March 16, 2005

If you want to learn to sing in tune or on tempo, check out a new program called Singing Coach Unlimited (Carry-a-Tune Technologies, Windows 2000/Me/XP, $99.99). And if you’re already a good singer, you’ll find help for improving your singing. The program is designed for anyone age eight or older and can operate in either of two display modes--graph or sheet music–-so it works for people who can’t read music and for those who can.

The key feature of Singing Coach Unlimited is the Pitch Tracking Line. The pitch at which you’re singing (or humming, as is the case in several of the lessons) appears on a graph-like time-line display where each horizontal line corresponds to a pitch on the musical scale, C, D, E, etc., and vertical lines are music measures and beats. The program displays a target range within which you want to keep your singing pitch. The target range narrows as you advance from Beginner to Intermediate to Advanced, starting at + or - one-half a musical step to 1/4 to 1/8. As you sing or hum your tunes, the Pitch Tracking Line follows your pitch and displays it on the graph (or sheet music) showing you how close you are to the desired pitch and allowing you to correct your singing pitch if needed.

The program supports up to six separate users and starts by establishing your vocal range, i.e. the highest and lowest notes you can comfortably sing. You can retest your range at anytime and with enough practice, you might be able to extend your range as well. Although you are assigned a vocal range name such as baritone, alto or bass for your reference, the program keeps track of your actual range in setting the key for your practice songs. As a bonus, there’s an explanation of vocal ranges and basses and altos and such.

Once you’ve established your vocal range, you can embark on the 20-lesson tutorial, a series of interactive lessons that teach a particular musical principle or feature of the program, demonstrate the feature or principle and then give you a chance to practice it as often as you want. The teaching part is fun, since it involves some animated interaction between Carrie, a wannabee rock singer, Mike, the talking microphone and you. Additional help comes from Dr. Clef, who demonstrates proper breathing principles and from the opera-singing octopus Octavio, who acts as a vocal coach and demonstrates several musical principles such as scales.

The lessons include How to Produce Good Tone, Warming Up, Singing 2, 3, 4 and 5 Pitches, Intervals, and practice songs such as Hot Cross Buns, When The Saints Go Marching In, This Old Man and others. The program displays how well you keep within the tracking range and gives you a score of 1-100. You set your own goal for passing. If you can successfully complete the required lessons you’ll be awarded a certificate. Practice, practice, practice and you’ll soon find it easier and easier to nail the pitches just right. You don’t have to do the lessons in sequence (although it’s recommended) because the program allows you to skip ahead or go back at any time or jump right into singing songs or composing music.

In The Singing Mode of Singing Coach Unlimited you select to sing one of the 24 all-time favorites included with the program or go to the program’s on-line music store and find an additional 12 free music downloads. Additional songs can be purchased on line at the store from the Warner Chappell catalogue. The program also allows you to import your own MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) format songs or MIDI songs purchased on-line from a selection of more than 10,000. The song you choose can be displayed in graph or sheet music format and as you sing, the Pitch Tracker shows your pitch in relation to the song. The program helps by setting a four beat intro for tempo and pitch. You can change the tempo for easier practice and change the accompanying instrument from a selection of 13, such as piano, guitar, flute, rock organ and such. Turn off the accompaniment and sing "a capella," if you want. Again, practice, practice, practice and the program will score how well you’re progressing.

Using the Compose Mode, you can write your own songs, clicking and dragging pitch and beats on the graph, or use the on-screen keyboard, then switch to sheet music view to see what it looks like. Add lyrics if you want, and sing your composition while the program tracks your pitch.

No computer program can make you a hit singing star but Singing Coach Unlimited does give you some tools to get you started to improve your singing. Even though Mike, the singing microphone and host, admits that some singing techniques are best practiced with a trained instructor, Singing Coach Unlimited does give you a head start and the opportunity to practice at home and at your own pace.

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