Getting Your Students Into SmartMusic Gradebook

www.smartmusic.com

https://gradebook.smartmusic.com/

We have been using SmartMusic Gradebook for several years now.  It is a HUGE piece of our SmartMusic everywhere plan.  The Gradebook is an excellent way to send musical assignments and collect them from individuals.

But the trick to using the SMGB is getting kids to set-up an account, login and register for class.  I guess that is really three tricks.

There are two obvious ways to do this.  You could send the instructions home and hope the kid is a good reader (or has help) and gets it done that way.  Or, you could take class time to do it.

We have tried it both ways and have found both methods have their upsides and downsides.

With the send it home method:

• Upside-- You probably will get parent support.  Kids probably aren't allowed to install software unsupervised at home.  At least they aren't at my house.
• Downside-- You may wait for months for this to happen!
• Downside-- You might not have students registered for the right section.
• Upside-- Parents will actually be aware that they have the program.
• Upside-- You will hear from the parents that it doesn't work on their computer if it doesn't work on their computer.
• Downside-- You will hear from the parents that it doesn't work on their computer if it doesn't work on their computer.

With the use class time method:

• Upside-- You will have everyone registered for class.
• Upside-- You will have little time spent tracking down the laggards.
• Upside--  It will be the right class.
• Downside-- You may be surprised by how many kids don't confidently know their contact information.
• Downside-- I have yet to meet the music teacher with enough rehearsal time.

Recommendations:

If at all possible, I would recommend the do it in class method.  Yes, you loose some of the parent involvement, but it saves you time in the long run.  You can be sure that everyone is registered and you can check to be sure the student is registered for the right class and fix it right away if they aren't.

I wouldn't do this with out some preparation.  At the bare minimum have students bring their e-mail address to class.  They will also need their address and an e-mail for parents.  Our fifth graders are pretty bright, but they haven't had to fill out this kind of registration form before and it takes a while.  I think we have it down to 40 minutes per class. 

If kids forget their home address, we use the schools address for creating an account.  

You need a plan for siblings that share e-mail accounts as well.  Parents could set-up e-mail addresses for the kids or you could use a bogus e-mail address for the login and have real parent contact addresses inside of the SmartMusic account.   

We just got Google Apps accounts at school for our students, so the individual e-mail address was easy for us.  

Everyone's situation is different.  We have access to computer labs and that makes having everyone do this at the same time possible. If you want to use a lab and don't want to install SmartMusic on all the computers, point your favorite browser to https://gradebook.smartmusic.com/ .  This address will let you use the browser to set-up accounts and register for class.

You would be crazy to do this in a lab setting without an interactive white board or projector.  Walk through it once with a dummy student by yourself.  Show the kids once using a dummy student when they aren't watching their computers to walk them through the process as well.

We used our IWB and had students very carefully follow us every step of the way, one step at a time.  Starting with opening the same browser. Have kids triple-check entries.  This is a situation where one misplaced keystroke will slow everyone down while you trouble shoot and fix things.  It is very important to get the login right as well.  How else are students going to get in to do their assignments?  Grandpa always said, "Don't hurry into trouble."  This is one of those times to listen to him.

If you have just one computer in your classroom, you could train a student to supervise the others in registration.  If you use the send it home method, this could be the way to clean up the late or poorly done registrations.

After setting up the accounts and registering the kids for class, I would make sure that they have written down what their login address and password are.  This could be the one piece of paper that should go in an instrument case.  Having watched our practice room computers for several years, I know that the number one login problem is forgetting the login info.

I would also aim to do this in-class process very early in the year.  What else are you going to do on the first day?  Talk about a bunch of rules?  This may also be the least valuable rehearsal day if you are concerned about that time issue.

This process sounds like a lot of work but it is worth it.  It gets easier with each section of kids you work with and kids with existing accounts will breeze right through this.  

SmartMusic Gradebook is THE way to keep tabs on your students and help them grow as musicians.  It will also help you to improve your teaching as well, just listen for trends of what to fix.  Getting them logged-in and registered is worth every minute.

ADDENDUM:
This is harder for students who haven't had an SmartMusic account before.  If they remember their account login info and password from last year, registering for this year's class is a breeze!  Figure half the time on this project for the experienced users.  I would still have them register for class as a group.  Nice to have them all in the gradebook.

