tonica is a software package designed to teach four part harmony. It will be necessary for the user to have a grasp of basic music theory and it would be ideal if he/she had worked up to the Grade Five theory exam of the ABRSM. At the very least the user needs to understand note values, time signatures and the structure of the major scale. The User's Guide is divided into two sections. The first section covers how to use tonica and the second section is the harmony teaching course.
The software will write four part harmony and can be used to harmonize a melody, written in any key. This is a boon in organisations such as schools and churches. The styles of harmonization are currently J S Bach 1 and J S Bach 2 or Max Reger.
The harmony teaching section of tonica contains a series of thirteen lessons covering the following topics:
* Primary and secondary triads
* Seventh chords
* Ninth chords
* Inversions of chords
* Rules of harmony and cadences
* Modulation
The tutor progresses by giving information and exercises to complete. An example file is usually given for comparison purposes. An infinite number of exercises can be created if the ones already in the package do not provide enough practice in any area. An example exercise is given on this information sheet, which you can do if you have the tonica demonstration software obtainable from the office for ú5, or from our web site for free. http://www.softpart.co.uk
The four harmony parts are Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass but we are aware that not all musicians work with these parts. For example, Barbershop singers use Tenor, Lead, Baritone and Bass and the melody line is held by the Lead part. This does not affect the fundamental reason for buying tonica, which is to embark on a basic harmony course. If there are any other special interest groups out there who have specific requirements we would be very interested to hear from you.
Chord descriptions can be set by tonica for you to insert the notes that correctly match the chord description or you can enter the chord description and tonica will check it against the notes and tell you if you are correct. Music and individual parts can be copied, cut and pasted within tonica and exercises can be printed out. If you are creating a score, however, you will want to include a title, dynamic markings and articulation signs, lyrics etc. It is a simple matter to export scores from tonica to capella where all the features are available and there is more control of desk top publishing features.
Example exercise:
Load tonica, click on FILE and Open. The File Open dialogue box will appear. Select Examples from the window in the centre and from the left hand window choose file 03-21. Click on the middle box of the three in the top right hand corner of the window to enlarge the window. Write a cadence using chords I-IV-V-I. The first chord is already completed. Click on voice - click on note value - click on stave. As you insert the notes a blue box will appear underneath each chord. Place the cursor to the left of the first empty box, click the right mouse button, from the options select Chord Description and the Roman Numeral dialogue box will appear. For each chord enter the relevant Roman numeral in the box nearest the centre (with a frame around). Leave all other fields empty. Use the right arrow on the dialogue box to move to the next chord. When this has been completed for all chords put the cursor in front of a chord description, click with the right mouse button and choose the option Evaluate. The chord is analysed for you in the dialogue box. Look at all the chords in this way. Now open solution file 03-31 and compare.
Note: If you are entering notes through the PC keyboard rather than with the mouse you type A-G to get the notes A-G. However, at the moment the software still requires H for a note B and B+H for a B flat, the German system.
Note: When playing in in real time the dialogue box which specifies the tempo must stay on screen until the playing in has finished. Pressing FINISHED does not refer to setting the tempo, it refers to the playing in process.
Note: Unlike in capella, playing in in step entry mode is not possible.
Note: The demonstration disc of tonica becomes the full system when the licence numbers are entered under FILE and Registration. The cost of tonica and the manual is ú39 inc VAT, delivery.
We hope you are very impressed with tonica. We certainly know of nothing like it. Please contact us to order the product, or if you would like any more information.
