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.