I Just Sat Through iPad Training.

I just sat through iPad training.

Nothing really new, because we have the device at home.  I really do like iPads for reading, Twitter, e-mail, calendar.

Here's what I am thinking about school use:

• This isn't a full-blown computer (yet) and yes you do need a full-blown computer every once in a while.
• If it is graphics or audio or video work you will be much happier with a computer.
• Full versions of programs don't run here.
• FileMaker Go and FileMaker are not the same deal for instance.
• SmartMusic still needs a computer, but playback has moved to Android and iOS.  (Hey SmartMusic!  Next million dollar idea is a full version for the iPad!)
• Those are just two of my favorite programs.
• What if you wanted to do some programming?
• For iOS that is done with a computer.
• What if there ISN'T an app for that?

• I'm glad I don't have to share one of these.
• If you had to share with different settings for each user, you would go nuts.
• I am guessing that kids will have a lot of fun moving the apps around and changing the wall paper.
• A computer can have multiple users.
• I love the fact that I can set things up my way and the rest of the family can have their settings on our computers at home.

• I wish there was more room to store things.
• I think that iPads are a great place to share pictures, but there are only so many gigs to the memory on these.
• The cloud that is coming this fall will have restrictions on the amount of time you photos will be stored.  
• I have been known to want to walk around with gigs of data.
• Schools are fairly complex data-wise and I like to use our info.

• I wish it were easier to lock down.
• You MUST wander through and monitor what kids are doing with iPads.
• The remote desktop is easier with computers.
• I love web browsers with "White Lists" for my kids.
• This Safari doesn't have that.
• I wish the web history wasn't so easy to obscure on iPads
• In fact, it is fairly easy.  Go to the pages icon and start hitting X's.

• I think that schools will purchase these by the truck load.
• The cost of these is at a tempting price point and yes it is a CPU.
• But can't we do a little better for our students?
• It is a nice transition from paper to digital.
• The form factor is very much like paper and can sit on a desk like a worksheet.  Teachers have worked this way for at least a couple of centuries.

Maybe I am being a little persnickety and I don't mean to sound grumpy.  iPads will continue to improve.  I am guessing that the ability to secure these for classroom use will get better soon (or maybe I am behind on my apps and it has improved already!)  But right now, if you could only purchase one device, would this be the device? 

SmartMusic 2012 is out!

http://www.smartmusic.com/

SmartMusic 2012 is out!

If you have a current subscription it is available for you to use right now.  Just visit the web site and do the download/update thing.  If you are new, I believe that you may download it and try some samples before purchasing.  I think that if you try it you will want it.

The group of musicians with the biggest news with this version are the singers and others who need to polish their sight singing skills.  2012 supports voices.  This may be the version that has been waited for the longest!

Four sight singing books, an exercise book and SmartMusic's own vocal exercises are currently supported.  Hopefully, this is just the start of what could be an avalanche of literature.  This is a good start for what might be the biggest group of musicians that can benefit from the SmartMusic magic.

I have tried it out and it does work with my tired old summer tenor voice and the instrumental mic that I had laying around the house.  If I were going to do a lot of singing I would get the "Garth B" look-a-like kit with the mic that fits over my head.  SmartMusic's accuracy is boosted by having the mic in a consistent place.

I tried the sight-singing exercises that came from SmartMusic and there is something there for every level of student.  You can find what you need to work on in a hurry with this program.  This is a tool I wish I had for my college sight-singing courses.  I could have used a lot more patient practice with feedback on these important skills.

The interesting thing is that you are trying to beat the machine.  This is great "place" to be teaching and there is research to back it up.  Just look-up Serious Games on Google (or Amazon for a book on the topic) to see what I mean.

If you are looking for opportunities to encourage independence in your young singers, this is it.  haven't used SmartMusic before?  Prepare to be the coach giving advice on how get it right to beat the machine.

All musicians (Instrumentalist and Vocalists) can now benefit from SmartMusic.  I encourage you to add this to your program.

