The first MusicWheels® module is capable of delivering understanding to NQF level 3 in the following areas:

    • scales and modes
    • key signatures
    • transposition
    • harmony construction

Pilot Teaching Sessions - introduction

As part of the MusicWheels® development process, some pilot teaching sessions took place in May 2001. The sessions were led by Joe Bennett who is now the Course Director for the Foundation Degree in Commercial Music at Bath Spa University College. Other music teachers involved in the sessions were Paul Morris (Head of Music Technology, City of Bath College), Rob Wilson (GCSE Music Tutor), Dr Geoff Smith (Head of School of Music, Bath Spa University College) and Mark Anderson (Music Educator and Director of SoundAdvice UK).

 Pilot Teaching Sessions - objectives

The objective of these sessions was to obtain first impressions of the then prototype product, test the product’s ability to deliver learning outcomes for key signatures, chord construction and transposition and finally to evaluate the prototype.

    The format of the sessions was:

    • What do you think of the wheel? (relating to a particular outcome)

        This led to tutor-guided discussion of the strengths and weaknesses
        of the wheel in the context being addressed.

    • Practical workshop (keys, chords and transposition)

        The wheel was tried before and after tutor explanation.
        Each student was given written instructions for use.

    • Informal feedback to class
    • Group conclusions discussion
    • Individual feedback via extensive web based questionnaire

    Three types of learners were involved in the sessions, classical learners, rock learners and technology learners.

Pilot Teaching Sessions - outcomes

Did you understand what it was for straight away?

As we began to use it, I started getting the hang of it and found it useful.

Some of its uses I picked up straight away, for example, the chord construction using the colour wheel and colour key code.

After a short explanation (5mins) I could see a more effective use for the wheel.

I understood a couple of the basic uses straight away but other useful functions had to be explained and I understood them fairly quickly.

What else could it be used for?

Harmonic series, circle of 5ths and 4ths, more advanced chords (e.g. 9th’s and 11th’s).

If you had a MusicWheel at home, what would you use it for?

Easy transposition.

I would use it as an aid to songwriting or even play my own songs in a different key using MusicWheels to transpose them.

I am learning to use keyboard at home, this maybe useful as a learning tool.

 Help in studies as a time saving device.

Working out modes and more advanced chords.

How does MusicWheels® compare to other teaching methods you’ve experienced previously?

Mode formulae (TTSTTTS), circle of 5ths and 4ths are all covered by the wheel visually.

I have always been looking for methods to help me understand elements of music theory more clearly, I would prefer to use MusicWheels® rather than a book because of its portability and ability to determine all chord shapes and not just the most widely used ones which tend to be present in books.

For me, MusicWheels is more of a tool for students who already have a basic grasp of music theory.

If used in conjunction with a tutor it could be a very useful tool, both for learning and once you’ve learnt the premises.

What type of musician would benefit most from using MusicWheels®?

Anyone involved in scoring, transposition for brass players (Bb and Eb) and composition.

I think music students would benefit, songwriters and anyone else with a desire to expand their understanding of music theory.

It gives you the answers instantly and I think it would appeal to many musicians.

Maybe if I’d had something like this when I started, my knowledge of chords and scales would have advanced sooner. I think beginners will benefit most from it. I also imagine it’ll make a good reference tool for keyboard players, and many other musicians who, at one time or another, need to transpose a whole piece to a different key.

A gigging musician who needs a quick transposition device, for instance, when a vocalist can’t sing in a particular key.

Player, composer, improviser with any instrument.

Do you think MusicWheels® a gimmick or a worthwhile learning aid?

For those that learn visually, this is especially useful.

MusicWheels® could take off, and I can imagine it being widely used, to the point where people would refer to it as simply the wheel.

I think this is a worthwhile learning aid. It provides answers very quickly and simply.

Being original, it has a niche in the marketplace, and could be very attractive to a browser in a music shop or an impulse buyer at the counter, but it is also a very useable tool that could build a good reputation in the industry.

It could be a worthwhile learning aid that I would certainly use in a classroom to underpin knowledge.

If you write songs, would you use MusicWheels® to help you?

Absolutely. There are certain chords I play on the guitar or keyboard that I don’t know the names of, so I would look up the notes on my MusicWheel and it would tell me what chord it was. Then I can tell the session musicians to play various chords, without having to show them on the instrument. It would also help me realise the names of certain scales.

I think I would use it as a transposition tool.

Does MusicWheels® need to have a tutor explain it, or would a well-written book give you all the information you need?

A book should do the trick.. but sometimes some people find following written instructions difficult. Maybe MusicWheels® can also be used as a teaching aid.

A well-written book would do. I don’t think the device needs a great deal of explanation.

If a person already had a good grasp of the features covered then it could be used simply with the aid of a manual explaining what it does and how to do it.

Would you recommend MusicWheels® to a friend?

If I used it and it was helpful, then I would.

Yes, especially a friend who is beginning to learn an instrument and is finding the theory difficult.

 I would definitely recommend MusicWheels® to my colleagues.

 I would recommend it to students.

What instrumentalists will find MusicWheels® most useful?

 Guitarists, composers writing for transposed instruments and keyboardists.

 Keyboardists, guitarists and any other pitched instrumentalists.

 Keyboard players because of the layout of the instrument.

 Any musician who wants a better understanding of music theory.

Other comments

 A great idea.

Overall I think MusicWheels® is a good premise. I think it could be an invaluable tool for music theory students from GCSE to A-Level and BTEC etc etc.

Good product. Could be a range of MusicWheels® for different markets, theory, styles etc.