Add new feature requests to the SITS instead of this page. Let's migrate the content of this page to SITS.
Below are some example requests for new features in GNU Solfege:
- chord selection in chord lessons, just like interval selection in interval lessons.
This has been added. Don't remember what release that was... --TomCato
- more scales (jazz scales like half-diminished, blues or altered).
- This can easily be done in Solfege 2.1.1 and newer. The scale exercise is now done using lesson files. --TomCato
- guessing tensions added to progressions (a known progression is played with random tensions added to each chord, and you must guess the tension(s))
It is possible to do this now with the id-by-name exercise. Ask on the mailing list if you don't figure out how to do it. --TomCato
- Ability to play the all the chords after finding out the proper one or giving up, in order to help memorizing the difference between different similar sounding chords - using right click or in some other way.
- Choices sorted either alphabetically or using original order (and not arbitrarily ordered as it is now)
- I don't understand why in the configuration on harmonic or melodic intervals, all intervals are set on by default. It should be the opposite, I assume the user is generally trying to train its ear, so he won't begin by the harder things... A beginner user should have to choose which intervals he wants to play with by default, and not the intervals he doesn't want to play with... However, it's maybe the opposite for the advanced user ! Adding a button "all off or reset and all on (for advanced user)" could be convenient.
-- Samir (Thanks a lot for this wonderful program !)
- I'm still experimenting with lessons. Using one of the supplied chord progression files it was nice to see that I could split the four voices up on to their own staves and add time signitures and bar lines in the process. Forgive me if it is mentioned as one of the things to do, but what would be nice is if the user could choose the gm/gs voice for a specific stave. I know that you have a choice for the highest/middle/lowest instrument already, but I'm a bit unsure as to how this works. What I'm trying to do is highlight the inner voices for a four part dictation exercise.
College Student Using the Program
As a music student in college I am expected to do the following.
Harmonic Dictation - Chord Progressions with little to no counterpoint and more basic rhythms. I am to try to hear the bass on the first few listenings then the soprano, and as the levels advance, all the voices. When I am done I have to apply figured bass to the chords I have outlined.
Melodic Dictation - Melodies with a more complex rhythmic nature.
Contrapuntal Melodic Dictation - 2 or more rhythmically independant melodies at the same time.
Intervals, Chords in Inversion, Etc... All are neatly organized in Solfege and work just fine.
As well as, Sight Singing Melodies, Sing Singing Duets, and Sight Singing while playing the piano...just listing what we're expected to do, not neccessarily requesting any additional sight singing exercises...unless someone thinks of a good one.
Dictation is the most important function in an aural skills computer program in my opinion because it's so difficult to play something and dictate it at the same time. The dictation exercises in this program are great, the ability to trigger either the first have or the second is really nice. I have some additional feature requests though.
Sometimes the tempos are a bit fast and it would help to have one measure of pulse before each example. If you could implement a way to change the tempo of each example that would be great.
As you said in your explaination of why you are writing this program, we need to do these exercises everyday to be successful. This means we need LOTS of lesson files. Right now if you want to make your own lesson file you have to program it. I am assuming that when you program your own lesson file you can also make new features/kinds of exercises/etc... Which is cool, but expansion of the already implemented exercises would make the program so much more effective.
You obviously can't program them all yourself, and there aren't a billion musicians who are also programmers. I was thinking that you could possibly design a really easy to use gui that lets you make your own melodies/harmonies for dictation. Since the user doesn't actually click in the notes to validate his/her response (GREAT IDEA! Manuscript paper is the way to go) All that would be needed would be a way to enter pitches, key signatures, bar lines, rhythmic values, and a way to specify weather it is the first part or the second.
I feel that if you make it easy for teachers and students alike to program their own melodies (maybe even the ability to import short sibelius files or midi files...just a thought)that teachers would make lessons for their classes and require kids to use solfege to practice at home. I personally would like to copy melodies out of my sight singing book for dictation. Solfege is open source, so as long as the students have pcs they can utilize the software.
With expansion would also come a need for further organization of the lesson files. Currently there is a large list of lesson files that are very specific. You could: 1. make categories for the level of difficulty, 2. take the specific names like "major minor 7th chords in inversion" and make that a category as well so people could write more "major minor 7th chords in inversion" and place them in that category.
You could use a common college curriculum to organize the lesson files. Then you could break it up into the average college semester requirements. Then everything below this level could be high school. It makes the most sense because I would think that the most common user is in a college music program and needs help practicing.
In an after thought I think that you should continue to move in a direction that accurately simulates what it's like to study aurals in school. You take dictation on manuscript paper, you have a specified number of listenings, etc... please don't stray away from that like many other aural skills trainers. Solfege is the most promising aural skills program I've ever seen. What an amazing program. I would like to be involved in anyway I can with its development.