FileMaker Go and organizing my music room(s).

http://www.filemaker.com/

http://www.fmtouch.com/

I have one of THOSE assignments.  During the week, I have 270 students in five different classes and 10 sections of small group sectionals in 4 different rooms that I share with other teachers.  At the middle school level.

To say organization is important would be an understatement.  You could get run over pretty quick if you are not ready for class and fiddling with paperwork.   I am always looking for tools to help with that.  If those tools fit in my pocket, Great! because I have so many places to be.

I think I have found a versatile little gem called FileMaker Go.  It is an iOS version of FileMaker.  I am currently running it on my iPod Touch (Generation 4.)

FM Go works with your computer-based FileMaker data base.  You create the data base in FileMaker and share it to your iOS device.  The synch feature works with either the cord or over Wi-Fi.  I am using the cord and storing the info on my iPod.  Sometimes, you need the information where you can't get at a wireless connection.

You do need to do the design of the data base in FileMaker, but it is one of the easiest data bases to learn and pretty versatile too.

I now have my class lists, a parent contact phone number, picture of each student, and an advisor name in my pocket for whenever I need it.  Pretty cool.  I did very little data entry with this project as well as most of this information is available from the office on .csv and tab-delimited files, which FileMaker can import.

I have used FMTouch for very similar things.  You do need access to the more expensive FMPro Advanced to do this and it takes more set-up to make it work.  It is a solid solution if those items aren't a problem for you  and you don't have an iOS device that meets system requirements for FM Go.  I think that FM Go runs faster, but I can't be sure because I updated my iPod at the same time and I don't have a fair comparison.  FMTouch is worth a look if it works better with your gear.

We have passed an interesting corner with SmartMusic

I sent out some minor scale exercises to my 7th graders last week.  The problem with the minor scales is there really is three for each key.  So this assignment LOOKED bigger than it was.  When I sent it out, we talked in class about natural, harmonic and melodic minor scales.  The reason why the assignment is really three scales (I did save to my files as a unit for next time.)  I also took some time to explain that knowing how to play in a key was important...analogous to an alphabet to writing and learning these patterns would help with things like correct notes in their other playing.

A couple of rehearsal later, I asked my band if they had it turned in yet and a small number of them said no.  The students who had it completed it were very quick to say how easy it was and how they could see how it was helping them with the right notes (yes, I do have a minor key song in the May concert.)

The early completers also wondered aloud, "What are you waiting for!?  This one is important!"

I love it when the group nudges itself in the right direction.  It was a good rehearsal.

Modbook and Finale

http://www.axiotron.com/index.php?id=home

I don't play keyboards well enough to do a really good job of playing my work directly into Finale.

I know you can set the quantization to cover for the lack of organ lessons, but that is usually more work than I want to do two minutes before class starts. I also can get around in speedy note, but that isn't all that speedy for me.

I have found a solution that I like better. The stylus-based Mac put together by the people at Axiotron is a nice solution for those of use that have mouse intensive projects to do. Put the point of the stylus where you want it and the cursor shows up there in an instant. No more picking up the mouse to cover a lot of screen real estate. This is more natural for the people who want to go back to the pen, but really shouldn't.

You will still want to use a keyboard if you have typing to do. Bluetooth or USB works for that.

I haven't played with the handwriting recognition yet, but will keep you posted when I do.

It can be pricey, but I think I got a good deal on eBay.

The other way to go after the stylus approach to Finale would be a special monitor with the same features built in. Which is just as costly or more so. Or, the Interactive White Board may be the solution (I'll have to try that sometime...when I need a large muscle work-out.) Make the tools work for you and not you for the tools. I'm pleased with my Modbook.

I think kid internet access is improving. Helps with SmartMusic

We never order SmartMusic for every single student.

It makes no sense to order two subscriptions for a house that only has one computer. It makes no sense to order a subscription for a house that has no internet connection.

Send out the system requirements for SmartMusic and then do a survey. Ask how many will be able to do this at home. That will give you a better idea of how many to order than a straight-up head count.

I thought we could guess. We have a couple years of experience.

Nope. That doesn't work because kids are getting better access at home. Parents need a system to keep connected and pay the bills. My ratio of haves and have-nots was off by 20 kids. Nice problems to have in a down economy.

