App: Counterpointer
Developer: Ars Nova Software, LLC
Genres: Music, Education

Counterpointer provides music notation tools and exercises in traditional counterpoint, both species and free counterpoint in 2, 3, 4, or more parts.  "Species counterpoint"  is a traditional teaching method in which you begin with the simplest possible task and proceed step by step until you are writing real counterpoint. Counterpointer not only supplies the tools to write and hear and print your music; it also evaluates your work, marking and commenting on places where you've written something that is not typical of the chosen style. You can keep making changes and pressing "evaluate" until Counterpointer doesn't see anything wrong - generally you'll find the revision actually does sound better! Counterpointer includes a study guide with general advice on writing counterpoint and specific guides for each of the five species. In the Free Counterpoint sections you can write whatever you like and adjust the "rules" as desired. Begin with first species (note-against-note) and work your way up!

Release notes:
In addition to some internal small fixes, version 3.034 expands and improves the instruction manual, providing more information about the notation options in Counterpointer. It also fixes several of the example files in the Fux exercises - the ones that uses examples taken directly from Fux's Gradus ad Parnassum. Several of those formerly did not display helpful initial bar lines. The other species exercises continue to use a cantus firmus (fixed starting melody) invented on the spot by Counterpointer, and since version 3.032 these random melodies will usually end with a cadence downward to the tonic note as is typical in this style.