You can import scores into EarMaster's score library via the MusicXML file format. Imported scores can then be used to make custom EarMaster exercises in these activities:
- Sight-Singing
- Melodic Dictation
- Melody Singback
- Rhythmic Sight-Reading
- Rhythmic Dictation
- Rhythm Clapback
- Rhythm Error Detection
What is MusicXML?
"MusicXML is a digital sheet music interchange and distribution format. [...] The musical information is designed to be usable by notation programs, sequencers and other performance programs, music education programs, and music databases. [...] With MusicXML you can create music in one program and share your results – back and forth – with people using other programs."
Source: https://www.musicxml.com
How to proceed
1. Prepare your scores
Create a score in your notation software (e.g. Finale, Sibelius or Musescore), and then go to the FILE menu (usually) to find the Export to MusicXML function.
You can also find a large number of ready-to-use MusicXML scores in online score libraries, such as:
Musescore library - https://musescore.com/sheetmusic
IMSLP Petrucci Music Library - https://imslp.org/
ChoralWIKI - https://www.cpdl.org/wiki/
Hymnary - https://hymnary.org
NEUMA - http://neuma.huma-num.fr
File requirements:
- One time signature per score.
- One key signature per score with maximum 6 flats and 5 sharps.
- Monophonic voices only (no harmonies, one note at a time). To use harmonies, spread the notes across multiple voices/staves.
- Maximum 8 monophonic voices, one of which can be chord symbols.
- Supported clefs: Treble, Bass and Alto.
- Supported note values: from whole note to 32nd note, including dotted notes, ties, triplets, quintuplets, and septuplets.
EarMaster can transpose your melodies automatically, so you can define them in a specific key and then select the keys in which you want EarMaster to transpose them when you set up your exercises.
Only features supported by EarMaster can be imported. Unsupported features will be either ignored by EarMaster or converted to similar values (e.g. the unsupported 6/4 time signature will be imported as 12/8).
2. Import your score into EarMaster
Find EarMaster's Music Library via the Teaching Tools menu. Then open the Scores tab and click on "Import MusicXML" to add your score to the list of scores.
3. Use your imported scores in custom exercises
When you make your custom exercise in the Workbook Editor, you can select "Score library" in the "Source of musical material" section, and then choose scores from the library as questions via the "List of questions" section.
In the "List of questions" section, click on + to see the list of available scores. Then trim the score by defining a bar interval, select which voices will be played back, which one will be evaluated, and which will act as accompaniment. Finally, click "OK" to add it as the first question in your exercise.
To add another question, you can either repeat the procedure described above, or you can click on the Duplicate icon to copy the previous question and change the bar interval or the voice options.
Repeat the operation until you have the expected number of questions/excerpts for your exercise.
FAQ
Q: Can I export the score library of EarMaster?
A: Yes, your score library can be exported as an EarMaster database file, and then imported into another EarMaster installation. To do that, use the import/export buttons at the top right corner of the list of scores in the score library of EarMaster.
Q: I imported a score but it looks and/or sounds nothing like the original file. How come?
A: The MusicXML standard is huge and covers tons of features and aspects that are not useful in EarMaster. Therefore, some imports might result in scores being altered beyond recognition. We are constantly improving the MusicXML import feature, so if you experience such a problem, please send us your MusicXML file and a description of the problem so that we may try to improve that feature of EarMaster.
Q: Can I import MusicXML scores on iPad?
A: Unfortunately no. That feature is only available on PC and Mac.
Q: Can I save a custom exercise based on EarMaster's Score library?
A: Yes, but only when using the Workbook Editor, which is available to EarMaster Cloud users with teacher access level.
