Learn a piece with guided training

Guided training uses a MIDI file as a reference. You can split the piece into sections, repeat them at different speeds and decide when to move on to the next block.

Prepare the piece and the instrument

1. Import the piece with File > Import MIDI….
2. Connect and enable your MIDI input.
3. Switch to Practice mode.
4. In Instrument, choose sounds for your playing and for the guide.
5. Balance their levels in Mixer.
6. Listen once to the section you're going to study and check that the guide matches the exercise.
7. If the piece has split hands, turn on Settings > Scene > Main > Tell the hands apart to follow each hand by its color.

The MIDI file defines the reference notes. If it has parts you're not going to play, choose or prepare material that fits the goal of the exercise before you read anything into the match percentages.

Create a plan by sections

1. Open Guided Training from its button in the top bar.
2. Click New Training Plan and type a name.
3. Click Add Training Block.
4. Set its start and end bars.
5. Set the target tempo and the number of repeats.
6. If you've already set an A/B loop, use Use Loop to take that range.
7. Add the next blocks.
8. Review the ranges, tempos and repeats before you start.

Example: learn the first eight bars

The target tempo applies to the whole block; it doesn't create a gradual speed-up between its ends. If the piece has tempo changes, training scales its speed while keeping the proportions of the tempo map.

Choose how to advance

Before you start, set up How to train:

• Count-Off: none, one or two bars of lead-in before each block.
• Also between rounds: adds that count-off between repeats of the same block too. When it's off, rounds follow one another without a pause.
• Stop after each block: when a block ends, training stops and shows its result with Repeat and Next. When it's off, it moves on to the next block by itself.
• Advance on merit: requires reaching the Required accuracy for a round to count as a repeat.
• Metronome click: controls the click for the count-off and the blocks. It's on by default.

To practice without an accuracy requirement, turn off Advance on merit: every round counts. To require a result, turn it on and set Required accuracy. If you don't reach that value, the section repeats and that round doesn't count toward the required repeats.

Practice and check the result

1. Click Start in the training panel.
2. Wait for the count-off.
3. Play the notes following the guide.
4. Watch the current block, the round number and the match indicators.
5. If you turned on Stop after each block, review the result and choose Repeat or Next.
6. Click Stop whenever you want to finish.

The bar and beat lines on the waterfall are turned on by default: when you enter Practice you see the grid right away. Under More settings you can turn them off, change the Match Tolerance and check Don't save this session if you don't want this training to go into the history. Both grids are also under Practice > Practice Grid, and each session remembers how you left them.

What accuracy means

Medussa compares the notes you play with the reference notes within a time window. The accuracy of a round used for advancing on merit is measured against the block's expected notes. Other history summaries may show metrics calculated from the notes you played: read the name of the indicator you're looking at.

These results guide your practice in terms of matching notes; they don't fully assess phrasing, expression, tone quality or musical intent. If a percentage surprises you, first check the section, the reference notes and the tolerance.

Save the plan and pick up where you left off

1. Use Practice > Training > Save Plan… to keep it in a file.
2. Save the session with Cmd+S to keep the piece's context.
3. To pick it up again, open the session and choose it from the list of plans, or use Practice > Training > Load Plan….
4. Check that the MIDI file and the ranges still match the plan.

Each block keeps track of what you've studied and shows it on its card. If you need to start over, its menu offers Forget what was studied in this block and Forget what was studied in all blocks. Use this only when you want to erase that progress record.

See Practice history to review or share the session.