The IWB As A Metronome

http://techinmusiced.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/app-information-truemetronome/

I was over at the Tech In Music Ed blog and his review of a metronome app reminded me of a success I had in rehearsal this spring.

I was having trouble with some students rushing in a 5/4 time piece.  For some reason, beats four and five would get rushed.  I am pretty sure the problem was lazy counting...you know some student musicians can't count past four.

I know.  Lame joke.

Anyway, I put the Steinway iOS metronome app up on the IWB and had them count (out loud) and clap on the beat to five a few times.  All the beats.   Just to prove it could be done.  Then to be sure they were counting carefully, I had them count and add rests on random beats.  As in clap on 1,3 and 4.  Now just 4 and 5. Now just 2 and 3....

I'm sure the possibilities are endless.  I think the element of randomly placed rests forced kids to keep their head in the game and the clapping made it obvious if a student wasn't.

The App was running through my music room sound system so kids could hear it well.  Why the Steinway app?  I does a good job of accenting the down beat AND it can do that for 5/4 time. A pretty good combination for this situation.  I love the fact that you can find an app for just about any problem you can think of these days.

SmartMusic Hits The iPad!

http://www.makemusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/SM-iPad-Launch-Press-Release.pdf

This is not unexpected news, but it is good news!  The folks at MakeMusic have been working on this for a while.  I have been playing with a beta copy for several weeks.  I suppose that is one of the many reasons I haven't been writing too much lately.  I didn't want to spill any beans.

I think this is the most ground breaking release in some time.  Probably the biggest since they rolled-out the ability to send and receive assignments over the internet.

Right now, you can use it pretty much like the SmartMusic on your computer.  This is the first version, so not all of the features of computer-based SmartMusic are there yet.  To me, the most obvious piece that has been left off of this lighter version is the ability to send assignments, but that will be there this fall.

Why is this iPad product important?  Many schools are using iPads as their tool for 1:1 computing.  If your school is doing this, you are all set this fall.  It is good to be you!

Not doing a 1:1?  If you have some kids that are on the wrong side of the digital divide, an iPad might not be out of the question for family affordability.  Or maybe, your boosters can afford a couple to check out over night.  With fewer moving parts, I think the iPad will probably survive the backpacks better.   I have been watching some let's say... rambunctious... boys who regularly Minecraft outside my room on their iPads after school and their iPads are surviving nicely.

I haven't heard any rumors of a Chrome version.  I wonder if it is even possible.  We still have the full computer version for Windows and Mac.  There is also the SmartMusic Grade Book app (iOS and Android) for the grading and evaluating piece.

An interesting part about this iPad development from a purely technical point of view is that there are only a couple of versions of the machine out there.  Very consistent microphone and processors make for consistent results and user experience.  Yes, they are using the built-in mic which makes for one less thing to troubleshoot.

Back to the app.  I think it is well thought out.  Nice clean appearance.  It does well with the red/green note thing too.  You may want to use some kind of headphone when working with this.  I have had good luck running it through my sound system too.  The built-in speakers are a little hard to hear well, so some external ones are a big help.

If it works well with the assignment feature this fall, SmartMusic will have another winner on its hands.  A tool that works for the music department that runs on an affordable platform.  This is worth checking out.

Doctopus. Or How Do You Hand Things Out?

http://www.youpd.org/doctopus

So, how do you hand things out in a paperless class?

With the coming of the paperless classroom, that is soon going to be the question.  If you don't use a course management system like Moodle, you have a real issue.  My school district is moving slowly toward a Google Apps For Education approach.  Paper assignments should soon be rare.

The obvious way to handle paperless assignments in one of our traditionally paper classes would be to have the student share his work with the teacher.  This student ownership of the work does create problems.

For instance, I don't know how many different ways there are to spell my name, but I am sure there will be some new ones that come up when students HAVE to get it right to set up the sharing of the document.  Name the document something other than the teacher is expecting and there will be some problems as well.  Students have been know to delete files they shouldn't.  And how do you file all of the incoming work to evaluate it?  The 21st century version of the dog ate my homework has arrived.

Andrew Stillman has developed a Google script that turns this issue on its head.  It is called Doctopus.  Who should own the document?  The teacher should.  That way you know it was delivered.  You can also control how it gets shared.  You can send differentiated assignments.  You can see when it was worked on.  You can even turn off the editing to stop work so you can evaluate it.  Powerful stuff.

There is even a partner extension for embedding rubrics into the student document called Gobric.

You keep track of class work via a Google Spreadsheet.  Just follow the link the script generates to see the work.  Keeping track of where things are is automated.  All the teacher needs to keep track of is the spreadsheet.

