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.

SmartMusic Everywhere To The Next Level!

www.smartmusic.com

The next level of SmartMusic convenience has arrived.  Teachers with Android and iOS devices (iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad) can now get the convenience of listening and reviewing to student assignments anywhere those devices can get connected to the internet.  (I spent most of my time trying out the iOS version on my iPod.)

Think about this.  Waiting for your kids to get done at practice?  Got a long commute? Knock off a few reviews.  Please don't do the commute one if you are driving!  Passenger seat is ok.

Of course, you will want to have a life, so don't over do this work-anywhere-all-the-time plan, but this is a way to keep from getting run over by the work that can pile up while you wait to get to it on your computer.  I went on a long field trip last spring and I could stay caught-up with the kids back at school with this tool.

The "SmartMusic In Box" is an excellent description of how it works.  You log in with your teacher e-mail, password and security code and the program gives you what you haven't evaluated yet.  You can sort the in-bound work by class or look at all of the work that has come in, much like messages in your e-mail in box.

If you go in by class, your class roster is available there as well.  From there you can look at the student's grade, review work he or she has turned in the past or send an e-mail to the individual.

The class roster on your iPod could be pretty handy in non-music situations.  Ever have to take attendance away from your computer or forgotten your class list for the fire drill?

The layouts are well thought out for the iPod version.  I haven't tried it on an iPad or iPhone yet.  The iPad idea may be interesting, because of the keyboard size.  I still haven't mastered keyboarding on the iPod and I do leave comments for all work turned in.  I don't think I am too far out on a limb saying the iPhone and iPod Touch versions should have similar keyboard sizes and issues.

I was surprised by how quickly this version of SmartMusic works.  It compares favorably with the computer version and may be the faster way to get your reviews of student work done.  This is exactly the task you need to do and there is no rewrite/reload of the full grade book page slowing you down.  I haven't done a head to head (SM vs SM In Box) race yet and your actual mileage may vary depending on your network.

Overall, I think this is a great addition to the SmartMusic tools.  I plan on using this a lot this fall.

So How Does the iPad Fit In?

I found an interesting lecture on how the iPad is going to fit into the world.  I stumbled on it while looking for information on program and designing for the iPhone.  I am playing with my iPod Touch and was trying to figure out how to design for it when I found it.

http://itunes.stanford.edu/

Then follow the links to iPhone Application and Development (CS193P)- Winter 2010: Friday Session.
http://deimos3.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/Browse/itunes.stanford.edu.2024353965
and look for the talk about iPad Development.  I think this is number 27 in the series.

The talk is officially titled "Designing for the iPad", February 12, 2010.  The lecturer is Evan Doll.

(I am not sure there is a link that is permanent to this talk.  This is a Stanford iTunes U presentation and the videos in this series are part of their support of that effort.  I bet they get revised and updated as material changes.  So hurry!  I hope that is enough attribution for their creative commons license.  This is a good talk that deserves attribution and thanks for sharing.)

Evan Doll pointed out some interesting (to me) things in this talk about the iPad:

This is not just a big iPhone!  If you scale-up an iPod design for the iPad things will not look as good as it could, and you may not be making the best use of the interface.  A small pop-up window on the iPod screen takes up too much real-estate and makes it hard to read.  A small pop-up window on the iPad is a different story and that could be used to make an app flow.

This is a device that un-complicates the relationship between a person and his information.  You point at what you want.  This isn't the story with traditional mouse/keyboard set-ups.  When you consider how moving a mouse to move a cursor that is two feet away, it gets easier to understand how unnatural this set-up really is.  Touch the icon to do what you want.  If you work with the younger youngsters isn't this what you would want?  This would be waaay easier to explain to a kindergartner for example.

This interface is ideal for sharing!  Laptops? Someone has to use the keyboard/mouse/trackpad to make it go.  The screen is positioned for the driver.  Same with desktops.  The iPod/iPhone screen size is too small to really share.  Both traditional computers and small hand held devices do draw you into an interaction with the device that really keeps you from interacting with the people around you.  The iPad is sized so you can share with a group and you can all get your fingers on it.  No one person has to drive.

