Moodle plugins directory: Music Theory | Moodle.org
Music Theory
Question types ::: qtype_musictheory
Maintained by 
Eric Brisson
Question type supporting several exercises for music theory instruction.
Latest release:
488 sites
96 downloads
43 fans
Current versions available: 3
This question type is designed for music theory instruction. It currently supports the following exercises:
Each of the exercises above (except for #3, Keyboard Input) can also be configured so that a specific question is randomly generated upon starting an activity. The randomization can be based on a set of parameters configured when the question is created or edited. For example, it is possible to configure an interval writing question so that it asks for a perfect fifth above a randomly chosen given note. This randomization process, configured during question creation, alleviates the need to create very large question banks, and can be particularly useful for interval and chord/harmonic function questions, given that the number of possible questions for these exercises is very large.
I made a choice to create a framework where the correctness of a given question is automatically computed, without having to enter individual answers during question creation. A framework for adding various grading strategies for each exercise is also in place, and is currently used for the scale writing exercise (currently allowing either an "all-or-nothing" grading strategy, or a "partial grade" approach where each correct note is given partial credit).
This plugin was developed with the hope of creating a music question type that would support a wide range of music theory exercises, using a single graphical user interface that is flexible enough to support such exercises. It is hoped that it will facilitate further development and Moodle server maintenance.
Special thanks to Jay Huber for his very significant contributions to the existing standalone Moodle music question types (Music Key Signature, Music Interval and Music Scale), and for inspiring me to develop this new question type.
- Note writing: The respondent is asked to enter a given note on the staff.
- Note identification: The response is asked to identify a give note.
- Keyboard Input: The respondent is asked to select a given key on the piano keyboard.
- Key signature writing: The respondent is asked to enter a given key signature.
- Key signature identification: The respondent is asked to identify a given major or minor key signature.
- Interval writing: The respondent is asked to enter a given interval above or below a given note.
- Interval identification: The respondent is asked to identify the quality and size of a given interval.
- Scale writing: The respondent is asked to enter a given scale.
- Scale identification: The respondent is asked to identify a given scale.
- Chord quality writing: Given a chord root and quality (e.g. 'G major', 'D minor'), the respondent is asked to enter corresponding chord on the staff.
- Chord quality identification: The respondent is asked to identify the quality of a given chord (e.g. 'major', 'minor', etc.).
- Harmonic function writing: The respondent is asked to enter a given harmonic function in a given key (e.g. 'IV in D minor').
- Harmonic function identification: The respondent is asked to identify the harmonic function of a given chord in a given key.
Each of the exercises above (except for #3, Keyboard Input) can also be configured so that a specific question is randomly generated upon starting an activity. The randomization can be based on a set of parameters configured when the question is created or edited. For example, it is possible to configure an interval writing question so that it asks for a perfect fifth above a randomly chosen given note. This randomization process, configured during question creation, alleviates the need to create very large question banks, and can be particularly useful for interval and chord/harmonic function questions, given that the number of possible questions for these exercises is very large.
I made a choice to create a framework where the correctness of a given question is automatically computed, without having to enter individual answers during question creation. A framework for adding various grading strategies for each exercise is also in place, and is currently used for the scale writing exercise (currently allowing either an "all-or-nothing" grading strategy, or a "partial grade" approach where each correct note is given partial credit).
This plugin was developed with the hope of creating a music question type that would support a wide range of music theory exercises, using a single graphical user interface that is flexible enough to support such exercises. It is hoped that it will facilitate further development and Moodle server maintenance.
Special thanks to Jay Huber for his very significant contributions to the existing standalone Moodle music question types (Music Key Signature, Music Interval and Music Scale), and for inspiring me to develop this new question type.
Many thanks to colleagues in Winona State University's TLT and IT departments for their support of my Moodle development efforts.
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Contributors
Eric Brisson (Lead maintainer): Question type author
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Comments 
Comments
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Best,
Eric
I'm just wondering whether it would be possible to have a feature where a user inputs a series of given notes, which the plugin checks against a given answer provided when a question is created?
I'm trying to find a way of creating simple music dictation tasks using Moodle, and wondered how easy it would be to implement within your plugin?
Best,
Sean
the plugin is really good. I wondered if it would be possible to have the solfege syllables (do re mi fa sola la si) instead of the letters.
