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New Ways To Use SmartMusic |
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Computers
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Written by Chad Criswell
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 Many people who use SmartMusic Studio simply have no idea of the wide array of alternate ways to use it as a teaching tool. Everyone is familiar with the assessment aspect of SmartMusic, but thanks to help from some master SmartMusic educators we can learn some great ways to use it that you may not have thought of.
Many
teachers think that SmartMusic's primary function is as an accompanist
for solos. At one time this may have been valid, but over the years
features have been added to the program such that you can now
incorporate SmartMusic into every part of your classroom. Consider
these examples:
Tips from Mike Doll,
Rawlinson Road Middle School, Rock Hill, SC
- Use the Play By Ear Exercises (a fun ear
training exercise) in loop mode as a large group warm-up prior to
starting your rehearsal. Show the exercise on a video projector and
have the audio playing as students enter for rehearsal. As each
student finishes assembling their instrument they join in on the ear
training exercise allowing you to take care of last minute issues like
broken instruments or missing music.
- You can simplify your chair
placement auditions by using SmartMusic Impact to
keep track of what lines in the lesson book each student has passed.
Whoever has passed the most lines moves up to first chair.
- Use
SmartMusic Impact to give playing assignments and to record playing
tests. Assignments given through Impact cannot be altered by
students. If you say they have to pass it at 88 beats per minute the
system will not allow them to submit a recording made at any other
speed!
Tips from Joe Clark, Claughton Middle School, Houston, TX
- Every
computer with SmartMusic becomes an instant chromatic tuner. Use this
tuner to teach oboists how to crow a "C" in tune or a trumpet player
how to kick out his third valve slide for "D."
- Use the tuner to help
brass players visualize their mouthpiece buzzing.
Tips from Robert Grifa, Greenbrier Middle School, Chesapeake, VA
- Use
SmartMusic to visually demonstrate concepts like DC al Coda using lines
from the beginner lesson books.
- SmartMusic helps make listening to and
evaluating student performances easier. Start students out on
simple, unstressful exercises that you know they will be successful with and have them "go
for the green."
To view PART 1 of this article click here .
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