RoGame Software Releases Mozart 3.0 For Palm OS

(Click for a close-up)	Additional Images (Click for a close-up)

RoGame Software has released the third generation of the Mozart music education program. Mozart has found wide acceptance with universities, schools as well as professionals and students. While the basic concept and premise of the program have not changed there are many new features and improvements in version 3.0.

Mozart is a program designed to aid in the process of learning how to read music. It does that in the form of a game. Once the game is started via the toolbar or menu, a stream of whole notes comes streaming from the right side of the screen. These notes have to be named in the order of their appearance with the current input instrument (i.e. piano). Once a note gets too close to the clef on the left side of the screen it disappears in a cloud of vapor and the player loses one life. For each note named in time the player gets one point or more depending on level. The further the game progresses the more notes will appear in this steady stream and their range will widen to potentially include many ledger lines above and below the staff. Once a player has depleted all his lives the game is over.

With version 3.0 Mozart can use new sound modules from RoGame Software. These are part of a sound library that will be made available in other music education titles as well. The game includes a Grand Piano module that sounds very realistic. Palm OS 5.x is needed for playback of these new sound modules and playback is asynchronous on many devices like the newer Treos, which makes for a very realistic game experience.

Version 3.0 adds key signatures which makes Mozart an even more valuable tool for the student as well as for the professional. A real boon, however, is the option to have the notes of the current key signature highlighted graphically in the current instrument. The Solfege instrument now works according to the "movable DO" principle and the letter input instrument changes note names according to key. A toolbar button to switch between parallel major and minor makes this concept very transparent.

Another new feature in Mozart 3.0 are ranges. This concept has been implemented very broadly and allows for different ranges in every clef and instrument. By allowing the student to adjust the range of notes that can appear in a practicing session games can be better targeted towards specific weaknesses.

Advertisement

Graphically the application is much improved in version 3.0. The instruments are laid out in much broader fashion and are easier to use. The notation area can be customized to change background patterns and staff color. A new set of toolbars simplifies the operation of the game significantly. Between sessions the toolbar provides quick access to all essential dialogs and functions and once a game is started all game relevant information is displayed.

Previous users of Mozart will find many more new features in version 3.0 than can be described here. There is a new bass instrument. Sessions can be repeated. Solfege syllables can be switched to use Si instead of Ti. The game speed can be adjusted globally and is now constant, and much more.

New Features Recap:

• Sound modules for realistic sounding instruments
• Toolbar interface
• Customizable notation view
• Live play mode in all instruments
• All major and minor key signatures
• Parallel major/minor switch
• New instrument controls
• Added instrument bass
• Repeatable session
• Sessions wizard to configure key and range of training sessions
• Movable Do for Solfege exercises
• Switch between Ti or Si
• Updated for new Palm handhelds
• New full screen interface

Mozart is available by itself and as part of Music Bundle and Music Bundle Pro.

For more information, visit their web site at www.rogame.com.