By Dale Farris, Vice-President
Golden Triangle PC Club
May 2004

Game Overview

Viva-Media, the supreme children's software distributor, announces their newest game, the follow-up to Morton Subotnick's Making Music and Making More Music, classics in computer music programs. Hearing Music is a sure bet for all families with computers and children interested in making music on their computer.

Hearing Music was designed with a different emphasis than most children's music titles:  in this case, the actual listening to music. The goal of the program is to teach kids the principles that make pieces of music sound the way they do:  how and why pieces of music differ.

Children play enjoyable games, and in the process painlessly learn concepts like rhythm, pitch, and melody. There are different levels, so the game grows with a child's understanding of the music.

Hearing Music is an audible playground of rich sounds, and explores the interpretation of music. Designed to include hearing music as a step in the music learning process, the program breaks music down to patterns and levels, from beginner to advanced. Hearing Music gives children the opportunity to train their ears to identify different parts of music, encouraging them to hear the nuances in a melody, the change in a rhythm, and the subtleties woven into pieces by famous composers.

A computer-adaptive program makes the games progressively harder or easier as the child moves through the 4 levels of the game. When a level is completed, children are treated to a rousing, animated rendition of the Hallelujah chorus from Handel's Messiah.

Following the success of Making Music and Making More Music, Hearing Music is also a precursor to formal music education. Children are encouraged to recognize patterns in music notation before they are able to read music. Hearing the difference between two melodies and recognizing what is different, an integral aspect of hearing music, is gradually introduced through repetition and game play.

Hearing Music improves aural skills as children recognize the difference between a major chord and a minor chord, changes in tempo, and what the same music sounds like played backwards and upside-down. Yes, upside-down.

The 12 chapters in the History of Music explain answers to questions like: What is music? Where does music come from? How is music related to communications?

Features

Improves listening and concentration skills

Encourages music appreciation

Includes famous works from Mozart, Schumann, Beethoven, and more

Trains young ears to hear subtle nuances in music

Assessment mode allows parents and teachers to track a child's progress

Helps prepare children for formal music education

12 chapters in the History of Music component

So much fun, kids will love learning about music

As a pioneer in electronic music and interactive computer music systems, composer Morton Subotnick built the program from the ground up, so that it would be completely interactive and TOTALLY FUN! Hearing Music is a great introduction to learning music and will serve as a super building block that can continue with Making Music and Making More Music.

With Viva Media's integration of Tivola Publishing, all families and educators can continue to look forward to continued, high quality software geared for the special interests and learning levels of children. With Making Music, Making More Music, and Hearing Music, Viva Media provides 3 wonderful software additions that will exactly meet their needs for a music programs that are directly made for children.

As many readers likely know, in the children's software business, programs that are supposedly created to simulate reality, or offer experiential, interactive learning, many times fail to make the grade. However, as any computer owner familiar with the award winning lineup of children's software from Viva Media know, you can always depend on Viva Media for top quality programs, regardless the targeted age group. Now a part of Viva Media, all Tivola programs continue under this new agreement.

In the special case of music tutor programs, most readers are probably familiar with various of these programs that target adults, but finding such a program created at the level of children has been a problem. With Hearing Music you now have exactly what you want if you are interested in helping children learn how to listen to music. Despite the fun you will have, the game is of course built on serious matters, namely creating music appreciation skills, and the subtle, powerful aspects that accompany this important skill.

Age Group

Hearing Music is a wonderful game for children of all ages, as well as adults interested in having fun learning music. Kids around 8 years of age should be old enough to quickly master the game's unique, fun interface and in no time begin to distinguish various forms of music.

Educational Value

Obviously, the most significant educational value of the game is its tutoring in learning how to appreciate music. In this game, children will have a ton of fun as they learn the basics of music. Any parent who desires their children learn music now has the right computer software to help them in this endeavor.

Targeted Customers

Viva-Media's marvelous game Hearing Music is targeted to the age group 8 to 102. While the youngest 8-year olds may indeed have fun with this game, because they are learning music, it will be a more likely success the more serious is the player. Older children should also find this game one the best tools to use in their initial learning steps.

Again, Viva-Media presents a title that provides super value to public libraries as a wonderful title to be added to their collection. The game could be made available on workstations for children and their parents to play, or it could represent a super tool for use in Little Bookwork programs designed around the topic of learning music.

