[testimonials backgroundcolor=”” textcolor=””]
[testimonial name=”” gender=”male” company=”” link=”” target=”_self”]Ars Nova Software has released the 4th Edition of Exploring Theory with Practica Musica as a free online resource for music students around the world. This multimedia music fundamentals textbook offers the student a complete learning experience, combining traditional text content with live music examples. The book can be used with most current web browsers, though owners of Apple iPads will want the free iBook version available on the iBook store.
– Ars Nova Software, LLC.[/testimonial]

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[title size=”2″]Exploring Theory with Practica Musica, by Jeffery Evans[/title]
Practica Musica has been a part of my musical life since I started college in the early 90s. I still remember carefully carrying my PM disk in a blue 3.5 inch floppy disk box, and the satisfaction that came with conquering each level. Ever since then, Ars Nova Software has remained at the cutting edge of music education and technology.

Jeffery Evan’s, Exploring Theory with Practica Musica is a full featured music fundamentals textbook, complete with attractive graphics, multimedia examples, and well-paced and pedagogically thoughtful learning pathways.

Topics include: Notation of Pitch, Notation of Rhythm, Reading Rhythm, Complex Rhythm, Intervals, Scales and Key Signatures, Triads, Adding to the Triad, Chord Progressions, Building Melody, Developing Melody, Elements of Form, Voice-Leading, Expression Marks, and The Physics of Music.

 

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[title size=”2″]Ease of Use[/title]
Both the online version of this book and the iBook are extremely user friendly and intuitive. Though it would no be possible, or probably legal, to borrow samples from the book, it could certainly function as an addition resource or as a primary (and free) textbook.

[title size=”2″]Mobile Compatibility [/title]
This online resource is fully HTML 5 compatible, so it works well on any mobile device. It is also available as a downloadable iBook on iOS devices. In the iBook format, it is possible to continue your study offline.

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[title size=”2″]Web Sharing[/title]
It is not really possible to embed this book inside your LMS, but you can easily share links with your students.

[title size=”2″]Pricing and Accounts[/title]
It’s free. Within the book itself there are instructions on how to integrate theory concepts with Ars Nova’s PM ear-training software. Information about PMs user licenses and plans are available here.

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  • Free (a very generous offering)
  • Well written and paced
  • Pedagogically sound without tons of extraneous information
  • Mobile Support (HTML5 compatible)
  • Integration and supports Ars Novas other software offerings
  • Beautiful interface without any obvious technical glitches

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[accordian][toggle title=”Cons:”]

  • It is something of an advertisement, but that being said, it is an amazingly well crafted resource and it’s FREE!
  • Musical examples are somewhat limited by the media platform and by the costs of using copyright recordings in a for-profit setting.

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