I am imagining the first time I see a teacher and a student discussing what is on the iPad during a seat work session.  This will be interesting.

Yes, this is under-powered for a computer.  It is not a computer.  It is not a device that you can put in your pocket.  It is not a phone.  Is this a good fit for young kids.  I think so.  Probably all the rest of us that aren't in the I'm-Creating-and-Need-a-Computer mode.  It will be interesting to see and probably this fall!

New SmartMusic (Is it 2011 already?)

Good news.  SmartMusic 2011 is out!

This is a major update.  So if you are an old hand at SmartMusic and use it at school, you may want to get this before school starts!

You can download it at http://www.smartmusic.com/Support/Updates.aspx .

The big improvement with this version is the new "look" or interface.  Previous versions of SmartMusic gave you the feeling that you were working in two or three different programs.  You got your assignment on one page and then went to the player/recorder that had a whole different look to do the actual work.  The new version has a more unified feel, more like a well-done web site.  Features and tools are easier to find and use.  A lot of time and thought went into this new version.

There is no longer a choice about play and record...you now just start a "Take." Each take is saved until you hit "Done" and leave the project.  It is much easier to review takes.  You can mark takes to be saved so when you log out and log in again, the "keepers" are still there.  This makes it far easier to find your previous work than previous versions of SmartMusic.  Changing the transport/recording controls will eliminate some of the problems my kids were running into with hitting the wrong button.  Now it is all recorded and easy to find.

You are never too far away from the tuner or the looping tools.  Wow!  These tools were available in SmartMusic before, but you had to jump through a bazillion screens to get there.

Previously, I didn't spend a lot of time teaching kids how to set-up loops for practicing the hard parts.  Now, with that feature front and center, I had better!  This is a very useful feature that has been made much easier to find.  On the longer pieces, students will be working more efficiently by working on the things that need work... Not working on the whole piece to figure out a few problem measures.

The tuner seems easier to read.  Is it bigger?  You still get the old "match the needle" or the "linear" looks to the tuners.  Did you ever wish your kids could spend some extended time with a tuner?  Now everyone can have one.

This is a major update... not just MakeMusic changing the date and saying that there is an update.

Expect the new look to help your students. I am.   I was going to put in a few screen shots, but running SmartMusic and taking them doesn't work on my computer set-up.  I would normally be very concerned about how I am going to do hand-outs for my students, but I know that I will be showing the videos from the SmartMusic web site in class and I am sure MakeMusic will be doing their usual excellent supporting materials to go with the program.  Not to worry.

I have just started scratching the surface of the SmartMusic Grade Book.  Most of the big improvements I've discovered so far are on the student-performer side.  I think the ability to send EXACTLY the assignment you want your students to do is the magic of the grade book.  If you are using SmartMusic with students, I would recommend you do the educator package so you can take advantage of the ability to use the web to send and receive assignments.  SmartMusic and the Grade Book are subscription based programs, so make it part of your yearly budget.  I wouldn't skimp on the Grade Book; it makes life so much easier.

I really am excited about the possibilities this fall with the new SmartMusic 2011!  If you aren't a user, maybe you should take a look.

Brett Favre from the Ed Technology Angle

Just watched Coach Childress at press conference.  He is denying that anything is final about Brett Favre coming back to the Vikings this fall.  There have been reports that Brett is done because the ankle isn't where he wants it to be.  Chilli was basically saying he hasn't heard the final answer yet.

Personally, I think Favre is allergic to training camp.  Can't say I blame him, it looks like a lot of hard work under dangerous conditions.  Sane people do like to cut their exposure to hard work and flying 300 pounders.  If he can do the job well without all the prep work, good for him.  I thought last year's OJ like slow speed chase/parade was kind of fun.  Maybe it is going to happen again.

Interesting press conference tech-wise.  The coverage was from Vikings.com.  A video feed.  OK, so it was a little jerky and it dropped few syllables, but there was a camera there and it was on.  Bet we see lots more of that kind of coverage in the future.  If you have a story, stream it.  This is good for a press conference with one person talking.  I'm not so sure if that becomes the only coverage we get that we will get the whole story.  I am a big fan of photo-journalists.  We need them out there.