Kid looses an assignment?  Just re-send the link.  Where is that dog now?

When I first read about Doctopus in my Twitter feed, I got excited.  I was just talking to our computer teacher who was complaining about how much time she was putting into sharing Google Docs with the student ownership plan.  Her estimate about how much time she is saving with the Doctopus approach is 10 minutes per assignment.  That can add up fast.

Look for Andrew's video walk through at youpd.org.  There are some other tutorials on YouTube.  If you don't use a course management tool, you need Doctopus.

Take the Train!

Spring Break and Easter, next thing you know the weather and calendar might actually align and we get Spring around here.

This blog is always about something tech-y and I think I can make the connection with vacation and technology.

First some old technology.  We took the train to Chicago.  Loved the train.  Wide seats, lots of leg room and power for all the devices.  The space is soooo much better on the train.  I am 6'3" and 250 pounds.  I know what good leg room looks like.

On the train you can hook the phone up to the computer and you have a rolling internet cafe.  Which was actually kind of handy for last minute trip planning and bird identification.  (The Sandhill Cranes are back for the season!)  Google Maps and Earth are good to help explain where we are to the kids too.  Chicago to Minneapolis/St. Paul is pretty scenic too.  Must have seen 50 Bald Eagles.

Yes, it may be slower than the airplane, but the train drops you off in the city.  No long ride into town.  It is cheaper than flying too.  We made the trip in about 7 or 8 hours.  Better than driving.

If you have the time, take the train.

MakeMusic This Week

www.makemusic.com

It was a busy week at MakeMusic.

The new pricing schedule for SmartMusic seems to have caused a ruckus with band directors.  Enough so, that the plan is on hold and will probably be revised.  

Hopefully, that moves quickly as the my school is asking what the band fee should be for next year.

We are using SmartMusic everywhere a kid can access the internet.  Including the home computer.  We have been getting a bulk-purchase price.  It is some work, but I think it is worth it.  Subscriptions for everyone!

The cheaper plan (but not nearly as comprehensive) is for the teacher to order enough to cover his practice rooms and send/receive his assignments through SmartMusic Grade Book.  Students do their work at school.

That might be too good a deal for the teacher and student side.  Server space does cost someone money.

So it will be interesting to see how this shakes out. There is a need to cover the costs AND a need to not tick-off the customer. What is the magic price? 

The other thing happening over at MakeMusic is the purchase of the company by LaunchEquity.  MakeMusic is going private.  Hopefully, that just means we can't follow the company as close as we have by watching the quarterly reports.  LaunchEquity is putting some money into the company, so it is hard to believe they would do anything drastic enough to upset the business.  That is probably another reason why the pricing is under review.  Hopefully, they remember that school music programs with big fat budgets aren't exactly commonplace.

MakeMusic is Bought Out

http://techinmusiced.wordpress.com/2013/03/13/launch-equity-acquires-makemusic/

Visit Tech In Music Ed for some analysis.

I really hope that MakeMusic can continue to deliver SmartMusic and the tools that support it.  It has really made a difference in my teaching practice.  I have no reason to believe they won't, but this kind of change always makes me nervous.

Copper Street Brass was Here Yesterday.

http://www.csbq.org/

Every once in a while something comes along and you remember why you got into teaching.

Yesterday was one of those days.

My teaching partner is constantly looking for listening opportunities for our students and has the energy to chase down grants to make those opportunities happen.  Thank you Westonka Foundation, Target Foundation and Band Boosters for your generosity.  Let me assure you it was money well spent.  Thanks, Gretchen for making it happen.

The Copper Street Brass Quintet has as varied a repertoire as any brass quintet that I have heard.  I was expecting baroque and got Brubeck and Adele too.

Virtuoso players and a great rapport with the young audience made for an enjoyable afternoon concert in our "gymnacafatorium."  It is hard to entertain and teach middle schoolers the day before a long weekend, but this group held their attention well.  We have pretty darn good kids here, but you have about 2 minutes to impress our kids before they check out on you on a day like this.

Performance-wise, I was impressed with the members of the group.  Frequently, brass quintets seem to be forums for show-casing trumpet players.  This group has the trumpets to do that, but the horn, trombone and tuba get their chance to shine too. (and BOY do they!)  It has been a while since I have heard masterful trombone, tuba and horn soloing.

Spreading things around like that will do wonders for my program, if for no other people than my low brass players.

Thanks again to everyone who made it happen.

If you get the chance, check out the CSBQ.  Visit their website.  Have them over.  It will be good.