Section 2 - Installing The ProLobe Online Java Component
Installing the Prolobe Online Java Component is easy.
1. Create a ProLobe User Account or log
in to your account if you already have one
2. Click on the link "Learn" on the left side of the screen
3. You browser is now loading the ProLobe applet
4. After a few moments (depending on your connection speed), you will see
a screen like in figure 2.1
Figure 2.1 - Main Applet Screen
At the top of the ProLobe program there are three tabs (ProLobe, Settings, and Statistics).
Click on the 'Settings Tab' and you will see a screen like this...Figure 2.2 - Settings Screen
- Choose an Instrument to your liking
By default the Acoustic Grand Piano is selected for your instrument. If you click "Start Test" you should here an arpeggio of your MIDI device's range using the sound of the instrument you chose.
Hint: Try to find an instrument sound that sounds good to your ears. The instrument should also be familiar to you (i.e. a piano is very common sound and is most likely the best instrument to use on most sound cards).
If you don't hear anything try the following:
- Check your sound card's mixer settings to see if your MIDI volume is turned down
- Check your sound card's mixer settings to see if your MIDI device is muted
- Play a .MID file (MIDI) to see if your sound card is working properly
Once you have configured your settings, you are ready to begin your first lesson.
Click on the 'ProLobe Tab' and you will see a screen like this...
Figure 2.3 - ProLobe Screen
Starting ProLobe for the First Time
The ProLobe lessons consist of two types. One is single note identification and the other is chord identification. The first few levels ProLobe will take you through will only focus on the first type. You will see a representation of an 88 key piano keyboard on the screen (see figure 2.3). Only the active notes in the test will enabled and all the remaining notes will be "greyed out". Since you will be starting on level 1, the only notes that are actively in the test are D#/Eb and F#/Gb.
Click 'Begin Lesson' to start. A single note will be played and you must point to the key on the piano keyboard that you think it is and click. You will notice that there are multiple D# and F# keys on the piano to choose from. You may select any of the D#'s that are enabled since this is a beginner level. In some of the more advanced levels, you will be required to select the correct octave that the question sounds in.
Below the ProLobe interface you will see your requirements in order to graduate to the next level. As you progress through each level, more notes will appear and eventually you will be required to do a second type of test. In addition to the single note identification you need to complete a chord identification lesson. This will consist of 2 or more (depending on your level) notes being played at the same time, and you will need to identify each note in the chord starting from the lowest or highest note. This is the key to learning perfect pitch! Once you get good at identifying notes in a cluster (chord) of other notes, when you go back to identify single notes, they virtually pop out at you.