If you are looking for a way to read, construct and time your musical rests then this might be the one for you. Rest Value Trainer allows you to work on interface using either a touch screen or a mouse. Or, you have the option of working at speed by using your computer keyboard.
You can operate the interface in four modes: hold silent intervals, regroup notations, identify symbols, and build measures. The top navigation bar include options to Count the gap, Reframe silence, Decode notation, and Draft a measure, allowing you to switch between mode. Each mode is designed to focus on an element of rhythmic reading.
How to Use Rest Value Trainer
You can use the draft mode to create measures from scratch. The decode mode provides a sort of instant quiz. The reframe mode ask you to change groupings. Finally, the count mode challenges your internal pulse when there’s no sound at all.
Above the stave is a series of buttons that, when selected in draft mode, let you pick the meter you want. This might be a common time signature such as 3/4 or 4/4 or perhaps a compound one such as 9/8 or 6/8. The next step is to decide on the meter. Below this, a range of rest symbols will appear. These include whole, half, quarter, eighth, and sixteenth rests, their dotted versions, and full measure rests.
To add a rest simply click on its tile in the palette. Alternatively there are nine different rest options and they all correspond to the number keys 1-9 on your keyboard for quicker placement. Once placed you can then click on the rest itself to make it the selection. The selection can be moved using the arrow keys on the keyboard. After making a selection, you can work on the rest via the tools buttons below the staff.
For example, click the join button to join it with its right-hand neighbor, or press the divide button to divide it in half. To take away a rest press the withdraw button or use the delete key. The audit button will check that your measure conforms to conventional engraving and is mathematically accurate.
In this mode you are presented with a single rest symbol and asked to name how long that rest should be played for. Four multiple choice answers appears below and you click on the right one. The mode learns from your responses and will add in longer rests the further into the game you get. Pressing enter confirms your answer and using arrow keys allows you to navigate around the choices.
When in reframe mode, it presents you with a measure containing a certain grouping of rests, then asks you to alter that grouping. You could combine smaller rests into larger ones to better show the pulse, or split a longer rest to show hidden beats. Select which spans require alteration, then click on the bisection (bisect) or fusion (fuse) control to redraw the bar. Hit the inspect button to check whether you’ve matched the grouping with the intended structure.
Count mode; This tests your ability to time things internally, though a visual clock hand animates during the interval to help you track the passage of time. Using the slider you determine what tempo you want, then hit enter on the silent space. There is a two-beat count in, followed by a boundary tone that shows where the rest begins. All you have to do is hold the rest in your head and tap the big pad at the end of the rest.
To do this, just hit the spacebar when it comes up and let go (that’s it). While you’re waiting, a visual hand will move around the clock face to show you the passage of time, but ultimately, it’s up to you to keep time in your own heart. You’ll instantly see if you were too soon, too late, or right on the money.
For practice, set the tempo by using the tempo slider when in count mode and work at an easy pace. If the rests are small such as sixteenth rests, or if the meter is more complicated (compound), begin slowly. The master volume slider can be adjusted so that the boundary tones are not too soft/loud for your space.
On the right is a practice ledger where it keeps track of how you’re doing in all the modes. How many points you’ve scored, what level you’re at and the number of days you haven’t messed up. The widget will increase the tightness of the timing window and bring in tougher combinations to rest. When you mess up, those are placed into the lower tray under the score so you know which symbols requires more focus.
If you ever forget any engraving conventions, or need to remember some keyboard shortcuts, there is a help panel in the upper left which you can toggle open. There’s also a fullscreen button that maximizes the user interface giving you an expanded view of the staff and controls. This might come in handy when using the software on a small screen.
To begin with the basics try using the 4/4 time in draft mode which shows you where the rests are and how they relate to each other. Then when you are able to read the symbols comfortabley, switch to the count mode so that you have to learn to ‘feel’ the length. Try the reframe mode and see how changing the grouping makes the beat structure more visible.
Don’t be in a hurry to run from one level to another, either. Let yourself get comfortable with each mode before progressing. There’s no need to hurry. The widget is structured to increase your comfort and confidence with each level.
You can simply press a number key or click on the first rest tile to start your session.