Technology and Music: SmartMusic Edition By Linda Bean
Technology is fast catching up with the rich history of instructional strategies that have been utilized for music instruction for decades. One outstanding example of this can be found with SmartMusic. Currently, the music library available to SmartMusic users rivals that of the finest university music departments. categories are divided into:
The
• Solos - more than 30,000 solo & ensemble titles.
• Exercises - more than 50, 000 exercises including scales.
• Method Books - 35 popular books for brass and woodwind instruments, 13 for string, 3 for jazz ensemble, and 7 for vocal.
• Jazz Improvisation - includes Aebersold tracks.
• Concert & Jazz Band, String & Full Orchestra, - thousands of titles ranging from beginning to college level.
• Sight-Reading Exercises - an OUTSTANDING sight-reading tool
All of the resources above and more can be acquired for what you would have to spend to purchase just a few method books. SmartMusic includes an easy to use tuner, metronome, parent/student assignment
ability to click on a note and have the correct fingering diagram automatically pop up. You can also make use of a green cursor that ability to follow the beat to provide a visual reference within the music. For the student of today these tools just make sense.
SmartMusic allows for assigning lesson pass offs either from a method book or from your current ensemble pieces. Automated rhythm assignments can be made where students clap the correct rhythm as seen on the screen. (Our students especially like this tool indicating they feel less intimidated while improving their reading skills.)
The
student’s grade for that assignment is automatically entered into the grade book. There is also a feature allowing you to export the grade book into an excel file. Learning these features is made easy with tutorials and webinars available on the SmartMusic website. (Remember to submit the Webinars you attend for professional development!)
Through SmartMusic, assignments can be made detailed or more general depending on what the teacher desires. Playing assignments
without comments. This email includes details about the assignment along with how many minutes the student spent working on the assignment in SmartMusic. You may select to
include a sound file with the email so the parent can hear their child’s performance as well as see a screen shot of the SmartMusic assessment.
Through SmartMusic you are able to challenge the highest achieving students while also providing a non-threatening opportunity for those that are behind to catch up. The program documents these efforts and automatically notifies parents as well as students. SmartMusic brings technology into the music classroom in a way that enhances existing methodologies and bridges tradition with the tools of today. You can find out more about SmartMusic and view resources for demonstrating the program to parents, administrators, and students at
www.smartmusic.com.
notification and reminder tool, grade book, automated or tailored assignment options, and many other features. One feature that is especially useful for young players is the
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may simply receive a grade from the computer or you may add an additional grade submitted by the teacher upon listening to the recorded assignment. Upon grading, an email can be sent to the student and/or parent with or
Linda Bean is in her 24th year as band director at Cullman Middle School in Cullman Alabama. The Cullman Middle School Band Course has been recognized internationally by Desire2Learn as one of the top twelve courses in the Teaching and Learning Category. Most recently, the Cullman Middle School Band was selected as a presenter to The National School Board featuring the use of technology in the classroom showcasing SmartMusic.
August/September 2013
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