A method for monitoring the performance of an application comprises determining an output of an application that requires monitoring, assigning an audible sound to the output, positioning an output display window at a desired location on a performance monitoring screen, determining a baseline for the output when the application is in the state of equilibrium, monitoring the output to detect a change relative to the baseline, emitting the audible sound assigned to the output from the sound location and bringing the display window into focus on the performance monitoring screen when the detected change varies from the baseline by a predetermined amount, and adjusting the configurable parameters of the audible sound to indicate the existence of the detected change, the magnitude of the detected change relative to the baseline, and the degree of deviation from the baseline, wherein an amplitude of the audible sound is adjusted to indicate the magnitude of the detected change from the baseline, and wherein a pitch of the audible sound is adjusted to indicate a positive change or a negative change from the baseline.