Speak MusicSpeak MusicA companion app for Melody and Rhythm by Bill Stevens. Build embodied musicianship through progressive fluency exercises in rhythm, pitch, and creativity.
Request AccessThere is a long-standing divide between the theory and aural skills training traditionally offered to undergraduates and the wholly embodied musicianship needed to engage professionally with today's diverse musical landscape. Reading musicians who can play anything from the page may struggle with feel and style. By-ear musicians who can shape a mood may have gaps in technique and theory.
Speak Music bridges this divide. Built on the pedagogy of Melody and Rhythm, the app develops your ability to hear, read, feel, perform, recall, transcribe, and create. Activities adapt to your fluency level, building from recognition through recall to real performance ability.
Melody and Rhythm is a multi-semester course in embodied musicianship by Bill Stevens. It develops complementary strengths across reading and hearing, knowing and feeling, interpreting and creating. The Speak Music app is designed as a practice companion for students and educators using this text.
Students work through 12 sessions — mapping, decoding, repertoire, transcription, and creativity — across six fluency levels. Each session adapts tile complexity, tempo, and scaffolding based on background skill tracking. The system is designed for productive challenge at every stage, from first exposure through confident performance.
Speak Music is designed as a companion to Melody and Rhythm, but it works great on its own for anyone looking to sharpen their ear training. If you're interested in using the app with your students or trying it yourself, let us know.