The Post Office loses out when parents get the home internet connected machine, but it helps our kids with better access.

SmartMusic 2010!

http://www.smartmusic.com/smartmusic/New.aspx

SmartMusic 2010 went out the door of MakeMusic yesterday! Maybe you go the e-mail.

The timing of this event was perfect for me. I like to get this rolling with my students early in the fall and it looks new enough to make my old handouts out-of-date. I will need to update my demos for the students. I have had a look at 2010 and it was a big upgrade this time around. MakeMusic has spent a lot of time and effort at making this product more useful and easier to use.

My biggest beginning-of-the-year headache is getting SmartMusic installed and the users into the GradeBook. Remember, we use SmartMusic at home and at school pervasively, so I am not talking about the installations you personally do. I am looking forward to this fall and seeing if activation and registration goes better for the kids and parents. These processes have gained clarity with better design.

I have a theory that people don't normally install their own software, so the needed skills to do this are starting to disappear. The installation, activation and enrolling for class processes for SmartMusic are no harder than any other software that I have installed, but there have been a few calls to me about just those things over the past few years. I hope the new look helps.

They seem to have dropped the name Impact for GradeBook. I think that is a good move... everyone knows what a grade book is for.

The SmartMusic GradeBook has had a redesign. I think this new look will help the teachers get around a bit easier. I am looking forward to that as well. The big improvement in the GradeBook is that SmartMusic now works more seamless with its internet resources to create and get the assignments. Things happen from within SmartMusic instead of your browser launching. You are hardly aware that you are going to the web to get the information.

I think the really big feature for teachers and other users this year will be the search features. There are about a bazillion (ok, maybe only eleventy-billion) accompaniments for this program. That number keeps growing. It was time to make finding what you need easier.

SmartMusic works on an annual subscription basis, so you will be using this version if you use SmartMusic. If you teach, I think you will be pleased with 2010. Get it early and figure out where everything is.

Searches, better integration with the web, a few under-the-hood improvements and a new look. What's not to love?

Summer Practice Snag

If you use Impact to manage the summer practice program, you will need to deal with the July 1st turn-over.

Every year starts over with July 1. Normally not a big deal, but this time I have a project that will cross over that date. I guess kids will need to register for class again sometime this summer to play the game. Hmmm.

How easy can this stuff get?

I was amazed.

My son loves his Nintendo DS.  He loves to play it at school on Fridays when he is allowed to bring it to the after school program.  He loves to sit and play DS while his friends play their DSs.  I thought that was pretty much the social side of the DS.  We sit together and talk while we do our thing.  

I couldn't help but notice that Mark and Anna were playing the same game.  Literally, the same game.  At the same time.  Both of them had characters in the same game on their two machines.

These SECOND graders had figured out how to network their DSs together to play the same game.  

I knew it was possible.  I just figured that it would involve reading a bunch of directions that were translations from the original DS directions written in Sanskrit.  Nope.  Two new readers could figure out how to set up a wireless network like it was child's play.

I wish my computer toys networked that easily.

Can we borrow your metronome?

I always have trouble finding a metronome that really works for percussionists.  Yesterday, I had some drummers in to work on a duet and they were asking to borrow my metronome and  OOPS, I had left mine at home too.

Time to open SmartMusic and take a look at the one in there.

This one is pretty handy.  Press the button on the main control page and up pops a feature rich metronome.  You can have it play the tempo straight or have it accent downbeats.  There are meters in there well past the standard duple and triple meters, some pretty exotic.  15/8 time anyone?

Plug the computer into a nice amp and a good set of speakers and there will be plenty of support for your drummers or anyone else for that matter.  I may have to show this to the rest of the class.

A New-to-Me Way piece of hardware that I like.

I recently won an eBay auction for an Alesis Multimix 8 Firewire mixer/audio computer interface.

I really wasn't to happy with the Mac laptop- M-Audio combination (USB) that I had been using.  The Fast Track Pro had only two mic inputs and I was getting some random noise every once in a while.  The mics I was using needed phantom power and I wonder about USB supplying that and it didn't come with a power supply.  I also wonder about USB vs Firewire throughput, but I am not an engineer. 

I guess I just wanted something with a little more.  More imputs, more power.  I didn't have to hurry so a bargain on eBay was worth waiting for.