Word choice was interesting too.  A couple of phrases kept coming up.  "Fluid situation" and "text."

Coach is saying it is not over until he hears it from the source. It is a "fluid situation" until he does.

Did anyone else notice all the people involved in the texting?  There is an electronic back-channel at camp!   The coaches, players and Brett have a virtual camp going at the same time as training camp and it sounds like it may be as important to the team as the "real" world.

Well, I usually find an educational angle here and I think I have at least one.  The new tools are what people are using in the real world to stay connected.  Are we preparing the next generation to live in the real world if they don't use them to teach?  Are teachers missing an opportunity to connect?

Kindle, iPad and library musing.

Is there an app for that?

I am just wondering what is going to happen to libraries when books disappear.

We have a model of what can happen to a type of media when a device fills the same niche. Remember record (CD) stores? They went away when the iPod and other mp3 players took over audio.

Now we have the Kindle and iPad. What is going to happen to libraries and book stores? It doesn't take much of a futurist to come up with that answer.

I know. I love the tactile feel of a book too. But what if they aren't printed anymore? Or if they are printed it is as an art piece. Not as something to throw in your pocket and take somewhere.

The real tragedy may be the libraries. Right now they are an opportunity to learn for free. Where are the free "books" going to come from? Has anyone started an app for that?

Google Wave at School part 2

So I got some Google Wave invites and I pass one along to the Gifted Talented/Computer Teacher.

She found a use for her invite almost right away. She is working on movie scripts with her students and it is time to discuss and peer edit them in class. She has her talented kids broken into small groups and is going to use Wave as the medium to discuss and edit.

Of course, there has to be a catch... What is your school student e-mail policy?

You need an address to get invited. We figured out a work around with dummy e-mail accounts where the teacher is the only one with full access/password. Kind of like giving her computers e-mail accounts. Hopefully that will work for her, but it does mean logging in each computer to get at Wave.

The better plan would be to set kids up with their own e-mail accounts. Less login time and a more authentic experience. But that is going to take a change in policy. We don't let kids use their e-mail at school.

I think we can keep kids safer if we teach them about privacy, cyber bullying and proper internet manners if they actually get to use an account. Set them up with an account we (parents and school) can monitor for behavior. Right now, we are so worried about what evil they may do with an account that we choose to completely ban them at school.

It is like worrying about what kids will write with pencil and paper so we ban that stuff too.

The tools aren't the problem. It is the problem behavior that is the problem. We can work on the behaviors. It will just take a little extra effort.

This may be the time to revisit policy.

Google Wave at School

I took some time yesterday and this morning to play with Google Wave.

My friend George is a bit ahead of me on waving, so it was good to try it out with him. He walked me through a couple of things using the embedded file features and got me out to the public waves. Thanks!

It doesn't take long to see that this can be useful for adults trying to organize a project. That seems to be the first thought for a number of people in the Eduwave. Eduwave is a public wave that, as of this morning, already has 557 ideas on it.

When it gets that big, it feels a lot like Twitter. Lots of ideas that come at you very fast. Of course this isn't a very focussed wave. It is a lot of people getting their feet wet with wave (oh, you knew THAT pun was coming, stop groaning!)

To me, that large public wave may present a problem if you were to try it with a classroom of kids and trying to stay on topic. At least where I work (middle school.) Students may have their own agenda or wander off into misconceptions. This could work with kids, but my students would need supervision.

The private wave might be better for teachers and students. Try it as a clever way to turn the traditional worksheet or writing assignment into a more interactive student-teacher experience. Drop in on their wave and ask them "how did you get that answer?" or "have you tried this?"

Some projects may work in both public and private venues. Wouldn't that be interesting. A chance to coach a student a bit in a private wave. Then send them off to the deep end (you knew that pun was coming too) of the discussion in the public forum. This approach would help a student develop his or her ideas and build confidence before going into the discussion.

There are some good possibilities here. Get a wave invite and try it out.

SmartMusic 2010 for General Music

I am going to be doing some singing tests with my general music class. Normally, this would have been a huge time sink. Stand at the piano and do your test.

I'm not so sure that the kids were able to do their best. I know I was distracted managing the class AND listening to the tests. Can't imagine what it was like for the kids. The documentation piece was a little thin as well.

