Sibelius Compass

By Sibelius. Educational software - This program helps students learn how to compose. The information is divided into sections or "chapters" by subject matter: Pitch Shapes, Chords & Harmony, Scales, Melody, Form, Rhythm, and Timbre & Texture. Each lesson within a "chapter" has one or more pages of information, with most lessons followed by a quiz. Many lessons have recorded examples that can be played to reinforce the concept. If you already have the Sibelius notation software (version 2 or later), students can open a number of example scores directly from a Compass informational page. This way students can see and hear examples for a specific topic. Teachers may have their students progress through each lesson of each "chapter", or choose one of 8 specific learning pathway that will only cover related material. For example, choosing Pathway B: Pentatonic & Drone will cover pentatonic scales, composing with scales, rhythm patterns, rhythmic ostinato, retrograde & inversion, and composing with pitch shapes.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:

Windows:
Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, XP, NT4, or later
Pentium II or faster
64 MB+ RAM (128 MB for Windows 2000 or XP)
300 MB free hard disk space
CD-ROM drive
Mouse

Mac:
Mac O.S. 8.6 or later (including O.S. X)
iMac/ G3/ G4/ G5
64 MB+ RAM (128 MB for O.S. X)
300 MB free hard disk space
CD-ROM drive
Mouse

Pitch Shapes topics covered: Introduction, Retrograde & Inversion, Changing Octave & Contour Smoothing, Augmentation & Diminution, Pitch Shapes & Words, Composing with Pitch Shapes.

Chords & Harmony topics covered: Introduction, Keys/ Chords/ & Roman Numerals, Common Characteristics of Harmony, Cadences, Characteristics of Chords, Harmonizing Your Own Melody, Chords & Harmony Quiz.

Scales topics covered: Introduction, Pentatonic Scales, Blues Scale, Jazz Scales/ Church Modes (including major scales), Minor Scales, Whole Tone Scales, Composing with Scales.

Melody topics covered: Introduction, Sentence Construction, Melodic Contour, Ostinato, Vocal Melody.   

Form topics covered: Introduction & Arch Shape, Binary/ Tertiary/ & Rondo Form, Sonata Form, Verse-Chorus Form, Blues Form, Jazz Form, Palindrome, More on Form.

Rhythm topics covered: Rhythm Patterns, Tempo & Meter, Rhythm Up Close, Percussive Rhythm, Melodic Rhythm, Swing, Rhythmic Ostinato.

Timbre & Texture topics covered: Timbre, Texture, Simple Textures, Monophony/ Homophony/ Polyphony/ & Canon, Dynamics & Articulation, Composing Using Dynamics & Articulation.

Learning pathway choices: Variations on a Repeated Bass (Ground Bass), Pentatonic & Drone, Solo Instrument & Song, Blues & Jazz, Binary/ Ternary/ & Rondo Form, Palindromes & Canons, Occasional & Experimental Music, Creative Arranging