Hi Seth,
I’m a flutist/composer and teacher of Advanced Rhythm in the Netherlands, where I am also pursuing a PhD in speed in music. In my rhythm course I train tempo identification with the students and have been developing a method to learn it.
Thanks for your app! it works really well; the design is clean and effective and it can be a great tool for exercising tempo identification.
I’ve done the test three times (consistent around 94%) and have some initial feedback.
- I appreciate how there is no judgement of right or wrong in the app, but simply a measurement of the results.
- With current technology and music, we live in a world of a greatly expanded speed range than given by the original metronomes (40-208 bpm). I believe it would be useful to reflect that in the range of tempi in the app, for example from 30 bpm to 300, or ideally 10 to 400. This also helps train the ability to relate doubling and halving of tempi throughout the range.
- With the Target the Tempo training, it would be nice to have an option to try again after receiving ‘your answer’. Then one can make an adjustment to come closer to the target and develop sensitivity to subtle speed differences.
- The algorithm to determine the tapped tempo in ‘target the tempo’ seemed a bit inaccurate. In several cases I had the experience that while I took 3 or 4 taps to arrive at my target tempo guess, the app took those (warmup) taps into account, which skewed the end result. It could be more reflective of the guess to take the final 4 or 5 taps for the determination.
- Its a little confusing to have both the bar showing your progress and the message telling you when to stop, particularly as they are not synchronized (on my phone). One or the other might be clearer. Also, the fact that the bar changes color is confusing. Does green mean that I am doing it correctly, or just reaching the end?
- Usually when the Tempo Drift starts, it take a few beats before the sounding pulse is steady. Probably some kind of programming thing, or my old iPhone 7.
- Additional modules for the app could test and train tuplets (subdivisions), microtiming and tuplet/grouping combinations.
Please take these comments as constructive from a supporter. It would be interesting to compare training methods.
Best, Ned
- Composition and Advanced Rhythm at the Utrecht Conservatory
- Coordinator and teacher, International Rhythm Course
On 9 Mar 2021, at 19:14, Peter Harrison <p.m.c.harrison@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:Dear Tim, Seth,I can't speak for others on this list, but I for one would not consider innateness as part of the definition of perfect pitch (or absolute pitch). I would simply follow Deutsch's (2013) definition of perfect pitch as "the ability to name or produce a note of a given pitch in the absence of a reference note". The innateness of this ability is then an empirical question, not a definitional question.Seth, I think your idea looks interesting and I hope that the data collection goes well.Best wishes,PeterOn Tue, Mar 9, 2021 at 11:50 AM Tim Ziemer <ziemer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:Hi Seth,Gamification is a great idea for contactless Experiments in these times. I just wanted to mention that “perfect tempo” is not an appropriate term. It seems to be derived from "perfect pitch”, which is by definition innate and not a trained skill.Best,TimP.S.: We created a sonification game to evaluate our sound design:check it out!♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫
Dr. Tim Ziemer
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https://bscc.spatial-cognition.de/ziemerOn 8. Mar 2021, at 18:35, Holland, Seth T <sholland36@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:Hi everyone,As part of a senior research project, my team and I have been exploring the idea of "perfect tempo" as analogous to perfect pitch – that is, if humans are able to train themselves to identify certain BPM from a metronome source or to reproduce a given BPM through tapping or other means of onset production. To research this topic, we created an iOS app called Tempo Maestro. Our goal with the app is to provide a game-like atmosphere to practice skills related to tempo identification, reproduction, and consistency while simultaneously collecting data to see how effective the app is at helping users improve. We are in the process of growing our user base, and we would greatly appreciate if you would look at the app and share it with your colleagues and students. Any feedback would be appreciated.Here are the relevant links:Additionally, this app is strictly for research purposes and not monetized in any way. Thank you!Seth T. HollandGeorgia Institute of TechnologyMusic Technology | College of DesignClass of 2021