Amplitube For iPad and iPhone- Just Plain Cool!

Low Cost MusicTechnology Options For The Music Education Classroom

Low Cost MusicTechnology Options For The Music Education Classroom

Finding ways to stretch your budget in a music classroom is always important and even more so when trying to purchase high tech electronics, software, and other materials. This article provides an updated list of dozens of different low cost or free alternatives to expensive music education products. It includes such categories as music notation software, drill design software, special needs hardware, and many more.

The Star Spangled Banner- Free Sheet Music For Band Inst.

The Star Spangled Banner- Free Sheet Music For Band Inst.

This document contains sheet music for all common instruments to play The Star Spangled Banner, also known as the sheet music to the National Anthem of the United States of America. You can view the sheet music online or download the individual parts arranged for all common concert band instruments. If you do not see your instrument listed please scroll to the bottom of the page and try one of the the other instruments. Most musicians will be able to find at least one instrumental part that matches their range and preferred key signature. If you are seeking a simple piano version of the song please select from the voice, trumpet, or alto saxophone versions.

Using Plickers as an Assessment Tool in the Music Education Classroom

Using Plickers as an Assessment Tool in the Music Education Classroom

Music, band, choir, and orchestra classrooms can be huge and assessing the knowledge and retention of individual students in such a large class can be daunting. Plickers are one of several solutions that can be adapted to work in large groups, making the act of assessing a student’s understanding a little easier and a whole lot faster.

Is Marching Band A Sport? Pros, Cons, and a Reality Check

Is Marching Band A Sport? Pros, Cons, and a Reality Check

In recent years the question of whether or not marching band is a sport has been brought up time and time again for various reasons and by various groups. On one side you have the YES crowd who says that marching band is competitive, physically demanding, and every bit as much a team event as any traditional sporting event. On the other side of the coin are those who say no, that marching band is NOT a sport and it is a musical pursuit that happens to involve coordinated movements. Both sides are right, but to make a final decision we need to look deeper into the facts. Read on to find out what they are!

Portable Digital Audio Recorder Buying Guide With Reviews

Portable Digital Audio Recorder Buying Guide With Reviews

Scroll down to view the comparison chart of over a dozen different portable digital audio recorders.

Buying a portable digital audio recorder is a major decision. The balance between price, features, and quality is a fine line that has many different options to choose from. There are dozens of different models of portable digital audio recorders, some of which have drastically different sets of features yet sell for roughly the same price. This easy to read head to head comparison chart and guide to many of the more popular portable digital audio recorders is intended to help potential buyers more easily see these differences and make an educated buying decision.

Apps and More for the Choral Classroom

Apps and More for the Choral Classroom

The number of apps, software, and gadgets available for use in the music classroom continues to grow each year but finding things that can actually be beneficial to your classes grows more and more difficult as well. We spoke with Dr. Christopher Russell, Director of Choirs at Oltman Middle School in St. Paul Park, Minnesota to get his must-have list of apps.

Details

Guitarists rejoice! Thanks to the Amplitube app for iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch you can now take all of your favorite effects pedals, amps, and cabinets with you without the need to lug around a suitcase full of equipment. The Amplitube app works together with a $40 accessory called the iRig that when plugged between your iPad and your guitar will add any desired effects to the sound before sending it out to your amplifier.

You get the sound into the iPad by connecting the guitar to the iRig via a standard Â¼ inch cable and then connect the iRig to your amplifier via a headphone plug (add your own adapter to take it back up to Â¼ inch if you need to). I have talked to several musicians now that have nothing but rave reviews about the Amplitube app and the associated iRig accessory. In fact, for any guitar enthusiast using Amplitube with the iRig is a steal as for $40 plus the $20 full version of Amplitube you can make your guitar sound like you spent hundreds on the individual stomp boxes and other equipment that is all contained within the app.

Remember- Don't Stomp On Me!

If there are any caveats to using Amplitube on the iPad it is that obviously you wonâ€™t be stomping on it to change sounds. You will have to take your fingers off of the guitar to switch to other sounds. Also a downside is that while several boxes can be on the screen at once using the iPad on the iPhone or iPod the screens are too small to allow for more than one to be visible at a time.

Multiple Versions Available and Ala Carte Pricing on Additional Pedals

The application also has a free version where users can download additional pedals ala carte for use with the iRig. The full version of Amplitube includes almost all of the available pedals, amps, and cabinets with a few additional ones available for purchase separately. As mentioned before, when you keep in mind that this app and the iRig can save you hundreds of dollars in costly hardware it makes sense to at least take a look and give it a try before investing in a new device to throw in your bag.

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