I will be trying SmartMusic this time. The series we are using doesn't have built-in SmartMusic support, but it does have audio files on CD. Those can be ripped and used with SmartMusic. That is probably good enough, but I think I will be spending a little time with Finale 2010 and writing it out. Set the kids up with SmartMusic Gradebook account and we are ready to use our files on the practice room computers.

Able to do their singing in private, I am expecting my middle schoolers to do a better job. I'll let you know here!

Time's Top Ten Apps for Back to School. Another List!

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1919378_1919377,00.html

I AM a sucker for lists. Here's one from Time Magazine!

Time has put together a nice list of iPhone Apps for back to school. I would personally make it a top 11 and add "Things" or maybe substitute that app for the homework organizer. Why are these lists always 10 items? Do we blame Letterman?

This list makes the Touch/iPhone look like a powerful and adaptive tool for learning. No surprise, it really is.

Got to wonder though, would a kid be allowed to take out his iPhone (iPod Touch) without risking confiscation? How many schools allow these tools to be used? Can they be connected to the school wireless network? Is there a school wireless network?

Hey Time! Need a writing prompt for an article?

Just Back From the Fire Drill

I am REALLY liking the iPod/FileMaker/FMTouch combination.

We just got done with a fire drill.  It was very nice to have all of my class lists in my pocket.  I have literally hundreds of kids in 12 different classes.  This time, no worrying that I had grabbed the wrong clipboard.  

Search for that section, sort alphabetical by last name, take attendance and wait to walkie-talkie  it in.  Pretty cool.

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?

I Love those lists!

http://howtopractise.com/?q=content/50-websites-will-improve-your-music-practice

I have more time to read during the summer break, but there is something about those lists that I really like. I've mentioned it before, if I have a minute, I look at a list.

This list, over at How To Practise, is a killer list of practice sites. Mike's top fifty are definitely worth a look!

It is interesting how many more resources are becoming available on the internet!

We Need to Teach Them What?....

  http://www.learning.com/casestudies/arizona.htm

An interesting article from Learning.com about a study going on in Arizona.  Here's the sound bite from the article that has my attention:

 

"However, using computers to receive and study curricula does not automatically translate to technology literacy, the TLA pilot clearly indicates. “We’ve learned that, even with a 1:1 computer to student ratio, you can’t just assume that students are going to learn technology skills,” says Turl."

This is one of those things that makes sense when you stop to think about it.  We need direct instruction.  Just putting enough machines in the room isn't going to help students without some instruction.  Just having the computer doesn't mean you know what it can do for you.  This would be very similar to getting a new motorcycle and not learning how to take care of it.   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_and_the_Art_of_Motorcycle_Maintenance)  It makes no sense on a practical level.

It would be nice to think that everyone would pick up what they should know by using a computer in the contexts of the the different school disciplines, but we probably would only learn enough to make it work for that context.

So as we move (way too slowly) towards integrating computers into school work, let's not forget to do the global training piece for everyone.  It is necessary.

 

Flu and School

The flu bug wasn't so bad this time around.  Looks like the panic part is over anyway.

But, are we ready for the "BIG ONE" at school?  If your school closed would your students be killing time or would they able to get some school work?  

Is any of your class available online?

Instead of getting together and sharing a virus at a time of crisis, we could be working at home and delivering instruction safely.  In my mind, no lost educational time.

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!

The Music Education 100 Blog Project

http://mustech.net/2008/12/16/announcing-the-almost-official-list

I do love vacation, I can catch-up on all the interesting projects and reading that I have been working on.

Have you been following the 100 ME Blogger project?  Looks like the 100 has happened!  The blogs are worth a look for ideas and they are a chance to see what others are thinking.  Have a couple of minutes before the next thing happens in your day?  Take a quick look here.

Music Teacher Alert-- LSO Master Classes on YouTube

I forgot an important feature to the online YouTube auditions. There are master classes with the London Symphony Orchestra on YouTube as well. They may have been intended to help people prep for the YouTube Symphony Orchestra, but I bet you can find some things in here that will help your students in their everyday playing as well. Worth a look.