iTheory

What is iTheory?

iTheory is a beginning music theory ear-training program for the iPod which allows on-the-go users to practice interval recognition, scale recognition, chord recognition, and perfect pitch. This program is a complex network of over 600 interactive text notes with links to over 200 audio clips. All iPods with the Notes feature – 3rd, 4th, and 5th generation iPods, as well as the iPod mini and iPod nano – are able to use iTheory.

iTheory features interactive quizzes for students to test their music theory ear-training skills in four main areas. The interval section contains three subsections with 40 questions each – ascending intervals, descending intervals, and intervals played together – where students can quiz themselves on the 13 simple intervals (unison, m2, M2, m3, M3, P4, A4/d5, P5, m6, M6, m7, M7, octave). The chord section contains 40 questions where students can test themselves on the qualities (major, minor, augmented, diminished, dominant) and inversions (root, 1st, 2nd, 3rd) of chords. Within the scale section (25 questions), students can quiz themselves on the recognition of scale qualities (major, natural minor, harmonic minor, melodic minor). Finally, within the perfect pitch section (25 questions), students can test their recognition of a randomly selected pitch in an attempt to develop perfect, or absolute, pitch – the ability to hear and identify a note without a reference note.

Download iTheory

Download each of the following zipped files. Add all the notes into the main notes folder of your iPod, and move the sounds to iTunes.

iTheory Notes
iTheory Sounds

How to Enable your iPod for iTheory

From apple.com:

To enable your iPod as a hard disk:

  1. Connect iPod to your computer.
  2. Open iTunes if it doesn't automatically open.
  3. Open iTunes Preferences. In Windows, on the Edit menu, click Preferences. On a Mac, from the iTunes menu, choose Preferences.
  4. Click the iPod button.
  5. For most iPod models (except iPod shuffle): Select "Enable disk use" or "Manually manage songs and playlists". Either one will allow you to use iPod as a drive. If you select "Manually manage songs and playlists", iTunes won't automatically update iPod with the iTunes library. If you want iTunes to automatically update your iPod, select "Enable disk use" instead.
  6. The iPod disk icon appears on the desktop and in Finder windows, and in My Computer in Windows. Double-click the icon and drag files to or from iPod's window to copy them.
  7. Make sure to eject iPod before disconnecting it from your computer.

To store and read notes with your iPod:

  1. Save a document in any word-processing application as a text (.txt) file.
  2. In the Macintosh Finder or in Windows Explorer, drag the file in the Notes folder on iPod.
  3. To view notes on iPod: Select Extras > Notes

The Notes feature is available on iPods that have a dock connector. This includes iPod mini, iPod (with Dock Connector), and iPod (Click Wheel) models.

Copyright © 2007 by Duke University. All rights reserved.

Permission to copy, use, and modify this software and accompanying documentation for only non-commercial educational and research purposes is hereby granted without fee and without a signed licensing agreement, provided that the above copyright notice, this paragraph and the following two paragraphs appear in all copies including derivatives of the software. The recipient is free to make upgraded or improved versions of the software, provided that they are made readily available to others on these same terms without fee or any other charge. The recipient shall be responsible for compliance with these obligations, which the recipient accepts as fair consideration for the software provided. Contact the copyright holder calling Henry Berger at (919) 684-3311 for commercial licensing opportunities.

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THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE SOFTWARE AND ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS". THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER HAS NO OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE, SUPPORT, UPDATES, ENHANCEMENTS, OR MODIFICATION.