O-Generator is great: a comprehensive music-composition system that provides brilliantly clear and structured music lessons that even our tone-deaf team members could get to grips with.

We should point out from the off that this package is actually intended for presentation by a music teacher, with students following along on their own computer screens.

However, such is the quality of the instruction provided by O-Generator’s ‘Virtual Music Teacher’ we feel comfortable in saying that many students could get along with the application just fine without external guidance.

If you’ll pardon us a pun, O-Generator revolves around a ring-shaped sound-generation system, on which students can plot bass, percussion and drum sounds, among other musical elements and timing controls.

Though the O-Generator can be simply played with, it includes an extensive collection of structured lessons, which among much else cover rhythm, melody, harmony and arrangement.

Nor does it assume that students are likely to be content learning classical styles – ­ dance, rock and drum ‘n’ bass are all options for inspired young musicians to explore. There are a total of nine lessons, but each is subdivided into further categories.

The final lesson is ambitious enough to encourage students to rap along to a backing track, allowing the tempo to be tweaked to fit the rapper’s pace and style.

All in all, O-Generator is a great package that we think could help improve existing musical ability. Even if none exists in a student, so useful and interesting are the software’s lessons that those without musical bones are likely to remain enthralled.

If the £81 price tag seems high, why not give the demo version a try first?

Also consider:
Steinberg Cubase SE 3
More expensive than the Sibelius software, but it's more powerful, so intermediate level musicians might find it more suitable.
5/5
£110

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