Price

$29.99 (super bargain!)

Minimum System Configuration Requirements

Windows
486DX-2 or faster processor
Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP
16MB RAM
12MB free hard disk space
SVGA graphics card (16 bit)
13 inch (640 x 480) or larger color monitor
Sound card with speakers, or headphones
2x or faster CD-ROM drive

Mac Machines
Power PC
System 7 or later
Carbonized for OS X
16MB RAM with 6MB free RAM
12MB free hard disk space
13 inch (640 x 480) or larger color monitor
Sound card with speakers, or headphones
2x or faster CD-ROM drive

Installation and Setup

The game should install and set up with no problems. You do need the game disc in the CD ROM drive to play the game.

About Viva Media, LLC

Viva Media, LLC, is a privately held New York company dedicated to publishing a wide array of interactive content of the highest standards. The company's collection of more than 40 multimedia titles tout more than 30 awards for excellence in publishing. Viva Media features the award winning line of Tivola Publishing. CD ROM games and the Viva range of titles include Viva Chess, Viva Adventure, and Viva Reference.

About TIVOLA Publishing

TIVOLA Publishing, now a part of Viva Media, LLC, creates and publishes a wide range of award-winning multimedia products designed to open up a world of interactive fun and learning to children and young people. The German based company has offices in New York, London, and Berlin, and produces a wide range of innovative interactive CD ROMs that stimulate a child's curiosity, while encouraging smart play. In 1995, TIVOLA published its first title, and has developed six distinct categories of software.

These include Play and Learn, The World Around Us, Quest for Knowledge, Stories and Adventures, Crimes and Clues, and Games for Fun. The company has a commitment to producing high-quality, multilingual CD ROMs that tell exciting, entertaining stories through beautiful graphics, witty animation and original games. TIVOLA titles are currently in more than 49 countries worldwide.

TIVOLA began in 1995, when founding partners, Karsten Voelker, Mil Thierig, and Barbara Landbeck founded the Berlin office to fill the need for original CD ROM games that are clever but also promote learning. In 2000, TIVOLA was named "Company of the Year" by the Berlin Association of Self-Employed Entrepreneurs, who recognized the company's fast development into an internationally successful multimedia company with an innovative brand building strategy.

The TIVOLA UK offices opened in 1998, and with the launch of 10 new titles in 2001, the company continues to grow in the UK children's software publishing market. The TIVOLA US offices opened in 1999, and the company signed a contract with the Navarre Corporation to distribute their products in the US and Canada. 

The company develops books and story games on CD ROM, and all titles are simultaneously produced in English so that they can be understood by potential international licensees. The software is also produced for the PC and the Apple platform.

TIVOLA also buys and sells license for different products. For these purposes, the company has developed optimal localization standards. With this new system, TIVOLA titles are obtainable in countries all over the world.

The TIVOLA line of CD ROM programs are products parents can depend on to provide a fun and educational computer experience for their children. Teachers can also feel secure in integrating the educational lineup of TIVOLA products into their curriculum, especially those teaching entry level classes. TIVOLA's series of learning CD ROMs for children that include the many Oscar the Balloonist titles, the many Max adventures, the super Chemicus science-based program, and of course The Little Prince, all assure a solid worthwhile computer experience for all ages, especially young learners.

With the worldwide notoriety of TIVOLA products, the company has also ventured into a new online interactive arena. Companies can now rent online games from TIVOLA to make available at their Web site for their own customers. This new portfolio of online games for rent expands still further the success of the company.

Recent news has also revealed that TIVOLA has been granted worldwide licensing rights to develop and publish educational discovery games based on the legendary comic strip icon, PEANUTS, through United Media. The most widely syndicated comic strip in history, PEANUTS reaches over 350 million readers in 75 countries, appealing to adults as well as children. The first TIVOLA PEANUTS CD ROM will be introduced at the 2002 Toy Fair, and will combine PEANUTS humor with the suspense of a discovery game. As would be expected from any TIVOLA title, the game will integrate educational elements into the distinctive humor of the PEANUTS world. 

Contact Information

John De Feo
Tivola Publishing
580 Broadway, Suite 604
New York, NY 10012
212-431-4420, ext. 201
212-431-4420
FAX 212-431-4537
john@viva-media.com
mail@tivola.com
www.viva-media.com

You can also order from other retailers or online vendors.