam is based on aural training, and the drills in MacGAMUT match exactly what students must identify, dictate, or recognize to do well on the AP exam. I will be using MacGAMUT every year I continue to teach AP music Theory." --D.E., North Carolina
"Thank you so much for taking care of this so quickly. I really appreciate your help. I want you to know that we think your tech support for MacGAMUT is outstanding. We are very happy with the program. I am coordinating freshman aural training next year, and I will be requiring MacGAMUT for the course. Thanks again." --T.C., Pennsylvania
"The MacGAMUT staff is great to work with, anticipates potential problems, but most importantly is truly concerned about education. AND you have a great product. Thanks again." --D.T., Idaho
"I have used MacGAMUT in my AP Theory music class for five years. My students are required to spend 40-80 minutes a week using MacGAMUT to help develop their ear-training skills. The program allows me to challenge students on an individual level and to track the progress of each student in every area. We have found MacGAMUT to be very easy to use and install. I highly recommend the use of MacGAMUT to reinforce ear-training and dictation skills." --T.G., Tennessee
"I'm floored! Wow! Thanks! Bravo! Thanks for following up on this. My initial tests worked great! I'll run some more repeated tests; if it works OK, I'll go ahead and deploy the upgrade to all the stations. Once again, thanks for all the wonderful, outstanding, just plain great support! --C.M., Connecticut
"After 2 1/2 semesters of MacGAMUT with my current students, I have had several spontaneously give unsolicited testimony that MacGAMUT is improving their ears!!! Halleluiah!" --M.M., Taiwan
"Thank you for being so helpful. I assumed I would have to wait on hold for a long time just to get my problem heard. However, your customer service was the most helpful I have ever been in contact with. Thanks again." --D.L., Kentucky
"Our high school offers a Music Theory/AP Music Theory combination course. Without MacGAMUT software, we could not possibly provide such a dual-level course with any success. Weekly MacGAMUT ear-training assignments are given to the AP Music Theory students. These students' work in MacGAMUT, along with their sight-singing work, differentiates the course from a regular Music Theory designation to an AP course. Each year, several students from the AP class choose to take the AP Music Theory Exam. They always tell me their work with MacGAMUT made all the difference in their preparation for the ear-training portion of the exam. We begin the year using the Prep Presets. However, by the end of January, all of the AP students have finished the Prep settings and work on the regular settings for the second semester. I often hear from alumni who are college music majors. They always report that the time they spent with MacGAMUT was not only valuable in high school but continues to be time well spent as they use their MacGAMUT software in college. Thank you for creating a most valuable tool for developing the most important asset any musician has--the ears!" --L.K., Ohio
"After using many skittish and incomplete products, I think yours is a truly fine program. I used it teaching at several universities before taking this position." --P.L., California
"I just gave a dictation test to my second semester Theory 1 students. Best scores ever: 13 A's, 5 B's, 1 C, 1 D, 2 F's (one came in late). They do MacGAMUT unwillingly. Then they jump for joy when they see the results. Undeniably, I'm your biggest fan." --K.M., Colorado
"We have again adopted MacGAMUT for our Fundamentals and Ear Training classes. I really enjoy using MacGAMUT, and my students who work with it are reaching higher levels of skill, particularly in harmonic dictation. Thanks for keeping it up to date and so affordable." --K.T., Oklahoma
"It is now 4 years that we have used MacGAMUT and we LOVE it; what a great tool it is for our students." --F.R., California
"I got my teaching evaluation comments from my students today. I'm sure this is stuff you've heard before, but they don't always like using MacGAMUT. . . . Some just don't like spending the time working on it, and I think a lot of them get a little frustrated because the program pulls no punches. If they are bad at melodic dictation, they find out how bad they are right away (and, on the flip side, they can see just how much they improve with regular practice). I just wanted you to know that most of the ones who said they didn't like using it also said that they knew they needed it and that it helped them. When they complain to me about it, I tell them that it is like broccoli: they may not like it, but it is very good for them. Life can't be all hot fudge sundaes (but music can be, when you have a good ear!)." --T.C., Pennsylvania
"Thanks so much for this AWESOME teaching tool." --A.T., British Columbia
"The interesting thing is that students in classes which don't require MacGAMUT often buy it anyway, hearing from their friends how it helps their ear training. So, I ordered about 15 more than we'd actually require for those students. My students love the application!" --K.M., Colorado
"The theory faculty here encourages all of our students taking aural skills classes to utilize the Make My Own Drill part of the program. I find it a real strength. If all students would use MacGAMUT regularly, their hearing would improve greatly. Thanks for all that you do." --W.T.M., Missouri
"Thanks, Ann, for being the leader in developing software that is practical for developing skills, user-friendly, and constantly updated! It is by far the best of all the software packages for music theory that we have tried here. I do sing your praises!" K.T., Oklahoma
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