Interface description

- buttons/sliders/checkboxes ...

KLearnNotes2 Key Words

First of all, in the following descriptions I will refer to two program states:

*TEST

this is when you are tested: the clock is running, questions are being asked; not all menus/buttons are enabled

*STOP

this is when you are not tested: you can choose testnotes and check (and memorize) their names; you can also set TEST and sound parameters

There are also two other terms which keep being repeated in these help files:

testnotes

these are notes selected for a TEST

  • at STOP - you see all testnotes ; you can select more or less of them using name checkboxes and range sliders (see below)

  • at TEST - you see one, randomly selected, testnote ; you should guess it's name and click appropriate namebutton

speed goal

this is suggested by the program; it is how fast you should answer

  • preset speed goals depend on whether you define yourself as a Prentice (the easiest, lowest speed goal), a Journeyman or a Wizard (the hardest, highest speed goal)

  • you can also specify your own custom speed goals

  • actual speed goal depends on number of active namebuttons (notes' names to choose from); this is because it is physically more difficult to find appropriate button to click;

    the bigger the number of active namebuttons the lower speed goal

During a TEST you can watch how well you are doing out of the corner of your eye, without loosing focus from the staff because

  • if your answering speed is bigger than the speed goal it will be displayed in a green frame

  • if your answering speed is smaller than the speed goal it will be displayed in a red frame.

The influence of speed goal on the horizontal and vertical exercises is different:

  • in the vertical (static) exercise you have unlimited time for an answer; there is a speed goal set, but it is only informative (there is a red frame around your speed when you answer too slowly); therefore, this is a better introductory exercise

  • in the horizontal (game) tests you have limited time for an answer - you have to do it before the question note hits a clef sign; speed of note movement is set such that you have approximately 1.5 time more than the time appropriate for your speed goal (that is: to answer faster than your speed goal you have to do this before note travels through 2/3 of the staff).

Remember that accuracy of answers is always more important than speed which will build up in time. If you are just starting and make a lot of mistakes simply select vertical exercise, ignore speed goal and focus on answering right.

But speed is important after all. The idea is to give automatic, thoughtless answers. Try to answer faster and faster. And if you make 1 mistake during 80-questions test - don't slow down. Rather, pay more attention to the note you erred about.