EarMaster ApS will release a lighter version of its ear training
software EarMaster 5 on March 24. The new version will offer the core
features of EarMaster Pro, but at a lower price.

EarMaster Essential will be available in 21 languages for both Mac OS
X and Windows. The official introduction of the program will take
place at the 2009 Frankfurt Musik Messe on the booth of EarMaster's
German distributor Klemm Music Technology.

EarMaster Essential 5 is an interactive tool to help users become
better musicians. Features include: 139 progressive lessons from
classical music to rock, including a set of jazz lessons;
fourexercise areas to learn how to identify transcribe and play
intervals, chords, and rhythms; uUser-defined on-screen interfaces:
staff, multiple-choice, piano, guitar, bass, violin, cello, and more;
interactive answering methods: MIDI instrument, microphone,
plugged-in instrument, or the computer keyboard and the mouse;
detailed statistics; and a customized mode to target specific
elements of practice, etc.

It has a suggested retail price of US$29.95. A free 21-day trial
version can be downloaded from the publisher's web site:
http://www.earmaster.com