EarMaster is a veteran in the world of ear-training software. After being named as a finalist in the 2019 Music Teacher Awards for Excellence, I got the chance to look at its suite of products in detail.
EarMaster have three product lines: EarMaster Pro 7, EarMaster for iPad, and EarMaster Cloud. ‘Pro’ is the core software, available for both Mac and PC, on which you ‘do’ your ear training. The iPad version is very similar to the Pro software, but individual modules are available as in-app purchases (buy the Pro software once, and you get it all). ‘Cloud’ is a set of tools for educators to create and design lessons for students, as well as track their progress.
EarMaster Pro 7 has everything you would expect from a piece of ear-training software – work through their lessons and you'll be identifying intervals, rhythms, chords and cadences in no time. As a (somewhat) accomplished musician, I always find it hard to select an entry-point in software like this. I skip through tons of beginner lessons, and before I know it my ears are hit with an unrecognisable chromatic chord. I guess with over 2,500 modules, it takes some time to find those that you really need. If I were a beginner, I'd be a bit foxed by the sub-menus – and that's where my teacher would come in. As we are living in 2019, the software comes with the ability to use a microphone to clap/sing responses, and assesses you accordingly. It all works well, and that's the most important thing.
My biggest gripe with the software itself (and this isn't just EarMaster) is the decontextualized nature of a lot of the tests. There are ‘real’ musical examples, but much of the time you are training your ears out of context, and as soon as chord inversions change in real life (I'm thinking about the jazz modules here – the real book is NOT real life), or cadences meet the world of four-part harmony, I have my doubts about the value of the original tests. I can click through many tests, but I'm not sure I'm undertaking the deliberate practice that is essential to improving as a musician.
Lesson plan
EarMaster Cloud is probably the most interesting part of the product suite, at least for music educators. As one would expect, it allows teachers to create specific assignments for students or classes, push them to multiple accounts, and view the results. One could easily design a complete musicianship curriculum and use it as part of classroom or instrumental music teaching. It is easy to monitor completion rate, and scores, for students or groups of students. As mentioned, you can base melodic or rhythmic exercises on ‘real’ music, in both the classical and jazz styles. Students can download the software and complete the tests on their computers, or by using the iPad version (though nothing is available for phones, either iOS or Android).
The software is priced competitively. You pay per user, monthly or annually, and the more users you have, the more attractive the price per user becomes. It works out cheaper than Auralia/Musition, which is undoubtedly one of EarMaster's biggest rivals. The feature set for both is very similar, although the Musition part of Auralia/Musition adds music theory courses in addition to Auralia's ear training package. EarMaster is a piece of downloadable software, making it feel a little behind the curve compared to Auralia/Musition that has a web-based option. However, EarMaster puts everything in one place, even on the iPad app, whereas I count eight different Musition and seven Auralia apps on the App Store. Ultimately, with Auralia/Musition you pay a premium for web-based learning and an all-round swankier UI.
Summary
Do I think this is a well-designed, simple, effective piece of ear training software? Yes, I do. I particularly like the teacher/student features in the cloud software. It's a little dated, and the value of the exercises diminishes as you become a more advanced musician, but if you want ear training software, I'd definitely recommend EarMaster.
However, I've never been convinced that identifying a perfect 5th on MIDI piano sounds was the best way to improve one's musical ear. This decontextualized, passive nature of ear training troubles me. I was able to complete lots of exercises in EarMaster without making any musical sounds and though I could, and should have, the app didn't force me to – that didn't feel right to me. To improve one's aural skills, there is no substitute for a breadth and depth of musical experience. Want to get better at sight-singing? Sing in a choir. Want to improve your rhythmic dictation? Find some rhythms you like, and dictate them. Apps like these can only complement deliberate practice though meaningful music-making. As long as we – as educators and subject-specialists – remember that, EarMaster will always have a place.
