5 replies to this topic

[JoAnn]

Do any of you use Smart Music?

What grades do you teach, and are you happy with it? (Feel free to elaborate.)

JoAnn

[tptman]

I LOVE Smart Music. I teach middle and high schools, and use it not only for them, but for myself, and my private trumpet studio. One thing to keep in mind, Smart Music wasn't primarily designed for use in a group setting. Yes, you can use the accompaniments for fun over your speakers for the songs out of the method book, or use the rhythm exercises for the group to read, but that's all hard to do if you don't have a computer hooked up to speakers and a projector in your room.

However, if you can get your students to get it for use at HOME, you will have an amazing band. I suggest that you do a demonstration in your class (once you've learned how to use it REALLY well) using your computer, big speakers, and a projector. Get them really turned on to the program, then set up a "School Sponsored Subscription" where they can get the program for $25, and a microphone for $10. The school has to buy at least one program at $100 or so.

There are soooo many amazing things on that program... if your students use it regularly, I'll bet you'll see a VAST difference between the kids who use it and those who don't. The website is really good to tell you more about it: www.smartmusic.com

[JoAnn]

Great information!

Do you have the program on school computers that the kids can use?

Thanks,

JoAnn

[tptman]

We have a couple of practice rooms that I begged and begged the district to get computers for. The computers aren't brand new, but they were good enough to run Smart Music smoothly. Be careful though, if the computer is too old, and too slow, Smart Music will not work very well.

Here's something to think about: playing tests. Smart Music has the ability to tell a student how many correct notes they played. You can set up a system where they record their test, whether it's an exercise, or song out of a method book, and save the file to a folder on the computer that you specify. It will save the audio recording, the picture of the red and green notes, and a text message saying "you played 80 out of 88 notes correctly for a score of 90 percent at a tempo of 90 beats per minute...". All those things equal one thing = concrete evidence. Music is very much mathmatical (sp?). Just like 1+1=2, a half note equals 2 beats, and a note is either in tune or out of tune (or just the wrong note). Those things have a right or wrong answer, and smart music will give you your score. It's a great way to hand out grades for playing tests. I recommend having a teacher's aid in the room with the student to make sure they are using the program properly, and not cheating.

[JoAnn]

I haven't heard anything bad about the program ... which is a great sign.

It really sounds like a program that has SO many bells and whistles! Seems like a very reasonable investment, a great motivator, and a pretty amazing assessment opportunity.

It is really helpful to hear how another teacher uses it.

Thanks!

JoAnn

[brittania]

I had never heard of that program... used fruity loops for a long time, now I can't use anything other than Reason... and I'll never look back