I was a little concerned about some people's thoughts on the Alesis drivers, but most of the negativity seemed related to Windows installers.  The feedback online was "LOVE it" or "hate it."  I went with "LOVE it."  Figuring most of the "hate it" was from users that didn't install their own software very often.

The unit arrived and I gave it a try.  

Alesis went out of their way in the manuals to say that you should download the latest drivers.  That made tons of sense.  How long did this sit on a shelf?   Who knows if the disc inside was even close to current?  If there was anything to be fixed in the drivers, the drivers online would have the fix.

Alesis went out of their way to write a friendly manual and offered many tips on set-up.  I like this approach even if the product is something an expert should be able to handle.  The manual isn't a terribly long read, was written in plain English (without being condescending.) and it is worth the read.

Anyway, I've got it hooked up to Garageband for quick recordings in rehearsal.  I plan to give the included DAW (Cubase) sometime, but I need to make some room on the too small hard drive first! 

This unit isn't huge.  Everything you need for a field recording should fit in a laptop bag.  The larger number inputs does offer some flexibility, so I think I will be using the Fast Track less (as in maybe selling it.)

Digital stereo playback will make kids believe what you have been telling them.  It has helped this week when spring fever has started kicking in.  Fire up a recorder and the kids will try harder to make their best tone and blend.  Try it in your rehearsal sometime!

YouTube Orchestra Master Classes--something more than a lecture.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgtP9KA5NxM&feature=PlayList&p=AA8CE81E31603B1B&index=3

I was just looking at the YouTube Master Classes and noticed something interesting.  Discussion!  I have been to a few master classes in my time, but this is the first time I have been able to read what other people are thinking about the proceedings.

Sure, some of the comments may be picking at nits.  But many of the questions being asked about this video are legit and are getting legit answers.  Many are about things I hadn't thought of and that gets my creative thinking going...

If you are teaching master classes, this format creates something more than a lecture.  Perhaps you should consider putting your material up too!

New to me iPod VNC app Jaadu

My teacher iPod tip for you today is Jaadu.

Jaadu is a VNC (Virtual Network Computer) app that allows you to see what is running on your computer's desktop as well as control the computer.  VNC has been around for a while now and there are other computer programs that use it .  So what is the big deal with Jaadu?  It runs on your iPod Touch or iPhone.

There are some obvious uses for Jaadu that jumped to my mind right away.  

Do you know what your kids are really doing on their computer?  Here is an unobtrusive way to peek over their shoulder.

Trouble shooting from a distance?  Much easier.  No more trying to figure out what people are looking at.

Can't play something in Flash?  Let your computer translate for your iPod.

Can't get your ten year old off the computer?  Take over and shut it down.  (Ok, that one is a little  harsh, but who wants to do all their blogging late at night?)

Want to use your iPod as a controller for your next slideshow?  There is a built-in interface for that.

There is also software (on the computer side) that will allow you to do all this from anywhere you can connect your iPod to the internet.  I haven't tried that yet.  All my uses have been on local networks.  I know kids have to attend class...maybe, my next lecture will be delivered with me at the local coffee house.    

Connecting your computer with your iPod is pretty straight-forward with easy to follow directions on their website.  Look for Jaadu at the App Store.  I think you will find it useful!

 

What else could you use?

I periodically look around for alternate ways to do things. What could you use instead of SmartMusic? There is iPas. It provides structured lessons that go with the Standard of Excellence Series (Kjos.) I like the ability to hold kids accountable. iPas does have the lessons locked down so kids have to meet a standard. Teachers can also download the results. This program is a good choice, but you are locked into one method book and no other literature. There is In The Chair/Starplay from Sibelius. Like iPas, this also has a limited number of method books. I do like the ability to swap in a Sibelius generated accompaniment. I don't see much info on how you get your results back. I suppose you could Moodle assignments. The video of musicians playing the same piece is an interesting feature, but is it something I would use? I don't know. They may be catching up since I last looked. SmartMusic has a good school package. You can choose from a number of methods. You can generate your own pieces in Finale. It is possible to lock down the assignments to your parameters and you can get the results from the web. The grade book/student information handling is a great feature.