Marco
Thank you for your note! I'm sorry for my very late reply. It might be possible to create an additional exercise for the purpose that you mentioned, but it would be very limited from a rhythmic standpoint (essentially, with the current note input interface, all notes would be whole notes, and there wouldn't be support for rhythm [note values, meter, barlines, etc.]).
I unfortunately don't anticipate having enough time to devote to implement this feature, although it's an exercise that I have considered adding in the past and that I think would add flexibility for non-standard questions. Adding support for rhythm and meter would be a very significant upgrade to the note input interface, which I definitely don't anticipate having enough time to implement in the next few years. I'm sorry that I can't be of more help with your question at the moment.
Best,
Eric
Thank you so much for your translation - I appreciate it very much!
Eric
If you were already using the previous version (1.3.5 for Moodle 3.1+ [2017022100]) in Moodle 3.5, I recommend upgrading to avoid any potential incompatibility during question creation/edit.
I have made an adjustment to this version that will facilitate upgrades to future Moodle releases by making it less dependent on possible changes to the Moodle question engine.
Many thanks to all translation contributors!
Best,
Eric
"Foreign key questionid on table qtype_musictheory points to a non-existent table questions." There is no query presented like the others.
Running Moodle 3.4.7+ on Redhat 7.1 enterprise 64-bit, php 7.1.8 with MySQL 5.7.21-community
Any thoughts on how to fix this?
thanks
I'm sorry for my late reply to your question.
This error is happening because the xml file used to create the database table for the plugin has an incorrect foreign key reference to a non-existent table "questions" (plural) - the reference should refer to the table "question" instead (singular).
Since referential integrity isn't currently enforced at the database level in Moodle, this error shouldn't have any effect on the plugin's behavior, but if you still want to fix it on your Moodle instance (to avoid the error in the xmldb editor), you could edit the following line in /question/type/musictheory/db/install.xml ( https://github.com/brissone/moodle-qtype_musictheory/blob/MOODLE_35_STABLE/db/install.xml ):
On line 31: replace REFTABLE="questions" with REFTABLE="question"
This fix should allow you to check for foreign key violations in the xmldb editor.
I am planning to release a new version in the near future (hopefully, over winter break) that will fix this issue, as well as other minor issues. The new version will automatically fix this issue.
Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Best,
Eric
This version includes:
- GDPR compatibility (the plugin does not store any personal data)
- A minor bug fix (https://github.com/brissone/moodle-qtype_musictheory/issues/28)
- A fix for the xmldb editor foreign key violation check ("Foreign key questionid on table qtype_musictheory points to a non-existent table questions.")
- A number of code format adjustments to ensure additional compatibility with Moodle's code checker. I will work on the remaining code prechecks in a future version.
Many thanks, again, to all translation contributors!
Best,
Eric
From what you described, it seems like the question type installed successfully. To test it, you would first need to create a quiz in "Add an activity or resource", and then add a question on the quiz editing page. When creating a new question for the quiz, you should see the "Music theory" question type as a possible option (along with the standard Moodle question types such as short answer, true/false, etc.). This link may be helpful for information on building quizzes in Moodle: https://docs.moodle.org/37/en/Building_Quiz . I hope this is helpful - don't hesitate to let me know if you have any other questions.
Best,
Eric
I really like your plugin. It helps me a lot. I wonder if you can add one more flexible question type for music dictation or theory. It will not limit the answer to be certain chords or scales. It allow the teacher manually input the answer in the staff or from a series drop down menus. For example, the teacher can select three notes from a drop down menu, select "chord", and type in C, F, A as the answer. The teacher can manually type in the question text. With that flexible question type, teachers can easily add seventh chords, inversions and uncommon scales. Please also add an option to show the first note. This option is very useful for questions like "enter a chord above a given note." as you did in Interval writing.
this plugin looks amazing
Is it possible to translate it into German? The English-skills of my 10-14 year old students are not good enough yet to manage these questions in a foreign language
Adding a more generic question subtype as you described is something that I have considered several times and that I am still contemplating. I do think that it could provide a useful feature for the purpose of asking less conventional questions. I will continue to keep it in my plans - I may have some time next summer to design a first draft. I'm glad to hear that the plugin is useful for you!
Best,
Eric